Page 51

“Hot as balls,” Tommy complained, turning back towards me. “I’m sticky and gross and have an itch where an itch should never be.”

The heat wave was still at full blast, the sun damning overhead. It had gotten to the point where I wasn’t even sweating. My skin was sticky, yes, but the combination of the heat and my lack of water made me dehydrated. Stupid, I knew.

I just needed to be sure the people I loved were okay before I began taking care of myself.

“That car is fucking cramped,” Tommy added, ignoring Fallon’s gentle reprimand for bad language. I leaned forward to rub my cat behind the ear, but he hissed, claws extended. Tommy glared at me as if it wasmyfault my cat was a traitorous bastard. My. Fucking. Cat. Dammit.

“At least it’s better than the last car,” I pointed out, pulling my hand back to my chest after leveling Mof with the stink-eye. “That one was a sauna.”

We went through cars quickly in the apocalypse, though that was entirely incidental. They either got destroyed, stolen, broke down, or we needed an upgrade to accommodate more people. Instead of the three cars we had started with, we now had two.

“When we get inside, it’s going to feel like a clubhouse,” Fallon explained to the group. “Or a skanky bar. Usually, these places have a makeshift cafeteria you can eat at in exchange for weapons or...other services.” Clearing his throat, he continued doggedly, “There’s also rooms they allow you to spend the night in. Usually, you don’t have to pay a fee, but you’re often sharing with a few others. I’m hoping with a group this big we’ll all be put together.”

“The most they’ll allow you to stay is a night,” Declan took over, hands moving fluidly as he signed. I was surprised to see both Tommy and Nik staring at his hands with something akin to understanding. Did they pick up sign language during our months apart? “Sometimes two, but that’s pushing it.”

“This isn’t a hotel or a safe haven,” Tonya cut in, eyeing the approaching building grimly. “This is a place designed to stop at on your way to your destination. A rest area.”

Nodding my head once to show them I understood, I stepped through the glass doors and into a small entryway with ceramic tiles, a reception office, and what looked to be an abandoned art studio, complete with dried paint, fallen paintbrushes, and half-finished paintings.

Guards eyed us as we entered but nodded towards what appeared to be a cafeteria.

It had been entirely remodeled. What had once been a serving line now was a makeshift bar with a half dozen bar stools in front and a collection of alcohol lining the shelves behind. Tables cluttered the rich gray carpeting, each one occupied with people of all ages.

I watched a woman only a few years older than me saunter from one table to the next. She wore high-heels that would’ve tripped me up in seconds, a corset that pushed up her ample breasts, and shorts that resembled a pair of cheetah dotted panties.

She lifted her eyes when our group entered, and light entered them. Putting an extra sway to her hips, she sashayed over to where we stood.

“Fancy seeing you again,” she purred, brushing a red-painted fingernail down Fallon’s bicep.

Seeing you again?

Icy dread slithered down my spine.

When Fallon didn’t immediately push her off him, my breathing turned uneven.

“Abigail,” Fallon said at last. “Let me introduce you to my fiancé, Addie.”

He turned towards me, and his hard eyes immediately softened. Moving away from her sensual touch, he wrapped an arm around my waist. My tension drained from me just at his proximity, his touch seeping warmth into my frigid skin.

“Addie, this is Abigail. I met her at the other outpost.”

Abigail twisted her lips, which were annoyingly bright red and plush, into a pout. She was all curves and beauty and sensuality while I was...not.

“You were a lot more fun when she wasn’t around,” Abigail whined, flashing me a smug smile. I went ramrod straight, body jerking like electricity shot through my veins.

“When he rejected you?” Tommy asked snarkily. When Abigail’s eyes narrowed, Tommy added, “I don’t like the asshole either, but don’t even think about lying or spinning the truth. Or else I’ll kick your ass, female or not. You propositioned both Fallon and Declan. They sent you away.”

By the time Tommy had finished his tirade, Abigail was red in the face.

I had to give the girl credit: she composed herself quickly and turned towards Ronan and Ryder.

And then the bitch did what I least expected: she popped out a boob.

Yup. Suddenly, I was face to face with a cherry red nipple. Oh god. That was unnaturally red. My guess? Some type of infection. Would it be weird if I asked Doc to look at it?

“So, boys, what are your names?” Her voice took on a husky cadence.

Ronan and Ryder pointedly looked away from the escaped tit.