Page 26

Chapter Twenty-six

O n the sixth day I have had about as much as I can take of sitting around. Sure, the luxury of three hot meals a day and fresh warm water will never wear off again, but I’m starting to feel restless. This is the longest I have gone without running in fear, starving, or being beaten, since the apocalypse began. It’s a little unnerving.

I’ve taken to running laps around the perimeter of the property, always keeping well away from the fence as Hunter instructed, when I am alone. Although, I barely run alone. In fact, I barely do anything alone anymore. One or more of my guys are always with me, teasing me, touching me and nearly driving me to the point of madness, but still, every time I open my mouth to demand more, something holds me back. I lose my voice and I hate it. Each time I let them walk away I hate myself a little bit more. And I kind of hate them too. I wish they would push me over this inability to ask for what I want, just like they push me over pretty much any other doubts or fears I experience. But at the same time, I also am so damn thankful that they won’t. Basically, I’m a fucking mess and it’s making me want to do something stupid.

Absolutely fed up with my thoughts I stomp out to the front porch and tug on my boots. When Chase appears behind me and wraps his huge arms around my waist, I force myself to stiffen against him and step away.

“I just need a sec on my own.” I state, avoiding his eyes as I stare at my laced-up boots. I still see his muscles tense as he takes my words as an insult. I don’t know how to explain my thoughts without sounding like a whiny bitch though, so instead I soften my tone and ask “Please?”

Chase releases a big breath and nods his head, visibly relaxing himself before he responds. “Sure, Angel, whatever you need. Just take this with you if you’re gunna run alone.” he hands me his massive hunting knife that he pulls from… somewhere on his body. Honestly, he pulled it so quick I didn’t even see it and considering he’s wearing a pair of loose running shorts and a tight singlet I have no idea where he could have had it hidden in the first place. I blink at him as I take the knife slowly.

“I need to take a knife with me while I run inside the fence now? Really?”

“It’s that or you take me. Hunter’s rules Angel, take it up with him.” He gives me a devilish smile and I roll my eyes. Then I shrug as I tie the holster for the knife around my thigh, twice. The damn thing is massive on me. It’s more than a little surprising I didn’t think to strap my own weapons on before I left the library, so I’m actually kind of glad Chase offered his knife. Not that he needs to know that.

Once I’m done, I look up at him, cocking my hip to the side and raising my eyebrows to ask if he’s satisfied. He may say the rules are Hunter’s but I know damn well that each of the males in my life agree with them wholeheartedly.

Chase grins down at me before sweeping down to place a light kiss on my lips as one big hand gently trucks a stray hair behind my ear.

“I’m sorry you’re feeling so wound up at the moment, Angel. You know all you have to do is say the word…” And he’s gone before I can respond to that statement, or even get my brain back online from that light touch of his lips, barely a kiss but it scattered my senses like he’d just plundered my mouth for hours.

I quickly turn around and start running before I start screaming and can’t stop.

***

I tuck my head down as I run, watching my boot clad feet thump heavily along the worn-down little trail. I blank my mind and let the rhythmic beat carry my thoughts away. By the time I reach my third lap my breath is sawing in and out in an ungodly roar and my poor, abused body is starting to fail me, but I don’t want to stop, I just want to keep running. Just a little longer. Just a little more time without thought.

The next thing I know I trip over my own feet and the world goes tilting around me before I end up face down with a mouthful of grass and dirt. Great. I’m willing to bet at least three sets of stalkers eyes saw me hit the deck. Just fucking wonderful. I cough as I sit myself up and look around, at least I managed to trip toward the back of the property, with any luck the garden at the back door obscured my less than graceful descent. I let out a painful breath as I roll my shoulder, no doubt Nate will have something to say about me jostling it so hard.

I clamber laboriously to my feet with an over-the-top groan as I stretch my aching muscles. When I look toward the house I am deeply surprised and mildly suspicious to see that none of the guys appear to have noticed my fall. Or if they did, none of them have come to check on me. Which is most definitely not right. Nate at the very least should be on his way to give me a lecture. And Chase should be here fussing over me already. Hunter should have already materialized from the ether to help me back on my feet before the other two even noticed, because of course he would be following me, it’s what he does.

My spine starts to tingle as I take a step towards the big house, and I immediately turn back to check the tree line beyond the fence. Something is not right. My creepy sense is tingling. One of these things is not like the others… there! I spot the back gate hanging open a couple centimeters, something I must have run right past multiple times. Dammit. I should have let Chase come with me. I’m standing just a couple feet from the gate, and I take half a step towards it, then hesitate.

Oh, no. I know a trap when I sees one, buddy. And that, sir, looks like a trap. Not today, Satan, not to-fucking-day.

I turn on my heel, intent on getting the hell out of there, let the big scary army men come and close the creepy little gate, I’m secure enough in my feminine badassery to know when to back the fuck up damn it. I reach for my knife just in case, but a wasp chooses that moment to sting the heck out my neck and I jerk to a halt with a curse. I slap my hand up to crush the god forsaken thing, only to come away with what looks suspiciously like a dart, complete with red tuft at the back. What. The. Fuck. I spin back to the woods searching for the ass wipe that just darted me like a fucking animal, as I try to keep moving backwards. I toss the dart to the side and manage to unclasp my knife before the drug starts to hit my system and I stumble sideways like a drunk sailor.

Luckily, I have enough sense left in my head to know this is not going well.

“GUYS!” I scream, but what comes out is a garbled high pitch squeal. Shit. Still, hopefully it’s enough to get their attention. My vision starts to go hazy as I stumble to my knees and holy crap, how did I get CLOSER to the gate? Wait. Is that shrub moving? Is that… is that a zombie shrub?

I drunkenly pull my knife to brandish it at the menacing shrub. But my movements are all off and so freaking slow. My vision starts to dim and darkness creeps in on me. But I hear the back door slam before I pass out and I manage to smile at the dead shrub walking, because my guys are coming, and not even animated foliage, shooting poison darts, can stop them.