“Is Yara in?” Nick asked.
Marcus shook his head. “She should be around in a bit. But hey, look at this with me.” Marcus pointed to a section of the map, circling an area with his finger and started explaining to Nick why he thought it would be a good place to explore.
Kate tuned them out. One of the office doors was ajar, and she eyed Norman sitting at a desk inside. His head was tilted downward, eyes pouring over a book, and Kate made her way to the room.
“We want to go on a looting mission,” Kate said bluntly. Norman looked up from his book and sneered at her.
“I don’t take women on looting missions,” Norman answered with finality, then returned his attention to his book. Now thatKate was a few feet away, she could see the text that Norman was studying was a manual on making animal traps.
“Why not?” Kate demanded.
Norman huffed an impatient sigh and closed his book. He looked up at her as though she should already know the answer. Kate maintained her gaze on him, awaiting what was sure to be an incredulous response.
“They’re too loud. Too needy. Always complaining. And their blood attracts the creatures.” Norman’s eyes dipped to Kate’s crotch.
A strained laughter broke through Kate’s lips. Not one that stemmed from humor, but from the fact that he believed what he was saying.
“I’ve learned to be quiet and kill the Infected. And lucky for me, the things Connor and his friends did, well, I don’t bleed anymore.”
“Free birth control for you and your man. You’re welcome,” Norman retorted with a wide smirk. Anger, like an infestation upon Kate’s thoughts, disrupted her rational composure. She slapped her palms against the desk and closed her face in on Norman’s.
“Iwantyou to take me,” Kate ordered, her lips curled in a snarl.
Norman’s amused expression faded. Anger took root, and he stood from his chair, stalking toward her until she was backed against the wall.
Nick looked up from his conversation with Marcus. What seemed like a discussion between Kate and the man who led the looting parties appeared to have taken a turn. Nick could not see the expanse of the office from where he stood, but the way the man inside was sneering awoke an uneasy feeling. Though Marcus was still speaking, running his fingers along routes on the paper map, his words softened to a quiet din of white noise.
“You want me to take you? Right here in front of your man?” Norman stroked Kate’s cheek with the back of a finger. Kate regretted her choice of words. Ready to call out for Nick, Kate’s mouth opened, hanging agape for a moment until she closed it. She hated herself for always relying on him. With flared nostrils, she took a deep breath, letting the vitriol course through her as she prepared to respond.
“Will you excuse me for a moment?” Nick said to Marcus. His fists clenched into wrecking balls. He strode across the room toward Norman’s office as realization curled around his mind. This was the man. The pathetic slab of flesh could hardly be considered a man. Images flashed through Nick’s mind. The basement. Kate tied to a bed, whimpering and sobbing. This man bent over her, face plastered with a nasty grin. Hands all over her.
As Nick neared the office, red, hot anger coursed through him, igniting his veins and demanding violence from his limbs. The hunting knife on his side tugged at him, making him aware of its presence, reminding him of its uses. Nick passed through the threshold. Norman stood tall over Kate, leering at her like she was a hot meal or a weapons cache—something to be coveted.
To Nick’s surprise, Kate stood tall, facing Norman with brave, piercing eyes. As Nick walked up to stand beside Kate, Norman backed off with slow steps.
“Time to go,” Nick said, never letting his fatal gaze fall from Norman’s face. Kate exited the office, but Nick stood in place. That old saying, ‘if looks could kill.’ Nick’s expression would flay the skin from Norman’s body, ripping through his capillaries until he was a pile of bloody mush.
Nick smiled.
It would be so easy to end him here.
“See you soon,” Nick said with a wink.
Chapter 17
“Seriously? I mean, don’t get me wrong. Korn is great, but Slipknot ushered in the nu metal era,” Kate said, kicking at an empty water bottle lying in the street.
“Ugh, Slipknot. So overrated,” Nick replied.
“And Korn isn’t?” Kate asked.
The road came to a fork where one path wove around the small city and the other led straight through it.
“Both of you are trippin’, Linkin Park set the damn stage for all music,” Phoenix said.
The three had taken the day to explore a nearby town in search of supplies and other survivors. While Fort Vanguard was not lacking in either, Nick felt it was beneficial to keep an eye on what was going on so close to home. He hated the idea of whole civilizations thriving nearby and having no idea, especially if they turned out to be rivals.
On the other hand, Kate was grateful for the time away from the fort. The predicament Norman had left her in, his constant reminders of an abusive past, had her on edge. Her stomachwas starting to hurt more often than not—a painful result of the anxiety she battled daily.
