“The topical anaesthetic takes a few minutes before it starts working.” Kara pulled a small metal table beside her and sat down on a wheeled stool.
Great. Time to kill. Love that,Nick thought.
“I’ve caught bits and pieces, but what exactly happened out there?”
“We went out to the airfield; Marcus had a hunch that it hadn’t been hit yet. We started loading supplies when some guy fired into us—downed one of our guys. Before we could eliminate him, he tossed a grenade into one of the buildings. Took out several people and, well, you’ve seen all the injuries.”
“Geez, any idea why?” Kara asked.
“He had valuable supplies and didn’t want others to have it. It really just boils down to greed.”
Kara tutted disapprovingly and shook her head. She moved the wheels of the stool into Nick until his knee was between her legs. Taking a needle between her fingers, she placed her hands against Nick’s chest and weaved the sutures across the wound. Even after waiting five or so minutes, the gel slathered on the gash had not fully numbed the area. His jaw tensed as pain sprouted through his shoulder. The needle pierced his skin and tugged the severed edges to meet. Nick breathed in deep as searing agony sent a jolt through his arm. Still, he clamped his mouth shut and did not make a sound.
After what seemed an eternity of yanking and threading through his flesh, Kara tied off the sutures. She sat a moment longer, her gaze drifting from her handiwork to Nick’s face. Kara was attractive with smooth, yellow curls that settled around her chin. A blush of pink painted her cheeks, and she had full lips and doe eyes that made her look like a porcelain doll.
Bright green eyes gazed at Nick, and he had only allowed himself to capture a view of them for a mere second. That was all the time he needed to see it. There was a happiness in them—a hope that he could not relate to. There was no need to hear her story because Nick was sure the disease taking over the world was the worst thing that had ever happened to her. Uneasy under her gaze, Nick pulled his tattered shirt over his head.
Nick was certain that Kara had never been sprawled on the bathroom floor in a puddle of her own tears, wondering how long it would take her to die if she cut her wrists open. He was sure she had never been locked in a cage and violated at every moment in the most depraved ways. Even if she had intrigued him enough to give her a go, he was unequipped to handle her optimism. Their view of the world was not seen throughtwo different pairs of glasses. It was seen through two different dimensions entirely.
When Nick stood and prepared to leave, Kara stepped in front of him.
“Maybe we can see each other when there’snotan injury involved,” Kara said.
In fact, maybe something was wrong with him. This was the second time during the collapse of society that a woman had shown interest in him, and all he could think of was Kate. With the usual expectations of waiting and romantic guidelines out the window, he figured he could have this woman naked on her back in minutes. Just the thought passing through his mind sent him spiraling into the depths of guilt.
Physical touch had been progressing with Kate. Lately, it seemed she had been longing for more. There were always so many interruptions in their life, and he was forced to stifle his desires. Still, Nick wanted the broken woman. Even if he could not be between the sheets with her, sweaty bodies and tangled limbs, just being near her was enough.
“We can’t, but thank you for stitching me up,” Nick said and left the infirmary.
Chapter 21
Nick pushed his way through patients waiting to be seen and medical staff rushing through the halls. Upon exiting the infirmary, the cool evening air refreshed him just long enough for the next issue to present himself.
Norman, you vile little shit. What are we going to do with you?
Connor’s body, desecrated and torn apart, flashed in his mind. That beautiful display was what he wanted for Norman. The thought of Kate carving him up brought him a fleeting ripple of glee until his old friend shame joined in; if not sympathy for Norman, guilt for allowing Kate to participate in such devious behavior.
Rather than permit rage to cloud his judgement, Nick conceded to viewing Norman as a target marked for removal.
When he arrived at the barracks, he passed by the room he shared with Kate and knocked on Phoenix’s door, which swung open immediately.
“Hey, bro! I heard about what happened? Are you okay?” Phoenix looked Nick up and down.
“I’m good. Just checking in.”
“Yeah, that shit was crazy. When the army trucks pulled up, everyone was freaking out. I helped some of the looting crew put the supplies in storage.”
“The looting crew?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, Marcus helped some but was pretty busy with all the injured people. Mostly Yara, and some guy. Nathan, I think.”
“Norman?” The wheels started spinning in Nick’s mind.
“Yep, that’s it. I’m going back tomorrow to help him sort through more of the stuff you guys brought back. Dude doesn’t say much,” Phoenix answered.
“I’m sure you spoke enough for the both of you,” Nick jested and clapped a hand on Phoenix’s shoulder.
“I consider my delightful conversation community service at this point.”
