Hugh’s gaze darkened, and he kept it on Tim, above Ellie’s head. “A god wouldn’t need to hold a gun to a woman’s neck. A god wouldn’t need to shoot an old friend or scare anybody or even use radiation to harm a community.”
“I didn’t say I was a good god.” Tim snorted at his own joke.
Hugh visibly calculated the situation in a way Ellie remembered well. What was he going to do? She wanted to help, but if she moved an inch, there was a good chance Tim’s gun would go off. A tremor shook her and she tried to calm her body.
“Hold still,” Tim barked.
“I’m trying,” she whispered, her knees shaking.
Hugh took another step toward them. “I think you’re a coward, Tim.” His tone was low and taunting. “Holding a woman hostage. You’re weak. Pathetic.” His upper lip curled.
Panic gripped Ellie. What the hell was he doing?
Hugh’s snarl grew more pronounced. “I bet you were a wimp before Scorpius.”
Tim’s body tightened behind Ellie. “You asshole.” He turned the gun and pointed it at Hugh, shoving Ellie hard in the side.
Faster than a blink, Hugh whipped his gun out and fired in unison with the maniac.
Ellie screamed and smashed into the wall, her shoulder hitting and then her head. Stars exploded in her vision. The last thing she saw before crashing to the ground was blood bursting from Hugh’s shoulder.
Then blackness.
Chapter Five
I might’ve saved the girl, but I shot a man. Scorpius, whether we’ve been infected or not…has changed us all.
—Hugh Johnson, Brigade Notes
“Hold on, Ellie.” Hugh held her closer to his chest as Connor drove maniacally through the town.
“Want me to hit a hospital?” Connor asked, glancing over at the motionless woman.
Hugh shook his head. “No.” Scorpius was rampant in hospitals. “Only as a last resort. She just hit her head.”
Connor pressed a button on the dash. “Hey, boss. Hugh got shot.”
“You okay?” Deke asked through the speaker.
“Fine. Bullet barely grazed me. I think it has already stopped bleeding,” Hugh said.
Connor slowed down and turned. “Was more of a scratch, really.”
Felt like a fucking bullet. “Agreed,” Hugh said. “Ellie is out.” As he spoke, she stirred in his arms, her eyelashes fluttering. Then those stunning blue eyes focused on him. “Hello, beautiful.”
Deke cleared his throat. “I’m assuming you’re not talking to me.”
Ellie blinked. “You shot him,” she murmured, seeming to snuggle closer into his chest.
“Shot?” Deke asked.
Connor took another right turn. “We had a problem. Scorpius survivor went nuts and fired at Hugh.”
“Is he dead?” Deke asked.
“Yes,” Connor said. “Hugh had the better aim.”
“The files haven’t come in on Gregor or Hugh yet, so I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” Deke sighed. “Status?”
