The line between her brows suggests she’s still got no idea what I’m planning, but she nods.
“Good. We’re going to make him think twice about ever coming back here again.”
Her mouth drops open, but once I explain my plan that devious smile is back. “Promise you won’t bite him, though, OK? Nobody needs that.”
We wait for what seems like ages but is probably more like fifteen minutes. Molly gets a cramp in her leg and kind of ruins the act when she starts stomping around the flat trying to shake some life back into it. I hush her with a wave of my hand behind me as the door slowly opens and an unfamiliar face peers around it.
The room is completely dark, so I can’t make out much detail to his features, but Sebastian looks pretty much the way I pictured him. He’s tall and well put together. He’s got a camel jacket on and loafers for fuck’s sake. I guess you can never tell who the assholes are.
He takes a few steps into the room, leaving the door open behind him. He pauses, and I’m guessing he’s listening for noises in the flat.
After a moment, he takes another few steps forward. “Better not have a man up here with you, Molly. Like I said, you’re mine.”
What a fucking creep. Without waiting any longer, I lurch out from behind the sofa, lifting my arms in front of me and letting out a deep groan like every zombie film you ever saw. I stiffen my legs and let my gait go unsteady as I shuffle toward him.
Sebastian whips around, a look of horror on his face as he tries to take in what he’s seeing. Supes might be out, but I sure as hell hadn’t seen a real zombie before I got turned. I’m willing to bet Sebastian hasn’t seen one either from his reaction.
His jaw drops to the floor when Molly joins me, imitating my shuffling, awkward walk and wailing fit to fill the audio for a B-grade porn film from the ’70s. I give her a bit of a side-eye, but she either misses it or ignores me, then both of us are stumbling toward Sebastian while he tries to get out of our path.
“Molly? Fuck! What happened here?” He steps backward, almost tripping over a side table. “Shit. Molly?”
She lets out another awful moan, and he looks like he’s about to be sick in his mouth. “Fuck.”
Can’t say I blame him. Molly is putting on quite an act.
We haven’t taken this far enough yet. Not enough to really make sure he never bothers her again. So I fix my gaze on his face and moan, “Brains!”
“What the fuck!” He’s almost at the door.
I speed my shuffling and am nearly on him, reaching, grabbing for his jacket.
He lets out a shriek and pushes my hands away. Darting for the door, he tries to get through, but I’m too quick. Years of smashing cardio at the start of every workout weren’t for nothing. I get hold of his jacket and almost laugh when he starts to cry. I’m fumbling for the pocket, trying to get hold of his keys, but he’s making it hard.
Next second, he drags himself out of the flat, my hand still halfway inside his pocket. My fingers close on hard metal andI grasp wildly. I have them! I squeeze my fist tight even as the door slams against my wrist.
I let out a grunt of surprise. I feel the thunk as my hand drops to the floor outside Molly’s flat, still clutching the keys.
Sebastian lets out a howl of fright and takes off down the corridor, his footsteps beating a hasty retreat.
Molly straightens and gapes at me. “Oh shit, Adam. Are you OK?”
I stare down at the stump of my arm for a moment. Surprisingly, it doesn’t hurt much. There’s no blood, just a thick, black, congealed substance I’d rather not look too long at.
I glance away. “Ah, yeah. I think so. Nothing Jen can’t patch up, right?” I sure hope so.
Molly beams at me. “Oh my god. You’re my total hero, Adam. I’ve never seen a grown man cry like that.” She wraps her arms around my waist and gives me a swift hug, pulling away just as fast. “Well thanks. Don’t take this the wrong way, but maybe I can see why Jen put up with you for so long after all.”
I tip my head to one side trying to decide whether this is a compliment or not. You can never tell with Molly. “Thanks?”
She laughs. “Hey, that’s a big deal, you know. It’s technically against the rules for me to like you at all because you're my bestie’s ex, but I think I actually might.”
I grin.
Then her mouth drops open. “Oh my god, your hand!” She rushes to the door and opens it, and we both stare at my hand on the floor.
I reach down and scoop it up. I hope Jen has enough surgical string to sew it back on after work. I concentrate for a moment and manage to loosen the fingers enough to offer Molly the keys. “Well at least he won’t be letting himself in here again.”
THIRTEEN
