If only my stupid heart would agree on that last part.
I sigh and adjust the pack on my back as we navigate through the wooded area that surrounds a dilapidated housing estate. It’s weird being on foot, but since we’re being stealthy, I left Bean in her field with Ketchup and only brought Harlow with me. She’s useful in a fight and understands to keep quiet. Plus, she’ll alert us to any zombies sneaking up on us in the area.
“Are you going to ignore me for the entire trip?” Alex asks as we break free from the trees to skirt around the housing estate, keeping to the shadows.
I shrug. “Depends. Are you going to keep trying to talk to me about things that we don’t need to talk about?”
“That’s a broad statement. How do I know what we don’t need to talk about?” He shoots me a small smile, but I don’t return it.
I won’t encourage him, not when he’s deliberately being difficult. He knowsexactlywhat I’m talking about.
Alex huffs and shakes his head. “You really can be frustratingly stubborn sometimes.”
“And yet you bet against me with Theo.”
His eyes twinkle with amusement as he chuckles. “Not true. I bet Rhys would be more stubborn, and I won, so thesometimespart of my statement is still correct. Speaking of bets, I need to make sure I squeeze every ounce of my victory from Theo. I’ve been slaking.”
None of us have been in the mood for Theo to whip out his ukulele and play for the past several nights. Especially with the dread of our impossible attack on the Scourge camp looming over us. I don’t know how we’re going to pull this off without dying when we’re severely outnumbered and outgunned. Maybe Rhys will use his vast experience he likes to remind me of and think of a plan.
“You have been slacking,” I tease back, trying to keep the light tone of our conversation going. “I expect plenty of Disney classics when we get back tonight.”
“Your wish is my command.” He flashes me an easy grin, complete with dimples.
Goddamn, he’s a handsome man, especially with that smile filled with so much happiness and mischief. I tear my gaze away from his lips before I end up doing something I’ll regret; like kissing the shit out of him or begging him to take me there and then.
Ugh, why does my love life have to be so complicated? I couldn’t just find one man to catch feelings for. No, I had to be a greedy bitch and find two.
Technically, three, but I’m not counting Rhys.
The guy gets under my skin more often that not with his grumpy, overbearing bullshit. My feelings for him are purely a need to punch him in the face, nothing more. I absolutely don’t want him to strip me naked, pin me against the nearest wall and fuck me senseless. Nope, definitely not.
The light teasing from our conversation dies the moment we skirt through a narrow alleyway and come face to face with the Scourge’s camp. It’s in what used to be a park farm, the small woods surrounding it heavily overgrown. A metal gate covered in barbed wire and manned by several bored-looking guards bars the only road in and out of the camp. Between the thick trees, I can barely make out the distant, dilapidated roofs of the barn and other buildings that the gang has turned into living quarters.
Alex grabs my arm and yanks me out of the line of sight of the guards at the gate and into a copse of trees. Harlow follows, keeping her body pressed against my legs as we crouch and examine the gate and guards.
“I count at least four at the gate,” I whisper. “Two standing in front and another two sitting off to the side.”
Alex nods, his bright blue eyes glued to the gate. “There’s probably at least one or two more hiding further down from the gate, ready to ambush if anyone gets through the first few guards.”
“How do you know that?” I didn’t see any signs of other guards further down the road.
“One guard standing at the gate keeps looking toward a certain area that’s covered by the bushes.” He points at the guard in question, who glances over his shoulder to the spot a few meters down the road that’s obscured by brambles.
“Maybe he needs a piss?”
Alex snorts softly. “He would have gone if he needed to. No, I’m betting he’s counting down until they swap places and he takes up that position.”
We sit and wait. Sure enough, about ten minutes later, a guard emerges from the brambles and swaps places with the other guard.
“Alright, so at least five guards at the gate,” I say once the guard disappears behind the bushes. “We should move closer to the camp so we can get a better idea of guard numbers.” I stand, ready to move. I’m determined to show the guys that I’m capable of doing something as simple as scouting a hostile location.
Alex nods. “Let’s keep to the woods and use the trees as cover.” He glances down at me, a grim yet determined expression on his face as he reaches up to brush his fingers against my cheek. “Please keep yourself safe and stay close to me.” Our eyes meet and the things he doesn’t say hang heavily in the air between us.
I swallow hard, loving and hating how my stomach flips and my heart stutters. I know he cares about me—it’s obvious all three of them do—but he’s looking at as if I’m the most important thing in the world.Something no man has done before and damn if it doesn’t make the walls around my heart crumble.
No, bad Ollie.We’re not coming between friends.
“Don’t worry,” I say, keeping my voice light as I will the butterflies in my stomach to stop fluttering their stupid wings. “I have no plans to throw myself into danger, as much as you guys seem to think I do.”
