“I know, sweetheart, I know,” Alex murmurs in my ear before brushing a soft kiss to my temple. “We’ll get him out, I promise.”
“What if we can’t?” I say, my heart in my throat. It’s a fear I’ve had ever since I learned Tobias got taken, but been too terrified to speak aloud. Like saying those words will somehow make that horrible thing happen, even though I’m well aware that awful shit happens regardless ofwhat I say or do.
“We will.” He sounds so sure and confident that I want to believe him, even though I know he’s talking out of his ass. “Come on, we need to move on before we’re spotted.” He presses one more kiss to my hair before releasing me and stepping back. “The more information we get today, the better prepared we’ll be for when we come to save them.”
Alex’s words give me something to focus on, a way to help my brother even if I can’t save him from the hell he’s trapped in. I suck in a deep breath and pull myself together, just like I have a thousand times before. Feeling a little more in control, I nod at Alex and he leads the way through the forest.
We stop several more times, counting guards and their weaponry. Most guards are wielding some kind of bat, golf club or knife while a few have access to shotguns. There’s even a few wielding pistols similar to what the guys have, and every single guard sitting in the watchtower has a rifle. But even with that, the number of firearms overall is low. They still outnumber us five to one, just like we suspected, but maybe Rhys has an idea on how to even the odds.
It’s midafternoon by the time Alex decides we’ve scouted enough and should head back. We pick our way out of overgrown woodland and back into the dilapidated housing estate. However, as we move down a narrow side street, a sound catches my attention.
I stop and ready an arrow, everything in me screaming that we’re no longer alone. My heart thumps erratically against my ribs as panic and dread squeeze my chest like a vise.
I hear it again, the sound of a shoe scuffling against the pavement. A zombie?
“Ollie?” Alex frowns at me, having stopped several paces ahead of me.
I incline my head toward the mouth of the side street where I heard the sound, but stay quiet as I strain my ears. The housing estate is almost eerily quiet, like the place is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
And then I hear it. A metallic click that sounds like someone flicking off the safety of a gun.
Fuck. Not a zombie.
Alex curses, but before he can reach for his pistol, another click sounds behind us, at the other end of the street. It’s then that I understand our situation in horrifying clarity.
We’re surrounded, and there’s nowhere to run.
Of Monsters and Good Men
Alex
Raw, icy fear slamsinto me as several figures move to stand at either end of the narrow street, penning us in.
This is my worst nightmare. Not only is my life in danger, but so is the woman I’m falling for and there’s not a bloody thing I can do.
“You two have been very busy,” a familiar voice taunts that has some of my fear turn in to fiery rage.
Iknewwe should have killed that bastard.
“Ethan?” I can hear the horror in Ollie’s voice as she stares at her ex. “What the fuck are you doing?”
The man in question steps forward, a sadistic smirk on his lips as he stares at her with a pistol pointed at her. “It was great seeingyou the other day at the Lodge, but we didn’t spend enough time together, so I’m here to fix that.”
I try not to growl like a bear at the lecherous expression on his face but I must fail because his eyes flick to me and he sneers, “I’m surprised you’re still alive and not missing any limbs considering the fucking mess the Scourge left at that house.”
“It was you? You’re how they knew where we were?” Ollie asks, shocked.
Ethan waves her off. “Well, it wasn’tjustme, but I figured they’d want a heads up on you guys. Got some nice weapons and other fun things out of it.”
Ollie’s hand tightens on her bow, and I can tell she wants to aim and fire an arrow at Ethan’s arrogant face. I don’t blame her. My hands are twitching to either grab my gun and shoot him or pummel my fists into him until he looks like fucking mince meat. But I can’t do either because we’re surrounded and at least two people have guns pointed at us; Ethan and another guy behind us.
I flick my gaze over to the guy. He’s less certain of the gun in his hand. His grip is too tight and unsteady compared to the calmness Ethan has with his firearm. I’m not sure if that’s better or worse; probably worse since he’ll be more likely to fire accidentally.
Fuck. If only Rhys or Theo were here. They’d know what to do.
I silently curse Rhys for babying me before this trip. Even though he’s done some training with me, I don’t have the experience needed for this. And because of that, I’m going to get Ollie hurt, or worse, killed.
The idea of Ollie getting harmed is enough to drag me from my thoughts. I shake off the doubts and force myself to focus on the situation in front of me, just like Rhys taught me.
