Chapter 14
Where There's Smoke
Rhys
Watching Ollie smile and laugh as she sits between Alex and Theo is a special kind of torture. Even more so knowing just how much of a piece of shit I was to her the other night at the barn.
But every time I try to apologise, my throat closes up with shame and the words tangle on my tongue.
I know the longer I leave it, the worse it’ll get, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
The idea of showing Ollie my shameful weakness has my stomach tightening with nausea because what if she realises I’m exactly what Jerri says? That I’m a weak, incompetent coward?
Just the thought of seeing the disgust on her face is enough for me to keep my distance and haunt my dreams. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since, and exhaustion weighs heavily on my shoulders.
The sound of Ollie’s laughter jars me from my depressing thoughts.
Like magnets, my eyes are drawn to her. The way her emerald eyes sparkle with mirth in the low light, the smile that brightens her entire face and turns her from beautiful to breath-taking and the slight flush in her cheeks from happiness.
She’s practically glowing; the attention from both Alex and Theo is doing her a world of good.
I wish I could join them.
Theo whispers something in her ear, making her laugh again and shake her head.
My eyes flick to Alex as Theo presses a kiss against her forehead.
The ex-rugby star’s eyes tighten and his body tenses slightly for a moment before he relaxes.
I guess he’s still not completely sure about the relationship, but he’s not seconds from ripping Theo apart, so he must have made progress. No doubt doing it for Ollie’s benefit.
It seems all three of us will do just about anything for her.
My heart aches knowing there’s a good possibility I’ve ruined any chance of us being together like that. But maybe it’s for the best. With both Theo and Alex by her side, she has no use for me.
I rub my chest with a grimace and look away.
God, I’m a fucking mess. I need to get a hold of myself and snap out of this pity party. There are people depending on me for their safety, and I can’t afford to drown myself in my sorrows.
Needing to get away and do something physical, I give Harlow the rest of my dinner and move away from the happy threesome to scout the house we’re staying in for the night.
Most people are already in their beds, chatting quietly to one another.
A few give me nasty looks, no doubt still pissed about the way things went down in the barn, but I pay them no mind.
They don’t have to like me; they just have to follow orders.
The ones I do pay attention to are the ones who shoot Ollie and the guys disgusted looks.
It’s mostly the men and older folk, some even tutting and shaking their heads while muttering about how the youth has been corrupted by the apocalypse.
A cold glare from me has them shutting up quickly and averting their gazes.
The one good thing is that Jerri is avoiding us like the plague and hasn’t done or said anything to me, Ollie, or the guys. It’s almost peaceful as she keeps herself huddled in her small group of friends, not even looking in our direction. Maybe Ollie’s punch finally knocked some sense into her.
I snort. Yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it.
By the time I finish checking outside of every window to the dark fields that surround us, Alex, Ollie, and Theo have gone to bed.
The three of them are in the utility room—no doubt trying to get at least a little privacy in this crowded house—snuggled together like a litter of puppies.
The dark circles Ollie had around her eyes for the past week are almost gone, and she looks so peaceful in their arms.
I turn away before I do something stupid; like beg for her forgiveness and then scoop her up so I can have her for myself. The last thing I need is for Theo or Alex to beat the shit out of me for taking her away from them like a selfish bastard.
I head into the main living room and step over the sleeping bodies littering the floor.
Simon, a former security guard, sits in the corner, his attention focused on the large window that overlooks the house’s back garden.
He’s a big man, rivalling Alex in terms of height and muscle mass.
Over the past week, he’s shown himself to be someone I can rely on, as he’s very adept at keeping a cool head under pressure.
He glances over at me as I walk over to him.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” he asks with an arched eyebrow.
I shrug. “Probably.” Not that I’d sleep anyway. All I’ll end up doing is lying in my sleeping bag wishing for either the night to be over or for my patrol shift to start so I no longer have to dwell on my thoughts.
“Working yourself until you collapse from exhaustion isn’t the smartest idea, not with how on edge everyone is.” His keen dark eyes glance around at the sleeping people littered around the room. “People aren’t happy with you lot.”
“What’s new?” People haven’t been happy for a while. Stress from being chased by a vicious gang while also half-starved and injured aren’t things that fill people with joy.
His gaze turns sharp. “I’m serious, Rhys. People will do stupid, dangerous things when they’re scared and pushed to the edge.”
Damn. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. Yet another thing to worry about and keep me up at night.
“I’ll handle it,” I sigh and rake a hand through my hair. I’ll need to cut it soon before it gets too long and starts getting into my eyes.
“See that you do and soon.”
I pat him on the shoulder and move on to another room. There’s no chance I’m getting any sleep soon, so I may as well make sure everyone on watch is doing their job.
I stalk quietly through the house, careful not to wake those who are sleeping.
I don’t need to piss these people off even more by disturbing their sleep.
Most that are on watch are those who sided with me during the showdown at the barn and are quick to reassure me they’ve spotted no movement outside.
One or two on duty, however, need reminding that it’s their job to keep a lookout for threats and protect the rest of the group.
Pretty sure I made them hate me more when I’m particularly short with one guy who is fucking sleeping instead of staying watch in one of the upstairs bedrooms. I know I should care, especially after what Simon said, but I just don’t.
Lazy people like this asshole won’t do shit.
They’ll just whine and complain but won’t actually do anything to change the situation. I’m very familiar with the type.
By the time I finish my rounds, I’m dragging ass.
My limbs feel like they’re weighed down with concrete, and my eyes are barely staying open.
I’m still restless, worries swirling in my gut, but I’m at the point of exhaustion where my body doesn’t care.
So when I finally curl up in my sleeping bag, I’m out before my head even touches the pillow.
The acrid stench of petrol fills my nose, jarring me from my sleep.
I bolt upright, instantly alert as my eyes flick around the dark front hallway where I finally bedded down for the night.
No one else is here, and I don’t see any sign of where the smell is coming from.
There aren’t any shouts or screams. But that stench is unmistakable and has alarm bells blaring in my mind.
I untangle myself from my sleeping bag, shove on my boots and grab my rifle before striding down the hallway to the kitchen.
Five people sleep soundly on the peeling linoleum flooring, oblivious to the potential threat, including the fucker who’s supposed to be on watch.
But I ignore that, instead scanning the room for threats. I find nothing.
The next few rooms yield similar results, all with sleeping guards. Something I’ll have to deal with when there’s no impending threat.
I’m about to ascend the staircase when Simon comes thundering down, not caring who he wakes up. His dark eyes are manic and bloodshot, and his clothes are sleep-rumpled, as if he just woke up.
“We’ve got a problem. There’s—” Glass smashes in the kitchen before he can finish.
Screams fill the air, followed by the choking stench of smoke.
We hurry into the kitchen and straight into chaos.
Flames lick up the curtains of the smashed window as black smoke saturates the air.
People scramble away from the fire, eyes wide and glazed with terror as they grab what they can and flee.
Outside, unfamiliar men shout and laugh.
Ice trickles down my spine. The Scourge has found us.
Movement outside catches my attention, and instinct takes over.
I lift my rifle, aim, and squeeze out several shots.
Simon lifts his shotgun and follows my lead, peppering the broken window with lead.
Yells and screams follow, telling me we’ve hit at least several assailants.
Good, means they’ll think twice before coming close to the house again.
The fire grows wilder, the bright orange flames towering above us to spread across the ceiling.
Thick black smoke billows around us, poisoning the air and making my eyes water.
I don’t attempt to put out the fire. There’s no point.
I simply grab Simon and drag us both out of the room and shut the heavy door behind us.
It should contain it for a little while, giving us time to figure out a plan.
Seconds later, Theo, Alex and Ollie come barrelling in from the utility room, Harlow trotting behind them.
They’re all suited up for a fight, backpacks slung over their shoulders and weapons ready.
This isn’t the first time the Scourge has ambushed us during the night, and like me, they’re ready to face the threat.
My chest swells with pride.
“What’s going on?” Theo asks as he glances around, his face devoid of his usual amusement.