Chapter 21
Ruined Moments
Olivia
I’m still shaking from the two earth-shattering orgasms Theo and Alex gave me in the shower as I explore the rest of the cabin wrapped in a towel. Much to Theo’s disappointment.
“Come on, baby. We could make you come at least one more time,” he says as he trails after me like a lost puppy.
“Leave the poor woman alone, man. We can always pick up where we left off.” Alex shoots me a look filled with smouldering heat before he grabs his best friend and leaves me to explore.
The cabin has a cosy mixture of old, dark woods and supple—if slightly worn—leather furniture. With four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen and living space, it’s far exceeded my expectations when it comes to a home during the apocalypse.
Sure, my cottage was a cosy, warm space that I loved before the world ended, but it hasn’t been home in a long time.
Not like this cabin; filled with the unique scents of Rhys, Alex and Theo and their little touches that are all them.
A guitar that no doubt belongs to Theo lying against the wall beside the fireplace; the kitchen is well-stocked with high-quality copper pans and notebooks filled with Alex’s scribbled writing and a large black metal gun safe sits next to the door along with various blueprints and notes on Haven’s security that screams Rhys.
“Feel free to take the loft bedroom if you’d like your own space. It even has its own bathroom. Or you can share one of our rooms,” Alex says, pointing towards the spiral staircase at the end of the hallway.
I climb up the staircase. It’s a massive space and while the ceiling is low in places and the bed that’s currently up there is a small single, the windows overlooking Haven and Bristol Channel beyond more than make up for it.
I instantly fall in love with it, knowing that I can make this space truly my own.
The small en-suite bathroom is also a huge bonus.
After changing into some clean clothes, the three of us make our way to the communal kitchen and dining building.
Harlow bounds ahead of us, tail still wagging as she continues to sniff and frolic, acting like a puppy as she explores her new home.
Not that I blame her, since I do the same thing, gawking at all the sights and people.
Haven is both amazing and overwhelming—mostly overwhelming.
While it’s nice not to be totally alone, the noise and amount of stares I’m getting are already starting to grate.
Even more so when Theo holds one of my hands while Alex holds the other as we enter the cavernous dining room.
In fact, a few people even stop eating and just stare at us.
There are a few disgusted looks but most people are just curious.
My hands tighten in theirs as unease slithers down my spine and the familiar self-consciousness I thought I’d got rid of after society fell rears its ugly head.
“Just ignore them, sweetheart,” Alex murmurs as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
Theo hums in agreement and steers us towards where the hot, steaming food is laid out buffet-style to join the short line.
The scent of cooked meat, vegetables and spices fill my nose, distracting me from the uncomfortable stares.
I grab a bit of everything, my stomach gurgling at just how good everything looks and smells.
The guys grab their own food and lead me over to a smaller table to the side. Rhys is already seated there, eating distractedly from his half-empty plate as he focuses on a pile of papers in front of him. He snaps his gaze up as the three of us take our seats at our table.
“I wasn’t expecting the three of you to be here this quickly,” he says with raised eyebrows.
The implication in his words is clear, and I just about want to die as my cheeks heat and I sink further into my chair. Alex snorts on my other side while Theo outright laughs.
“Jealous?” Theo goads with a mischievous lilt to his voice as he grins at Rhys.
I kick his shin under the table, causing him to grunt and glare at me.
“Rude.”
I point my fork at him. “Behave, then.”
Alex huffs a laugh at our antics and shakes his head as he turns his attention to Rhys. “What are you reading?”
“I’m updating myself on all the incidents that were reported while we were away.”
Theo frowns, his earlier mischief gone. “You’re already working? We only just got back like two hours ago!”
Rhys shrugs. “I had to go find something to do since you three were… busy.” He gives me a significant look.
My face flushes and I wince. “Sorry.”
He waves me off. “No apology needed. It’s your home now, too.”
Theo goes to open his mouth, and I just know it’s going to be something wildly inappropriate. Thankfully, Alex speaks before he can. “Have you found anything worrying in those reports?”
“A few things,” Rhys says, his brow furrowing as he sorts through his papers before grabbing a few and sliding them over the table towards the bigger man.
“The number of infected attacks has actually decreased over the past few weeks since we left—which isn’t a huge surprise since the Scourge will have cleared them out before and after they attacked.
No, what’s concerning is that while attacks are down, disappearances from those on supply teams are up. ”
Alex leans forward and flicks through the papers, his food completely forgotten.
I peek over, reading report after handwritten report of various people going missing on supply runs with no signs of struggle or zombies in the area.
After reading through them, he slides the papers over to Theo to read.
“Has anyone else commented on it?” Alex asks as he returns to his food.
While my appetite from earlier is gone, I force myself to eat, not wanting to waste the food.
Rhys shakes his head. “No. I expected Adam to say something, but he just handed me the reports while saying that at least infected attacks are down.”
“I’m surprised Charles didn’t say anything. While the guy is a massive prick with a stick up his ass, he’s usually pretty good about spotting these things,” Theo says with a frown as he slides the reports back over to Rhys.
“Maybe, but that’s not the only thing worrying me.” Rhys leans back into his chair with a sigh, the plastic creaking beneath him. “I haven’t spoken with Anthony yet, but from what little I saw when we approached Haven, the number of security personnel on duty is a fraction of what it should be.”
Theo’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “Seriously? After everything that happened?”
The other man nods grimly. “I’m hoping it’s just a shift change, but then I spotted some security guys I trained personally in the kitchen earlier.” The muscle in his jaw jumps as he leans forward and lowers his voice. “Something isn’t right here, and it’s bugging me.”
My stomach churns at that ominous statement. Just when I thought we were finally safe, now there’s potentially something going wrong in Haven?
Alex’s hand finds mine under the table, and he squeezes it while offering me a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it,” he murmurs as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
Easier said than done. I distract myself by feeding my leftovers to Harlow under the table.
“We should table this discussion until we have more information,” Theo says, joining me in feeding Harlow, who gobbles everything we give her.
“You said yourself that you haven’t spoken to Anthony.
There could be a myriad of reasons why security was so light and why those guys were in the kitchen, and we won’t know until we ask. ”
Alex nods in agreement.
Rhys tugs his hair. “You’re right.” His eyes are still tight with worry as he returns to his half-finished plate, the reports forgotten.
“I have my moments,” Theo says with a grin as he leans back into his chair, infusing some levity into the conversation.
“Rarely,” Alex says with a snort.
Theo’s eyes narrow playfully, and before I know it, the two of them are bickering back and forth over the top of my head. I can’t help but smile at their antics, and glancing at Rhys, I see a fondness in his eyes as he gazes at them. He notices me looking at him, and we share secretly amused looks.
It’s cosy, fun, and chaotic—everything I’ve ever wanted from a family.
The warm feeling sinks into my bones, and while there’s still some anxiety about how I’ll fit within this new community and the looming threat of Rhys’s concerns, I feel safe. Cared for. Happy.
It’s perfect.
Until it’s ruined.
Alex
The four of us are enjoying our meal, chatting and laughing with one another until someone decides they have a death wish.
“Whore,” someone coughs as they shove past our table.
Ollie blanches and the atmosphere changes immediately.
The smiles and laughter from before dissipate, replaced with glares and snarls as me, Theo, and Rhys all look to the dead man. I don’t know him very well, just that he’s been a resident of Haven since the beginning and works as part of the maintenance crew for the wind farm on the beach.
“You want to repeat that, asshole?” Theo asks in an icy tone as he stands, his chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor.
The sound catches the attention of the people sitting at tables closest to us, all of them turning their curious gazes to us. Some even lean in, practically salivating at the prospect of drama.
“Oh, you didn’t hear me? I said your little girlfriend is a whore.” The asshole’s lips curl in disgust as his eyes flick to Ollie.
Oh, hell no, is this piece of shit insulting Ollie.
I leap to my feet and close in on him, teeth bared. “I suggest you apologise before I make you bleed.” Someone presses up against my side, and a quick glance shows Theo is backing me up.