Chapter 8
Traitors and Neanderthals
Olivia
I’m hanging on by a shoestring.
I’m both mentally and physically exhausted and everything hurts.
Hell, I’ve found muscles I didn’t even know existed until today, and all I want to do is curl up into a ball and cry.
Honestly, I’m surprised I’ve lasted this long without either sobbing, giggling hysterically or straight up passing out.
Maybe part of that is because I don’t want to appear weak or unhinged next to the three hot as fuck guys I’ve suddenly found.
They don’t seem intent on harming me, but Andy’s warning is ringing loud and clear in my mind; trust no one.
Which means after tonight, we’ll go our separate ways and never see each other again.
It’s for the best, especially since they’ll make me want things I can never have.
I shift, putting some distance between me and the guy the other two left out here with me, Alex.
He’s kind of terrifying because of just how damn big he is.
He’s not just tall, but broad and well-muscled and his thighs are like fucking tree trunks.
His size reminds me of the rugby player I dated at university; before the prick broke my heart.
But that’s where the similarities end, because Alex is devastatingly handsome.
He’s got that cute, boy-next-door thing going on, with full lips that are quick to smile and he even has dimples.
His dirty blond hair is cut short at the sides and left long at the top in a faux hawk, causing strands to fall over his baby blue eyes framed by thick lashes.
His slightly crooked nose is the only thing not achingly perfect about him, but even then it gives him a uniqueness that only adds to his attractiveness.
This guy was definitely breaking hearts in school and university with that easy, dimpled smile.
And I know he’d break mine if I gave him the chance.
That thought sobers me up. I tear my gaze away from him and focus on the house where the other two guys disappeared into.
I hope they’re not too long because I really need to sit down, decompress and see how much food I’ve lost from that damn fight.
Plus, night is falling fast and I’m getting twitchy.
“Don’t worry, they’ll be done soon,” Alex says in a low, soothing voice. For such a big guy, he’s surprisingly very calm and reassuring, almost gentle. It makes me wonder what else is hiding beneath that intimidating exterior.
“Good. I don’t want to be out here when the zombies come out to play,” I say, not having to work too hard to thread annoyance into my tone. I need to put distance between me and these men, which means channelling my inner cactus.
Alex nods. “Me either, but if something happens, I’ll be here to protect you.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t need you to protect me. I’ve been doing just fine on my own.”
“Sure you have, but it’s always nice to have someone watching your back.”
True. That someone used to be my brother until he married Lauren. Then I had to learn to fight my battles alone. I know he’ll be there if I need him, but Lauren is his priority. I don’t begrudge him that—it makes perfect sense—but I miss having someone who’s there for me and only me.
Oh well. Maybe I’ll have that in the next life.
I say nothing and absently stroke the side of Bean’s neck. The torn knuckles on my right hand are getting stiff and painful from when my attacker slammed my hand into the tarmac. I hope the bastard didn’t break anything. Last thing I need is an injury to make using my bow and knife more difficult.
“What are your animal friends called?” Alex asks, cutting through the awkward silence that’s fallen over us.
I cock an eyebrow at him. “Animal friends?”
He shrugs. “Animal friends. Sidekicks. Family. Fur babies. Whatever you want to call them. What are their names? I know the bird’s called Ketchup, but I can’t remember your dog’s name, and I don’t think you said your horse’s name.”
I know what he’s doing; he’s trying to get me to open up and relax around him.
Maybe he thinks if I tell him Harlow and Bean’s names, I’ll suddenly trust these three strangers and want to stay with them.
Well, unfortunately for him, I have a mission to complete and I refuse to allow anyone to stand in my way.
Not even a huge yet adorable brute like Alex.
But it seems Harlow has other ideas because the traitor leaves my side to sit at Alex’s feet and wags her bum as she begs for pets. The large man grins down at the Australian Sheppard before crouching and stroking her head, which Harlow happily leans in to.
“Now aren’t you just the sweetest puppy,” Alex croons as he scratches behind her ear. He finds an itchy spot that causes Harlow to thump the floor with her back leg and loll her tongue out of the side of her mouth.
I shake my head at the sight. Hussy. At least Bean and Ketchup have an ounce of loyalty.
Alex turns his head and smiles up at me and Christ, there are his dimples. How can a man be so handsome and cute at the same time? Especially one as intimidatingly massive as he is. Hell, I watched him beat the shit out of a guy less than ten minutes ago before…
No, don’t you dare go there, I scold myself as I shove those memories back into their little box. Now isn’t the time, not when I know I’m going to breakdown and cry like a fucking baby because I just witnessed seven men get shot.
Stop thinking about it!
My sore hand reaches up to grab a fist full of Bean’s mane as I fight to keep myself grounded.
The familiar vise tightens around my chest and my heart pounds in my ears.
The mare must sense my struggle because she turns her head and nudges me with her muzzle.
Either that or she wants food… Yeah, it’s probably food.
But I’m still thankful for the distraction as it gives me a chance to rein in my panic before it can sink its claws into me.
“Can you at least tell me the name of this sweet girl?” Alex asks, drawing my attention back to him. He’s still stroking Harlow but the smile on his face has dimmed and there’s a knowing look in his blue eyes, like he can see just how close I am to falling apart.
I hate that; that some stranger I’ve just met sees a part of myself that I’ve kept hidden from almost everyone. Sure Tobias has seen some of my breakdowns, but I’ve hidden most of them from him. And yet this stranger can read me like a book and I’m not sure how I should react to that.
It’s a good thing I’ll be leaving them in the morning.
“Name?” Alex prompts. He’s not going to give up on this, is he?
I sigh. Maybe if I tell him, he’ll stop looking at me like he can see into my soul. “She’s called Harlow, and the pony is Bean.” There. Now leave me alone.
Only he doesn’t.
“How old is Harlow?” he asks. By this point, the traitor has rolled onto her back and is now getting belly rubs.
Jesus, girl, have some fucking respect.
I shake my head. “I think she’s about a year old, but I’m not sure. She was so scrawny when I got her.”
And terrified. She was terrified of everything and everyone.
Not that I can blame her, considering that Tobias had to dispatch two zombies to get to her.
It makes me a little proud to see her accept pets from Alex so easily.
Even if I wish she wouldn’t encourage the guy.
But damn if it doesn’t soften the walls around my heart to see the massive man fussing over Harlow while she wiggles on her back.
Hey, no. None of that. Remember the last time you allowed a man to get close to you?
My ex-fiancé flashes in my mind and re-hardens the walls around my heart. I’m not going through that shit, not again. Third time is definitely the charm when it comes to pricks shattering your heart.
Alex opens his mouth again, and I know he’s going to ask some other inane question because he can’t seem to handle the silence between us.
Thankfully, before he can get the words out, the front door of the house flies open and out steps Rhys.
He looks calm, and I didn’t hear any guns go off, so I guess the house must have been clear.
Good. I don’t want to sleep around zombie blood. I had to do that last night and it was not a fun time.
“House is clear. Let’s move,” Rhys barks, sounding like a drill sergeant. But beneath the harshness of his order, there’s a slight musical lilt to his voice that makes me wonder if he’s Welsh. It would explain his name and, for a moment, I wonder what his life was like before the world ended.
He’s a handsome guy, but there’s a savageness to his good looks that the other two lack.
Maybe it’s the network of scars that line his face, neck and arms or the dark stubble that coats his strong jaw, but everything about him screams rugged and dangerous.
Like he’s the type of guy who’d bend you over in a dark alleyway, fuck you until you scream his name and then walk away without saying a word.
Either that or beat you into the ground because you looked at him wrong.
The guy is fucking intimidating. Not just from his size, although he’s definitely tall and well built.
Not as much as Alex, but he’s packing muscle.
No, there’s something about the way he holds himself, a confidence in his step and the dark glint in his honeyed eyes that tells me this guy won’t take anyone’s shit.
Or maybe it’s the big fucking assault rifle he’s carrying.
Yeah, it’s probably that.
Alex gives Harlow one last pat before unfolding himself from his crouch. Harlow huffs, not happy at losing access to her pets, and rolls back onto her paws before trotting over to me.
Oh, now you want to spend time with me, you traitor, I think as I shoot her a dirty look. Obviously, the dog just ignores me and simply sits at my side once again.
“Come on, princess. We haven’t got all day,” Rhys grumbles, clearly not happy that I’m not moving toward the door like Alex is.