“This was the warehouse area,” Rusty indicated the expanse of open floor plan. “I didn’t have it climate-controlled, but that wouldn’t be hard to do since it’s well-insulated.”
I pictured the contents of our armory relocated to that very area and nodded.
“Now back here are a couple offices, bathroom, facilities, and a break room,” he pointed down the hallway and waved us to follow. “All this is under heat and A/C, so it stays comfortable year-round. And the kitchen’s not quite a full kitchen, but it’s nice.”
It was nice. All of it had a feeling of being fairly new, and while it wasn’t homey like the farmhouse, we could still be comfortable there.
Gabe asked the pertinent question about how much the monthly rent would be, and Rusty came back with a number that was lower than expected.
“Since I sold up to that big outfit based in Houston, this place has been empty and I don’t want it to fall into ruin. I keep up with the maintenance, but there’s nothing quite like having folks in and out regularly. And there’s not many other businesses in and around Dove Creek that need or can afford to be in here.”
“I’d be remiss in not telling you we’re not here in a business capacity,” Gabriel said.
“Oh? Well, even if you intend this place for personal use, all that’s important to me is that it’s cared for and the rent’s paid,” Rusty chuckled.
Gabe hesitated and glanced at me as though he were unsure of divulging our true need for the building.
I spoke up, “It won’t be for personal use in the way you’re thinking. You know how Dove Creek was overrun by zombies a few months ago.” It wasn’t a question, and I didn’t wait for confirmation because there was no chance he had forgotten. “We’re part of the group that fended off the attack. Our headquarters burned night before last and we’re looking for a new home.”
With all the cards laid on the table, Rusty stuffed his hands into the pockets of his Carhartt jacket and examined his boots.
“I’ve heard talk that there’s been an organization of regular folks protecting the town for a while now. Never knew any names. I remember back forty years ago when we all thought this’d become a ghost town. Always knew there was somethin’ not quite right, but it’s been better for a long time. I reckon we owe that to you and we owe you a debt of gratitude for what you did a few months ago…”
I could sense the ‘but’ coming before it surfaced.
“But I can’t risk having your operation not four hundred yards from my home,” he hooked his thumb in the direction of his house. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”
At a different time, I would’ve argued, but since we had just been burned out of our original place, I knew we couldn’t guarantee a similar situation wouldn’t spill over to his home.
Gabriel tried with the logic I couldn’t summon: “We take precautions—make sure we’re never followed, put up protections, keep a low profile. We aren’t amateurs that’ll get you killed.”
Both our phones went off with a text at the same time. I glanced at it to see it was a message from Meredith—Hugo was awake.
I didn’t have to tell Gabe to cut it short; he smoothly wrapped up our talk with Rusty Sumner.
“We have something urgent to attend to. No hard feelings—we understand your concerns,” he said, offering his hand.
The older man accepted it with a firm handshake. “Y’all take care of yourselves.”
The sting of disappointment was easy to ignore in the face of the small victory of Hugo regaining consciousness. It was, after all, the first place we inquired about.
I all but jogged to my truck, and Gabriel was right there with me. We jumped into the toasty warm cab and I threw it into gear as soon as our seatbelts were in place. As much as I wanted to hurry, though, the snow made a mad dash to Westview impossible. I settled for slow and steady—sliding off the road wouldn’t get us there any quicker, and even the big diesel I drove wasn’t infallible.
There wasn’t much of anything we could do, but I could sense Gabe’s need to be there for Hugo as keenly as my own. He would have a long row to hoe, whether or not what the doctor said proved to be true.
On two feet or in a wheelchair, he was still our leader.
Chapter 18
“I’m so sorry,” I croaked through a constricted throat.
Hugo was still in ICU, his number of visitors limited, so it was just the two of us. They had taken out the breathing tube and promised a regular recovery room the next morning if his vitals remained stable.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for, mija. Creed had us all fooled.”
His voice was hoarse, too, but from a tube having been rubbing up against his throat, not tears that threatened to fall.
I knew he couldn’t talk much, and I didn’t want to take up a lot of time since there were others waiting to see him. So, I didn’t argue the finer points in the who-was-to-blame debate.
“We’re holding onto hope… that you’ll be back,” I told him.
“If I am, by some miracle, it will be a very long time.”
One big, fat tear escaped and rolled down my cheek.
“I’ve made peace with it. And I have you and Gabriel to rely on,” Hugo said.
“We won’t let you down,” I promised.
“There’s something I want to give you,” he said and tilted his head in a tiny movement toward the table next to the hospital bed. I followed his eyes to where he looked. “That rosary. Take it.”
“The one you always carry in the field?”
“It has warded off many vampires and exorcised a few demons—you’ll need it now more than I will.”
As he spoke, I picked it up and felt the smooth beads pass through my fingers. It was pure silver and weighty, as if showing its own significance through shear gravity. I had never held one before and was struck by the solemnity of thousands of prayers and recitations because surely that was how many had been said over it.
“Am I even allowed to have one of these? I grew up Methodist, you know.”
Hugo made a sound that would have been a chuckle were he healthy. “For what you’ll be using it to do, yes.”
I squeezed the crucifix piece in my palm. “I’ll take good care of it.”
“I know, mija.”
When I quietly shut the door behind me, only Meredith and Gabriel were left in the small waiting area. I tucked the rosary into the inner pocket of my jacket and joined them.
“He seems to be in good spirits, all things considered,” I said.
Meredith nodded. “He truly believes there’s a plan for us all, so he takes comfort in that.”
“But you’re worried about him.”
“Yes, but…” She paused and blinked hard a few times. “As long as he’s alive, we can get through anything.”
She stopped abruptly, as though realizing she might cause me pain with her honest relief. If she was going to say anything about it, she was interrupted by Gabe and I both hugging her. There had been a few agonizing hours the day before when it wasn’t clear Hugo would hang on to life, so I wasn’t upset by it. I was glad for her not to know what it felt like to lose the one you loved above all others.
Stacey came around the corner and hesitated, worried she was intruding on us. I let go of Meredith and waved her over.
“Hey Stace.”
“Hey. Aric said Hugo’s awake.”
“He is,” Meredith said with a small smile. “How’s Garret?”
“Ready to break out. Just waiting on the discharge order to be signed off on.”
Meredith got to her feet and patted Stacey’s arm. “I’m so glad and I’ll tell Hugo the good news.” She went to the door and paused before pushing it open. “If there’s anything you need me for…”
“Don’t worry about us. Focus on your family,” I said.
She gave a nod before disappearing into Hugo’s room. There was so much right in front of them to deal with, the last thing she needed to be doing was
mixing it up in the field or being called upon to heal injuries. For a while at least, we would have to go back to recovering the old-fashioned way.
“I came down to find you and offer to help,” Stacey said. “I know how to do what Garret does and even though he’s going home, he needs rest for a few days.”
“That would be helpful,” Gabe told her. “What kind of equipment do you need?”
“Nothing. He has a full set-up at their house. You know Garret—he has a backup for everything.”
“Never have I been more glad about that,” I said. “We aren’t doing any official rounds until after Christmas, but Gabe and I will be available if you catch anything that needs our attention.”
“Dad and Ty would be glad to back you up if you need it,” she offered.
Gabe nodded. “I’ll text them later.”
“I better get back up there. Don’t want to keep them waiting in case the orders came through.”
“We’ll stay out of the way so we don’t hold y’all up, but give Garret our best. Let us know if you need anything, even if it’s not Amasai related,” I told her.
“I will.”
She turned to go back the way she’d come, then smiled and waved over her shoulder.
“It’s nice to have young talent in the group,” I said.
“It is,” Gabe agreed. “It’s what will keep us going in the long run.”
* * *
The day was darkening early yet again as the clouds had clung to the sky without a single glimpse of the blue beyond. Flurries had fluttered about on and off, but it was snowing again with renewed strength as we pulled up the driveway to Gabe’s townhome.
I had packed one big suitcase with as many things as I thought I’d need, including something nicer than hunting clothes for Christmas. While we were at my apartment, I had also snapped a few photos of the bigger pieces of furniture to list for sale online. There weren’t any apartments or houses immediately available—no surprise given the time of year, so the less I had to move and store, the better.
We were having even less luck finding a new place for the Amasai. Like me, our team was also uprooted. Gabe and I had decided we could meet in the armory as needed, but only temporarily. We were vulnerable there.
Gabriel hauled my suitcase out of the bed of the truck and to the door for me. He punched in the code on the keypad and opened the wide front door.
“Feels weird coming in this way,” he commented. “I always go through the garage.”
I hesitated at the threshold. “I know I’ve already asked a thousand times, but you’re sure I’m not in your way? Don’t you have plans for Christmas?”
He set the suitcase on the polished hardwood and turned to look at me. “Are you trying to heat the neighborhood?”
Rolling my eyes at him, I shut the door with a click. “I thought you had to be a dad to say stuff like that.”
“Or just cold,” he pointed out. “I wouldn’t have asked you to stay if you were in my way, and we’re together most nights anyway. I know how the market is here and you don’t have a lot of options, so you can crash here as long as you need to.”
“Okay, I think I just feel…”
“Like you’re used to doing things alone?”
“It’s scary how fast you adapt to being on your own. I mean, I have my family and friends and all, but that’s not the same as having a partner in life, you know?”
“Yeah, I do know. And I never took the plunge and tried the whole marriage thing, anyway.”
“How come?” I had never pointblank asked him why he had remained a bachelor, but he also wasn’t old enough for it to be a foregone conclusion. Early thirties was hardly past time to cross the possibility of matrimony off the list.
He shrugged. “It just hasn’t worked out for me yet. I’ve spent all of my adulthood either working on my business or hunting vampires—hardly makes me relationship material.”
“Screw that. You’re a great catch.”
“You’ve always had a way with words,” Gabe grinned. “Tell you what… Let me take this suitcase upstairs and you can unpack whenever you want. We’ll make dinner and scour the online listings for a possible place for headquarters.”
“I’ll make dinner since you made breakfast,” I said. He started to protest, but I overruled. “No, if I’m going to be here indefinitely, then I intend to contribute. Besides, I wanna give your fancy kitchen a test drive.”
By the time we finished eating the grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato bisque I had pulled together—comfort food on a cold evening—we had located three properties that looked promising as temporary Amasai headquarters.
“We can go drive by and scope them out tomorrow,” Gabe said. “But I doubt anyone will be around to let us in on Christmas Eve, so we’ll just have to be patient.”
“I’ll be ready to have us all back under one roof. It doesn’t feel right not to have a place for us all to be together.”
“We will be. And I have some pull with a few building crews around here… Once we break ground on the new place, it won’t take long to complete,” my partner reassured.
I checked my watch. “It’s still early yet. I feel like we should stay awake for a while in case Stacey catches something going on.”
“I think so, too, but let’s unplug. The last few days have been a lot to take in. How about a movie?”
“Something funny,” I said.
“Something Christmas-y?” Gabe said at the same time.
We both laughed at how quickly we had narrowed the pool.
“If we’re talking Christmas and funny, there’s one that stands the test of time,” he said.
“National Lampoon’s.”
“Bingo. I have it on digital, if you wanna look it up. I’ll go make popcorn.”
I snagged the remote control off the coffee table and navigated to the menu that showed the movie library. And library was no exaggeration. He had enough film fare to rival my own, and in far more genres.
“Between your movie collection and mine, I think we could cover the entire modern film era.”
Gabe laughed from the kitchen as he opened and shut the microwave door. “I don’t have time for TV—it’s too much of an investment to keep up with episode after episode.”
I found what we were looking for and selected it from the search results. Since it had a lengthy musical intro, I started it as the first pops started up in the kitchen. It only took a few bars of the cheerful Christmas music to take me back to watching it with my family every year as far back as I could remember. It had always been one of Grandpa Fred’s favorites, even though Grandma Hattie had decried the amount of language in it. As an adult looking back, I wondered if she opposed the occasional f-bomb on principal only since she laughed the entire way through the movie every time.
Gabriel returned to the living room just in time with not only a huge bowl of popcorn but more of the hot cocoa like the night before. We fell into a pleasant rhythm of munching and sipping and laughing at the hilarious absurdity of Chevy Chase’s antics. The humor was the perfect antidote to the troubles of the week, easing some of the burden that came with hurts and anxiety.
And even vampires must not like to be caught out in winter storms because we never heard from Stacey that night.
Chapter 19
“It looks like it’s pretty busy inside. Why don’t I just drop you off, and I’ll run over to my office to grab that paperwork, that way you can get us a table. I won’t be long.”
“Yeah, good idea. I wouldn’t have expected it to be so packed today.”
Gabe dropped me off right at the door, so I didn’t have far to go in the cold. I stomped my boots on the rug just inside the door to knock off the snow that had accumulated in those few steps, just as it seemed others had done before me since there were soggy spots and still-melting snow on it.
There was one empty table in the whole place—a booth against the far wall. Bobby Sue smiled when she spotted me and asked how man
y of us there would be. She grabbed a pair of menus and two sets of rolled silverware, and waved me over to the open table.
“It’s hopping in here today,” I said as I sat and shrugged out of my coat.
“This is about the time folks get tired of cooking so much at home every year. Coffee for you today?”
“Yes ma’am, as usual. Two, please.”
“I’ll be right back with those.”
I was looking at the menu—not that I needed it—when I thought Gabe slid into the seat across from me.
“I think I’m gonna have the loaded omelet. What about you?” I asked without looking up.
“I hear the pancakes are good.”
That deep voice had me simultaneously taking a sharp look up and reaching for the handgun at the small of my back.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I seethed.
“Pleading my case,” Creed said. “I figured I shouldn’t press my luck without being in full view of witnesses.”
“You figured right.”
“Gonna shoot me right here in front of all these people?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
My hand hadn’t moved from the grip on the gun. Just like the first time we had met—maybe I should’ve taken that as a sign.
Creed laughed and flashed me a grin. I ground my teeth together and wondered how I had ever found his confidence attractive, especially when it bordered on arrogance. Also not unnoticed by me was that said swagger had reappeared, though I was none the wiser as to why.
“That’s what I love about you. I’m not sure you wouldn’t put a bullet in me right here and now.”
I glanced around the diner at the other patrons, none of whom were paying attention to the tense exchange in the back booth. They were just grateful for a break in the weather and somewhere to eat on Christmas Eve that wasn’t home.
I pinned Creed with a hard look. “Let’s get something straight. You and me? Not happening. No matter what you say here, it changes nothing.”
“Valan is helping me find my father.”
Three Times Burned: A Paranormal Fantasy (Remington Hart Book 3) Page 15
