After The EMP Box Set [Books 4-6]: The Chaos Trilogy

by Tate, Harley

  She pulled back and looked at him. Blood matted half of his hair and duct tape hung in twisted strips around his wrists. “Are you all right?”

  He nodded. “I’ll fill you in later. Right now we need to hurry.”

  The three of them rushed down the stairs and into the dilapidated lobby without another word. Larkin peered out the dirty glass. “Do we need to hole up somewhere or head straight back?”

  “Let’s loop around to the south and come up from the other direction.”

  “Copy that.” Larkin pushed open the door and glanced around. “It’s clear.” He headed out with Colt and Dani on his heels.

  They kept to the shadows, ducking into doorways and pausing in alleys as they navigated toward the south. Dani thought about Skeeter. She couldn’t be seen on the street. Not with Colt and Larkin.

  On the edge of his territory, she grabbed Colt by the arm. “There’s a dealer down here looking for my mom. We’re almost in his ‘hood. If he spots me, it’ll be bad.”

  Colt pulled her into a doorway hidden from the street and whistled for Larkin. A moment later, he joined them.

  “How bad?”

  Dani exhaled. “He said my mom owes him two hundred. Owes a bunch of other dealers, too. Next time he sees me, he wants his money.”

  “They’re still using money?”

  “Skeeter, is I guess. Maybe all the dealers. Most people around here don’t have checking accounts. That’s why there’s so many check-cashing places and Western Unions. People don’t use credit cards or ATMs in this neighborhood.”

  “Larkin, you have any cash?”

  He shook his head. “Not a dollar.”

  “I don’t, either.” Colt frowned. “Will Skeeter leave his territory?”

  “No. Never. Big Nicky works up here. Skeeter knows not to cross him.”

  “All right. Let’s skirt the edge. If we can make it home without being followed or getting into any more trouble, we can decide what to do about Skeeter later.”

  Colt filled her and Larkin in about his kidnapping and Dani fought to keep her emotions in check. She knew Colt had been in trouble. She shot Larkin a glance. He shrugged.

  “What’s the chance the guy will come after us?”

  “Probably low. But we should go back to the apartment where we know it’s secure.”

  Dani nodded and let Larkin once again take the lead. This time she kept pace, pointing out the edges of Skeeter’s territory and ensuring they stayed on the right side. An hour later, they arrived at the apartment building without incident.

  They eased around the back and slipped in the rear door. Thanks to their work a few days before, the front appeared abandoned, but it was actually the most secure entrance on the block. Two by fours and plywood blocked any attempt at breaking in, combined with heaps of trash behind them. Even if an enterprising person worked their way inside, they would have to contend with broken glass and rats before they made it to the back.

  Dani took the stairs two at a time and beat both men to the top. She opened the apartment door and waited. Her heart thudded against her chest in exertion and relief. As soon as Colt and Larkin slipped in, she shut and locked it and leaned against the wall. Colt is safe. She said the three words over and over again in her head until she believed them to be true.

  Colt reached out and gave her arm a squeeze. “I’m calling a meeting.”

  Dani nodded as he walked away, not trusting her voice to stay even. She closed her eyes and thought about how dangerous their current situation had become. They couldn’t stay in Eugene. It wasn’t worth the odds.

  After her heart slowed, Dani peeled herself off the wall and took a seat in the living room. Everyone else was already there. Harvey, Gloria, and their grandson Will. Melody and her brother Doug. Colt and Larkin. Even little Lottie, the yorkie, sat on Melody’s lap, licking a front paw.

  Colt cleared his throat. “As you all know, we’ve been scraping by so far outside of the militia’s control. But things are deteriorating rapidly. I don’t believe staying here any longer is sustainable or wise. I called this meeting to propose a new course of action.”

  He paused and glanced around the room. “It’s time to leave Eugene.”

  At first, no one spoke. Melody glanced at Gloria. Harvey glanced down at his grandson. Larkin leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. It was like Colt had told them the Ducks wouldn’t win the division or there was no such thing as Santa.

  Dani didn’t understand it. She’d been saying they should leave Eugene for days. Even before the Wilkinses and Harpers lost their houses in the fire. Even before she was shot and left for dead.

  They couldn’t stay in a town where a madman wanted to kill them and make a show of it. She shifted on her chair and waited.

  At last, Harvey broke the silence. “Where do you propose we go?”

  “South. The farther south we go, the better the winter weather. I know it’s only April, but we need to think about freezing temperatures and snowfall.”

  “I have friends in Reno.” Melody smiled at everyone as she tucked her legs beneath her. “We could head there.”

  Colt thought it over. “Reno’s too big. But Lake Tahoe is an option. It should have fish and plenty of cabins.”

  Harvey leaned back and shook his head. “They’re what? Five hundred miles from here? I’ll die of old age before we get there.”

  “Not necessarily.” Larkin opened his eyes. “We have vehicles, don’t forget that.”

  Colt nodded. “The electric car is dead, but the Corolla we found in the garage has half a tank. The Humvee’s range isn’t great, but somewhere will have diesel to siphon.” He glanced around at the seven other people in the room. “It’ll be a tight squeeze, but we can make do.”

  “What about food? Clothes? Shelter while we’re on the road?” Doug scooted forward on the love seat, and braced his elbows on his knees. “We’ve got a good thing going here. The place is secure. It’s warm. We’ve been capturing rainwater and scavenging for food. I say we stay.”

  Dani spoke up. “There’s too many bad people still hanging out. Drug dealers my mom used to know, addicts looking for a fix. It’s too dangerous.”

  “We’ve been doing fine.”

  She hesitated, but Colt gave her the go-ahead. “One of them stopped me today. Said my mom owes him money. If I don’t pay him, he’s going to come looking.”

  “Your mother’s debts don’t have anything to do with us.”

  “Doug!” Melody admonished her brother, but he ignored her.

  “It’s true. We shouldn’t have to leave because Dani’s got a problem with some thug.”

  Dani crossed her arms and focused on the floor.

  “It’s not just her.” Colt shifted in his seat. “I was ambushed today while on a run.” He turned and showed off the blood on his head. “Lucky for me the guy was too weak to kill me. But it took some serious work to get away. He’s still out there. Looking for me.”

  “Great.” Doug rolled his eyes. “Where have I heard this before?”

  “You could always stay behind.” Larkin stayed in a slouch, but the edge in his voice made his meaning clear.

  Gloria held up her hands. “Let’s not fight. Doug, I hear you on wanting everyone to stay. Colt and Dani, I understand why you want to leave. Melody, what do you think?”

  The younger woman glanced at her brother before responding. “I think we should go.”

  Doug made a noise, but she ignored it.

  “Jarvis will be looking for us. At some point, he’ll come this way. We need to be far away from Eugene when that happens. I don’t think we would survive another attack.” She reached for her brother’s arm. “I don’t want to go through that again, Doug.”

  Doug’s snotty look faded, and he scooted closer to his sister on the couch. He reached out and squeezed her knee. “Are you sure?”

  “Very.”

  He exhaled with a nod. “All right. Then I guess I’m in.”

  Colt tur
ned to Harvey. “What do you say?”

  “I don’t like it, but I know you’re right. Leaving is the only option.”

  “Then it’s settled. We can get everything assembled and packed today and hit the road first thing tomorrow morning.”

  Dani stayed in her seat while everyone else stood up and stretched before wandering off to their respective rooms. She knew they had to leave, but it still filled her with dread. Driving all the way to some lake on the border of California?

  Without gear or supplies or even warm coats, how would they make it across two states? She chewed on her lip as she thought about all the things that could go wrong. From Jarvis finding them as they headed out, to the Humvee breaking down in the middle of nowhere, to not finding a place to stay once they made it.

  Leaving Eugene was the right call, but could they really make it that far? She glanced up to find Colt watching her from the kitchen. He’d stacked up all the bottles of water on the counter and was starting in on the little food they hadn’t yet eaten.

  She managed a smile. Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard.

  Day Thirty-One

  Chapter Eight

  MELODY

  672 Bellwether Street

  Eugene, Oregon

  7:00 a.m.

  Steady raindrops hummed in the background while Melody balanced two bottles of water on her hip. Unable to sleep, she’d crawled out of bed at five and stood on the edge of the balcony, staring out over the town she’d called home her entire life.

  The clouds hid the stars and through the rain she couldn’t see a single light. The University sat dark this chilly, wet morning. She glanced down at the water she cradled like an infant and forced a dry swallow. Kids had always been on the horizon; she wanted a family someday.

  Now they seemed like a distant dream, almost as ethereal as electricity. Never would she tickle chubby little marshmallow feet or dance barefoot in the grass with a little girl that had her eyes. At twenty-seven, Melody felt for the first time like she’d wasted her life.

  Sure, she’d become a veterinary technician and helped pet dogs and cats and even a pig or two when they came to the vet. But she’d put so many things on hold. Travel. A boyfriend. Family.

  She hadn’t even read a good book in months. Now there wouldn’t be any new books or bookstores to find them in. No coffee shops to while away the morning, no museums in which she could lose an afternoon.

  The buildings were all still standing, but for how long? How long would any of it last without the government propping them up? When they hadn’t heard from the mayor or the governor or the president, how could they expect to ever go back to normal?

  A bottle slipped and she clutched it tighter. The closest she would ever get to a baby in her arms.

  “Need a hand?”

  Melody spun around. Larkin stood a few feet away, freshly shaven and smiling. A month ago she wouldn’t have given him a second glance. A soldier? No way. But now…

  He’d risked his own life to save hers and turned his back on the military he’d loved. She smiled back. “There’s four more on the counter. I couldn’t carry them.”

  Larkin nodded and turned away. She’d never noticed before how his eyes caught the light and sparkled. Melody followed him into the kitchen and waited as he picked up the bottles. One slipped from his grip and he ended up carting them all in front of him like a bushel of apples.

  “I don’t know how you women balance anything on a hip.”

  “Instinct, I guess.”

  He stilled. “Did you have any—”

  “Kids?” Melody shook her head. “No. I’d wanted to, but…”

  “You thought you had more time.”

  She nodded.

  “Sounds familiar.” Larkin walked to the door and bent to turn the handle. He bobbled the armload and almost dropped all the water, but managed to hang on. “I told myself I didn’t need to settle down until forty. What I wouldn’t give now for a plot of land and a white picket fence.”

  Melody eased through the open door and followed Larkin down the hall. “You’re serious?”

  He nodded. “Me, a wife, couple of kids, and some land? We could make that work for years and never need to see another living soul.” He paused at the landing. “It’s too late for that, I’m afraid.”

  Melody fell silent as she descended the stairs, only resuming the conversation when she reached the lobby. “You really think it’s over?”

  “What?”

  “A normal life.”

  Larkin paused at the door to the garage. “This is normal. Now, anyway.” He pushed the door to the garage open with his back. Colt caught it on the other side.

  “How’s everything upstairs?”

  “Everyone else is still asleep.”

  Colt nodded. “We need to canvas the area for some gas. A few containers if we can find them, too.”

  “How much fuel does the sedan have?”

  “Not enough. Maybe two hundred miles. The Humvee is worse.”

  Melody let Colt take the bottles from her arms. “How are we going to get to Lake Tahoe with so little?”

  “We have to siphon it. Larkin and I are about to go scouting. Hopefully we’ll get lucky and find some diesel, too.”

  “But first things first.” Larkin set his bottles in the back of the vehicle and turned around. “We eat some breakfast.”

  Melody laughed and shook her head. “Men. All you ever think about is food.”

  Larkin grinned and strode past her. “Not all the time, Ms. Harper.”

  She watched him walk away until the door to the building shut behind him.

  “You stare too long, you might go blind.”

  Melody spun around. “I wasn’t staring.”

  “And I’m not telling.” Colt wiped his hands on a rag and nodded at the door. “He’s a good man, Melody. You could do worse.”

  “I—” She hesitated, unsure what to say. After a moment, she settled on the truth. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

  “Do you want there to be?”

  “I don’t know.” Melody pushed her hair behind her ear. “Would it bother you?”

  Colt tilted his head. “Me? Don’t think I have any say in the matter.”

  She ran her tongue over her lower lip. She didn’t know why his opinion mattered, but it did. “So that’s a no?”

  “It wouldn’t bother me.”

  “Good.” She stood there, not sure what else to say. She shifted her weight back and forth on her feet, all of a sudden awkward and shy.

  Colt’s expression didn’t change. “You should probably get going.”

  Melody nodded and turned around. She could feel his eyes on her all the way inside.

  After climbing the five flights of stairs, she paused at the door to the apartment. Maybe a family wasn’t impossible now. She thought about Larkin’s comment about a house with some land and a white picket fence. If the right man came along and they could find a place to settle down…

  The door to the apartment opened and her brother and Harvey spilled out, both carrying bags and rifles. They stopped when they saw her.

  “You okay, Mel?”

  She forced a smile. “Just tired.”

  “You can probably sleep on the drive.”

  She nodded at her brother as he walked past her. Whatever the future held, they needed to leave Eugene to make it happen. It was time they got on with it.

  An hour later, Melody was back downstairs, standing outside the two cars along with everyone else. Lottie sat in the crook of her arm, quiet and still.

  Colt raised a hand for quiet. “Larkin and I have siphoned all the gas from nearby cars we could manage. It’s given us a mostly full tank in the Corolla.”

  “As soon as we find a vehicle running on diesel, we’ll do the same with the Humvee.” Larkin pulled out a piece of paper with a hand-drawn map. “Thanks to Harvey’s handiwork we have a rough idea of where we’re going.”

  He
pointed at a star. “This is where we are.” He traced a line from the star to a meandering blue strip halfway across the page. “This is the Willamette River. The main bridges across are three highways. The 569, the 105, and the 5. The lower two will be guarded by Jarvis’s troops for sure.”

  Doug spoke up. “So how do we get across?”

  “There’s a small bridge here, just south of the 569. Harvey thinks it’s our best shot.”

  “It’s a lot closer to the University than the 569.” Doug shook his head. “I say we try the highway first.”

  “We’re in a stolen Humvee. If the militia has any lookouts, they’ll spot us and put it together. We’ll be too exposed on the highway.”

  Melody stared at the map while the men argued about the best way to cross the river. At last, she spoke up. “I don’t think we should cross the river at all. Let’s head west, away from Eugene and Springfield. We can get away from Jarvis faster and easier that way, then loop around and head southeast.”

  “That would add hundreds of miles to the journey.” Harvey walked up to the map and pointed. “We need to take 58 through the national forest. If we head west, there’s no good way to get there.”

  “What are you talking about? We can take I-5 straight south. It’ll save hours.”

  Colt shook his head. “Not gonna happen. I-5 is probably a parking lot by now. Think about all the people that ran out of gas trying to get somewhere. It’ll be full of looters and thieves. We need to stay on the back roads. Go unnoticed.”

  Melody frowned. “You’re sure there isn’t another way?”

  “Not that we know of without a map.”

  “I lost all my maps in the fire.” Harvey kicked at the dirt as he remembered. “I can get us to 58 without one, but I don’t know much more than that.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Larkin handed Colt the hand-drawn map. “We head to the smaller bridge first. If it’s out, we regroup, head up to the 569.”

  Melody still didn’t like the idea. Who knew what waited on the other side of the river?

  She ran a hand over Lottie’s fur. The little dog would have to sit on her lap the entire drive to Lake Tahoe if they didn’t find a carrier to use. It wasn’t the bet mode of travel, but Melody wouldn’t give up Lottie for the world. The dog would just have to adjust. Like they all did.