Once Bitten, Twice Dead

by Bianca D’Arc

  “That’s crazy talk, pal.” Xavier’s tone was designed to annoy Sellars into saying more. He was clearly unstable and babbling, but they were learning a lot here. None of it was good, but they needed to know whatever Sellars would give up before he died. “I bet Zhao sent the zombie to get rid of you because you’re nuts.”

  “Bin Zhao didn’t send it. He doesn’t have that kind of access. He’s strictly the money man. I think it was Rodriguez. He’s always been jealous of my genius.” Sellars was frothing at the mouth now, his body twitching uncontrollably as he entered another round of seizures. He likely wouldn’t survive this time.

  “Names,” Xavier demanded. “Give me names and I’ll make sure you get your revenge from beyond the grave. I’ll kill them all for you.”

  “Jenn…ings. Bal…es…tar…do. Sug…den…Ger…ar…” He trailed off before he could finish the last name, but it was enough. Xavier recognized some of the names from the list of doctors who had been on the original team. Gerardi was one of them. Some of the others were new names. Damn! He needed more information.

  But it was already too late.

  “I think he’d dead.” Sarah’s voice came to him from a few feet away.

  Xavier sighed heavily and checked the body. “Yeah. He is.”

  “Why would the zombie attack him? I thought Sellars had these things under his control.”

  “It’s not one of his.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I got a look at him,” Xavier sighed heavily, remembering the creature he’d had to end. “Did you notice the uniform? He was a soldier. My former commanding officer, Major Patrick Lafferty. He went missing after the last wave of attacks on base before Commander Sykes arrived and took over.”

  “How in the world did he get from North Carolina to New York in that state?”

  “I have no idea. Could be that he was captured and brought here, then turned later. Or maybe he was infected at Fort Bragg and transported here by whoever sent him after Sellars. Either way, the implications aren’t good.” Xavier realized that the presence of the army major here raised even more questions.

  “At least now you know what happened to him,” Sarah offered quietly.

  “He was a good man. A good soldier. And a good friend.”

  Sarah put a hand on his arm and he looked up to meet her sympathetic gaze. “He killed Sellars. In the end, no matter how it came about, he served his country and saved lives.”

  “You know, you’re right.” Xavier felt his spirits lift, though the sensation was bittersweet.

  “He died a hero.”

  They called in the cavalry and watched over Sellars’s body until help arrived. Sarah dashed into her house to throw on some clothes while Xavier waited, guarding the scene.

  Upon reflection, Xavier realized they weren’t sure what would happen to Sellars now that McCormick’s serum had been administered and rejected. They needed to know if he’d rise like the others and turn into a zombie.

  For that reason, he held off darting Sellars and turned his body over to the science team. They were equipped to destroy him should the worst happen. If he rose to terrorize anyone within biting distance, they’d take care of him. To avoid the possibility of his infecting anyone else, Xavier supervised while the science guys locked Sellars’s remains in the rear of one of their reinforced vans. Xavier saw there was a wire mesh cage separating the front seating compartment from the rear, like in cop cars. If Sellars rose from the dead, they could dart him through the grate before he could hurt anyone.

  “It’s over.” Commander Sykes had come out personally to see the scene of Sellars’s demise.

  “For now,” Xavier agreed cautiously. “Sellars named names before he died. There are more people involved than we’d assumed.”

  Sykes’s expression darkened. “We need to debrief. Can we use your house, Sarah?”

  “No problem.” She led the way around to the front of the house to avoid the crime scene techs working near her back door.

  Xavier and Sarah closeted themselves with Sykes only after guards had been posted to assure complete privacy. When Sykes was ready with paper and pen—to take notes the old-fashioned way—Sarah began. She outlined the sequence of events, starting with Xavier getting bashed over the head. She skirted around what they’d been doing directly before, Xavier noted with an inward grin. Sykes didn’t need to know, though Xavier would bet he could guess from the way Sarah blushed and stuttered until she’d gotten past that part.

  Sykes listened, asking questions here and there as they laid out the timeline and series of hellish events they’d been through that night. Xavier didn’t make any effort to hide how close he’d become to Sarah. He sat beside her and held her hand when she related some of the tougher parts of the action they’d just been in. Sykes didn’t even raise an eyebrow, leading Xavier to believe Sykes was well aware of their growing relationship. Good, Xavier thought, it would come as no surprise when he wanted to keep her close.

  “All right. The rest can wait until later. You both need some downtime.” Sykes put away his pen, looking from Xavier to Sarah and back again. “Grab a few hours. We’ll pick this up later, once I’ve had a chance to get these names to the people who can help track them down. I’m posting a security detail around the house—both visible and invisible. There will be one of the county patrol cars out front and a team of my men deployed around the perimeter. I intend to keep you both safe, although I believe the immediate danger is past, now that Sellars is gone.”

  “Roger that, Commander.”

  Xavier realized the rest break was likely more for Sykes’s benefit than for theirs. He looked as if he’d been through the ringer trying to get back to New York as fast as possible. It was late for him, considering he’d been strictly on day shift since this whole operation started. He would no doubt ask better questions when his mind was sharp and able to assimilate their information. Xavier had a powerful need to hold his woman. He wanted to hug her tight and make promises he’d never expected to make in his life.

  “Officer Petit, I’ve got your chief’s agreement to keep you on our team a little while longer. In fact, I want you to start thinking about a career change. I’ve been authorized to offer you a job as a civilian contractor. We can talk more about this later, but I wanted to give you a heads-up so you can start considering it.”

  “Thank you, Commander.” Sarah looked uncomfortable. “I’ll definitely give it some thought.”

  “If it’s any incentive, you’d be working with Xavier. You two make a good team and there are very few people who can operate safely around these creatures. We need you, Sarah. Your country needs you.”

  Sarah swallowed hard and nodded. “I’ll consider it, Commander, and I’ll be interested to hear more about the position next time I see you. For right now, you’ll have to forgive me. I need to spend a little time figuring out where my career and my life are headed.”

  “I understand. Probably better than you think. My own career path went careening off the rails onto a whole new set of tracks when this problem first started. I still don’t know exactly where it’s going to lead.” Sykes offered his hand and she took it, shaking affably. “You did good work tonight, Officer Petit. Thanks for your help.”

  Xavier went outside with Sykes, ostensibly to see him off. He also wanted to eyeball the team that would be watching the house and grounds. Xavier didn’t recognize the men but knew with a certainty they were spec ops. Probably SEALs, considering Sykes was navy. Xavier got a glimpse of the team dressed all in black before they faded away into the shadows around the house. They had let themselves be seen on purpose, and the leader had nodded to Xavier before disappearing like a ninja.

  “Damn showoff SEALs,” Xavier muttered as he reentered the house, shutting and locking the door behind him. Sarah was waiting for him, a look of concern on her beautiful face.

  “Something wrong?”

  Xavier walked over to her and enfolded her in his arms. “Not a thin
g now, chère. I was just griping about the team Sykes has got watching your house. Navy spec ops. Looks like a whole SEAL team out there.”

  “Really?” She craned her neck to look out the front window.

  “What? You like them navy boys better than us Green Berets? If so, we’re going to have to have a long talk, sugar.” He squeezed her as she grinned.

  “Oh, I like Green Berets just fine. One in particular, as a matter of fact.” She reached up and kissed him, just about knocking his socks off. But he had a question he wanted settled first. He drew back and set her away, heartened by the look of concern on her face.

  “Sarah, you did such a great job on this mission. I failed you more than once, but you rallied from every setback. You’re a good operative. Hell, you’re better than good. You’re a natural, and I don’t say that lightly.”

  “Xavier, you never failed me,” she started, interrupting his speech. But he made a gesture with his hands, asking without words for her to let him finish what he had to say. She subsided, taking a seat on the couch as he paced in front of it.

  “I want you to consider Sykes’s offer. I mean, really consider it. We could work together from now on. I’ll teach you covert ops stuff and you can help me learn investigative techniques. I think we’re a partnership made in heaven.” He didn’t state his intention to take care of them both until she got up to speed. He would really enjoy teaching her how to operate in his world, should she decide to take the job. “What do you think about working with me full time, Sarah?”

  “I don’t honestly know.”

  She looked a little lost, sitting alone on the big overstuffed couch. He could see he’d taken her by surprise, and she hadn’t yet had time to assimilate all the changes in her life. He knew he was rushing her, but he needed to know. Everything hinged on her decision.

  “I thought I’d live and die a county cop. But the idea of going federal is tempting, I’ll admit.”

  Tempting, she’d said. He could work with that.

  “Sarah.” He sat on the couch, turning to face her. “This mission changed things for me, too. Meeting you…being with you…This has been like something out of a dream. Okay, sure, parts of it were pure nightmare, but the good parts—the parts where we were together—those were some of the best moments of my life.”

  Her gaze lit with something he prayed was hope.

  “What I’m trying to say is that I don’t want this to end. I want to be with you, Sarah. If you take the job with Sykes, you can make that a condition. That we stay together as a team. We’ve already proven we work well together. Sykes won’t mess that up. He’ll let us be a team and we can spend our time together, both on duty and off duty. Like we’ve been doing here. Only this would be long-term.”

  “How long-term?”

  Her tone was challenging, but her eyes held a glimmer of joy that gave him hope.

  “Forever, if we can manage it.” He took her hand and slid off the couch, dropping to one knee in front of her. “Sarah, mon ange, will you marry me?”

  “You want to marry me?” Disbelief warred with bubbling happiness in her tone.

  “You know I love you, don’t you?”

  “You do?”

  “I guess I’ll have to work on my communication skills,” Xavier joked as she launched herself into his arms. They tangled on the floor in front of the couch, both on their knees. “Sarah, I love you with all my heart.”

  They didn’t make it to the bedroom until much later. After a session on the floor, where Xavier’s knees got bruised up and Sarah suffered some minor rug burn that quickly healed, they finally collapsed together onto Sarah’s bed.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to get married.”

  The smile on her face lit his world.

  “I’m relieved you agreed. Believe it or not, some women find me a little overbearing.” He tried to look earnest. Teasing her was fast becoming one of his most enjoyable occupations.

  “No.” She overacted her mocking surprise. “You don’t say.”

  “I’m afraid so.” He leaned against the headboard, stretching his legs out in front of him as Sarah settled at his side. “But you’re stuck with me now. You said yes and I’m never letting you out of it.”

  She looped one arm around his middle. “I’m not letting you out of it, either, Xavier. You’re mine.”

  “I like the sound of that, sugar.” He scooted downward on the bed, settling next to her as they turned toward each other. He cupped her cheek in his hand, his thoughts turning serious. “You should probably know that if you turn down Sykes’s job offer, I’ll do my best to find a way to stay by your side. You’re still in danger as long as the bad guys know you’re immune to the contagion. Sykes managed to keep the identities of all immune military personnel under wraps. There aren’t many of us. But Sellars told his buddies about you. They could still come after you.”

  “I know,” she said softly, her expression serious. “I’ve been trying not to think about it, but I’ve been aware of the possibility since I heard Sellars on the phone in that basement lab. Don’t think I haven’t factored that into my decision.”

  “So what is your decision? Have you reached it yet?”

  He desperately wanted her to take Sykes’s offer. It was the easiest way for him to remain close enough to protect her. He’d find another way if she truly didn’t want to join the team, but if they were working together, it would solve a lot of difficulties. He wouldn’t pressure her. It had to be her decision. It was, after all, her career they were playing with.

  “I’m going to take the job.” She held his gaze. “I know it’s what you want me to do. It’s also what I want to do. I’ve never been more challenged, more afraid and more alive than I’ve been these past days working with you and your team. I don’t want that to end, Xavier. I want to work with you. I want to be with you. And I want to contribute. I can make a real difference on the team. I can help stop the spread of this contagion. I’m one of the few who can do it in relative safety. I can’t waste that kind of opportunity.”

  “You are one hell of a woman, Sarah.”

  She blushed prettily as he swooped down for a lingering kiss.

  She pushed at his shoulders until he rolled to his back, then she took control. She straddled his thighs, sitting up to smile at him.

  “For the record, I think you’re one hell of a man, Xavier.” She ran her hands down his chest, loving the play of his muscles under her fingertips. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

  He caught her hands and laced his fingers with hers. “How we got so lucky,” he corrected her gently. “In all this mess, somehow we managed to find each other. Somebody up there is definitely looking out for us. What are the odds that we’d both survive being bitten by zombies, only to work together and fall in love?”

  “Astronomical.” She bent over him, resting her head against his chest. “You know, if Sellars had succeeded, we’d be like Adam and Eve.”

  “Come again?” His hands stilled.

  “He started talking crazy about how he didn’t care if the people he sold the technology to wiped out everyone on the planet. He thought it would be good to start over with only a handful of immune people to recreate the human race.” Remembering Sellars and how he’d held her prisoner while he told her those things made her feel weak. Xavier’s presence gave her strength and helped her come to terms with the horrors of the past days. “We’d be one of those couples he talked about. Both immune. Survivors of a plague that could destroy humanity as we know it.”

  “It’s not going to happen, mon amour. We’ll see to it.” He withdrew his fingers from hers and wrapped one arm around her back, the other cupping the top of her head as she pressed into his chest.

  It felt so good, so protective. With Xavier holding her, nothing bad could possibly happen. Even if such thinking was only a pipe dream, it felt real at the moment. He comforted her by his mere presence.

  “That, more than anything, is why I’m taking th
e job Sykes offered. I want to prevent that twisted vision of the future from having even the faintest hope of coming true.” She clutched at his shoulders, seeking his strength. “As long as the people Sellars was working with are out there, the threat of this technology spreading remains viable. We may have taken care of one lunatic today, but there are at least a few more out there, willing to wipe out millions of people for their own profit.”

  “You forget, sweetheart, there’s more than just us on this team. There are others like us and still others working on the technology and intelligence angles. Working together, we’ll stop the crazies. I promise you. It may take a while, but we’ll get them all.” He raised her chin and placed a gentle kiss of promise on her lips. When he drew away, she smiled at him.

  “Let’s help each other forget all our troubles for a little while. What do you say?”

  “What do you have in mind, mon ange? You know I’m game for almost anything.” He gave her his most devilish smile.

  “Nothing too dramatic.” She sat up again, straddling him as she worked her way down his hard body. “A long, slow lovemaking session might be just the ticket. I know you’re always game for that. You Cajun boys don’t ever seem to turn down a little lovin’.”

  “A man would be a fool to turn down a gorgeous little sex kitten like you, Sarah.” His eyelids stood at half mast, making his every word ooze with sex appeal.

  The look he gave her as she touched him could have set fire to ice and sent her pulses skyrocketing.

  “Sex kitten?” She pretended to consider the phrase. “Nobody’s ever called me that before. I think I like it.” She purred in the back of her throat as she leaned in to lick the length of his hardening cock.

  He made a growling sound as she met his eyes. “Do that again, sugar.”

  She complied, loving the way he responded. He let her have her way for a good long while, and she enjoyed learning his body and how to make him quiver and moan. He was a solidly built behemoth of a man compared with her smaller frame. Having him at her mercy was a novel and extremely sensual experience.