by Tate, Harley
John was conflicted. He could take out the girl before she killed him, but it was the last thing he wanted to do. She was only following orders. Protecting her family.
He knew the feeling. It’s what he had done for years. Anything Dane told him, any job, any mission. But this job changed everything. From now on, he would be his own man. His own person.
He held up his hands. “Just let my friends go.”
“Ma was right. They weren’t alone.”
“They haven’t done anything to you.”
“They sure have. You shot Daddy and Ma’s hurt.” The girl refused to budge.
John tried again. “If you let them go, no one else has to get hurt.”
The man swayed, rifle casting a huge arc in the air.
“Daddy?”
The girl shifted and the barrel of the rifle cleared John’s head. It was the only opportunity he was going to get. He reached for the gun.
The girl swung back to him and lowered her head to take aim.
Breath caught in John’s throat. Time slowed. A shot rang out.
The girl flinched as a bullet whizzed by her head.
What the— John looked past her. Emma stood behind a sedan, arms breached on the hood, revolver in her hand.
She’d saved him.
With no time to process, John ducked out of the way as the girl spun. He ran for the closest building, keeping low and behind the trees. A bullet pocked a trunk. Another flew past his shoulder. He reached the corner and gasped for breath.
Emma crouched behind the old Buick; gun held in both hands. Holly kneeled beside her, both women terrified and unsure what to do.
John scanned the compound. The woman with the rifle still crouched over her mother. The girl had hurried to her father who was now leaning against a tree, pale and gaunt.
Now or never. John motioned to Emma until he caught her eye. He pointed at the car, made a driving motion with his hands.
She hesitated. What was she waiting for? She pointed at the cabin. Mouthed a word.
He squinted. What?
She said it again. Tank.
John started. The dog was still alive? He nodded in understanding. He would rescue Tank, but she needed to leave. He pointed at the car again and waved her away.
Emma opened the door and shoved Holly inside. Please let these people be cocky enough to leave the keys in the ignition.
John wasted no time, rushing around the rear of the cabin and a hip-high window. He broke the glass with his elbow and a car engine revving to life muffled the noise. Shouts echoed from the clearing as John crawled through the shattered glass. He found himself in a small bedroom with a cot against one wall and a desk in the corner. No sign of Tank.
He eased the bedroom door open and a pile of fur and muscle almost knocked him to the ground. Tank jumped and pawed at John’s chest, whimpering and whining.
John bit his cheek to keep his anger in check. Fabric wrapped around Tank’s face in a makeshift muzzle, preventing the dog’s mouth from opening. John set to work removing it, loosening the knots and struggling with the fabric, until at last, Tank yanked his head free. The dog’s jaw immediately fell open and he began to pant in frantic rhythm.
Even John knew dogs had to be free to pant. It was their cooling mechanism. With his mouth shut up tight, Tank could have died. John hardened his heart against the people outside. They might not be his target, but they treated Emma, Holly, and Tank worse than criminals. He ran a hand through Tank’s fur.
“You’ll be okay now.” He glanced up at the door. “As long as we can get out of here in one piece.”
John eased toward the front door and cracked it open. While he’d been inside, the family had taken time to regroup. The open area sat empty and undisturbed, apart from chewed up tire tracks and a blood stain on the ground. The Buick was gone.
He eased the door closed. Could Tank make it through the broken window? John doubted it. It took some careful maneuvering for John to shimmy though, a dog as big as Tank had no chance. “If only you were a mini poodle or something.”
Tank cocked his head.
“We’ll have to do this the hard way. Ready?”
The dog nosed the front door and John nodded. “Anything happens to me, you run. Find Emma and Holly.”
He had no idea if the dog understood, but it was the best he could do. John eased the door open again and waited. Nothing. Keeping low to the ground, he took a halting step outside. Tank followed close on his heels. They made it to the end of the cabin before the hairs on John’s arms lifted.
“Go, buddy! Go!” He ushered Tank forward and a gunshot cracked.
Pain sliced his side. John fired in the general direction without aiming as he ducked behind the side of the cabin and reached for his ribs. His hands came away soaked in blood. Not good. Tank waited ten yards ahead in the darkening forest, tail wagging.
John couldn’t disappoint him. Not now. He pushed off the wood wall, wincing as he took a step.
Another shot ran out. He fired behind him and tried to run. If I can just make the trees... He kept plowing forward, one foot after another. Another gunshot, another few steps.
He ducked behind a tree and leaned against the bark to catch his breath. His side burned and blood soaked through his sweater. No time to investigate. He needed to put distance between him and any more bullets.
With the sun dipping below the horizon, the forest was cast in severe shadow. John kept to the dark patches, weaving his way through the trees as Tank led the way, always a handful of steps ahead. He followed the dog, stumbling and staggering until darkness enveloped them and they had put the family and the compound far behind. As they crested a small embankment, John called out. “Tank, come.”
The dog trotted back to his side as he slid down the sloping earth to land hard on his butt in a dry creek bed. He sucked in a lungful of air. The trees spun. Don’t you pass out, you wimp.
He turned and gingerly lifted his sweater. With two fingers, he examined the wound. The bullet had entered from the rear, grazing at least one rib before exiting the front, no more than half an inch shy of his major abdominal muscles. He exhaled in relief and pain shot through his side. No major arteries or organs impacted.
John shrugged the sweater off, wincing at the pain before following up with his T-shirt. Using his teeth, he ripped the shirt into strips, tying each one together before wrapping the makeshift bandage around his middle. He tied as tight as he dared, impeding his breathing, but slowing down the blood loss.
It wasn’t perfect, but it might get him to a town and necessary supplies. He pulled the sweater back on and hoisted himself up to stand. His vision dimmed, but he stayed upright. “All right, Tank. Let’s find the closest town. We need to patch me up.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Emma
Holly sobbed as Emma tore through the woods, the old Buick bottoming out in every divot.
“We have to go back for John,” Holly exclaimed, twisting around to stare out into the darkening forest.
“We can’t.” The revolver lay in Emma’s lap as she steered with two hands and an iron grip. Her heart refused to slow, no matter how much distance she put between them and the compound. “If we go back there, it’s suicide.”
Holly hugged her knees to her chest on the passenger seat. “I can’t believe they were going to shoot you. All we did was walk through the woods.”
Emma agreed. “At least we escaped.”
“What about Tank?”
Emma pressed her lips together. “I motioned to John, showed him where they took him. Let’s hope he can rescue him.”
“And then what? John doesn’t know where we’re going! John doesn’t know how to find us!” Holly’s voice edged into panic, but Emma pressed on.
“Maybe it’s for the best. John can have Tank and we can be safe.”
Holly turned on her, red eyes full of tears and anger. “How can you say that? John saved your life. And you want to leave him in the dust?
Tank, too?” She fell back against the seat. “Maybe I should’ve stayed with Gil and Irma or on my own at home. Sure beats this.”
Emma winced. Holly was right. Making the decision to take Holly with her was naïve and premature. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know something like this would happen.”
Holly sniffed.
“As soon as we find a road, we can find out where we are. Try to make it to Gloria’s.”
They drove on, silence stretching out as Emma searched for evidence of civilization. After what seemed like forever, the trees thinned, revealing an asphalt road. Emma hesitated. The trees blocked the sky, and without the sun she couldn’t tell north from south. Emma turned left and hoped for the best. After half an hour of aimless driving, they entered what appeared to be a small town, unrecognizable in the dark. She turned to Holly.
“I can’t navigate from here. I think we need to find somewhere to hide the car and get some sleep.”
Holly rubbed her eyes. “Are you sure that’s the safest thing?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure of anything anymore, but what other choice do we have?” Emma drove through the quiet town and turned into a parking lot for a strip mall. She eased behind the building, taking up a space dedicated to deliveries. A dumpster shielded them from the road and any passersby. It was as good a place as any. Emma locked the doors and reclined the seat, ensuring the revolver stayed easily accessible beside her.
Unable to fully relax, she dozed throughout the night. Holly shifted in the passenger seat, moaning and mumbling before rolling over. The hours crawled. When enough daylight spread to read the road signs without headlights, Emma started the car.
Holly woke as they drove, running her hands over her face and pushing back her hair. “Any ideas where we are?”
Emma turned onto the next road and sat up straighter in the driver’s seat. She pointed at the grocery store. “I remember this place. Gloria shops here for the cabin.”
“Can you get us there from here?”
Emma thought it over. “I hope so.” She turned into the parking lot and stopped to get her bearings. “If we head east from here, into the wildlife management area, we should be able to pick up the forest road with any luck.” Emma navigated out of the parking lot and down the undivided, two-lane highway heading away from civilization and back into the forest. At an abandoned church building, she turned left onto a gravel road, excitement building in her chest. “Not long now.”
Holly shifted to stare out the windows as they bumped past a small cabin tucked into the trees and what appeared to be a shuttered barn and turned onto an unmarked dirt road. “Are you sure this is right? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
Emma nodded, confidence building every mile. “Just up ahead.” Emma slowed again and turned onto a smaller, rutted dirt road. Holly grabbed the door to hold on as the car bounced and bumped over rocks and dips. Half a mile down, Emma stopped at a red metal gate. She motioned to Holly “Pop out and undo that chain, will you? This is it.” She grinned. “This is the start of Gloria’s property.”
Holly practically ran from the car, hurriedly moving the chain and swinging the gate wide before Emma drove through. She waited for Holly to close up the gate before heading up the steep gravel drive. They emerged on a plateau where a small cabin perched in a clearing.
Before Emma opened the door, a pint-sized Chihuahua tore down the front steps barking and carrying on. Emma’s lips cracked as she smiled at Holly. “That’s Pringles. He’s all bark.” She opened the car door, but a booming voice stopped her still.
“We don’t accept trespassers here. Be on your way.”
Emma stuck her hands out of the window and stood up. “Hey, Raymond.”
A man stepped off the porch, shotgun in his hand. He squinted at Emma before breaking out into a grin. He turned to the cabin. “Hey, babe! We’ve got company.”
Emma never thought she’d be so happy to see a former coworker in her life. Gloria hurried down the steps, wrapping a cardigan around her shoulders to ward off the morning chill. She stopped when she caught sight of the car.
“Did you trade in the electric for a... clunker?”
“When you’re running for your life, you’ll take anything with wheels.”
Gloria’s mouth fell open. “What are you talking about?”
Emma smiled. “I’ll fill you in.”
The passenger door opened, and Holly eased out of the car.
Emma nodded in her direction. “Gloria, you remember Zach’s daughter, Holly, right?”
Gloria frowned. “I think the last time I saw you, you still had braces.”
Holly pulled her lower lip across her teeth. She was on the verge of breaking down.
“Could we come in?” Emma asked. “Maybe have a cup of something warm to drink?”
Gloria shifted into hostess mode, waving her arm wide in welcome. “Of course. Come in. Make yourselves at home.”
Pringles darted around Emma’s feet, hopping up on her shin and yipping. She bent down to pet the scrap of a dog and choked back a sob. Leaving Tank was one of the hardest things she’d had to do since all of this started, but what choice did she have?
Emma followed Gloria into the cabin, ushering Holly along with her. The place was cozy, with a main living area open to a small, tidy kitchen and a single bedroom on the main floor. A loft tucked into the roof above afforded a pair of twin beds and a view of the mountains every sunrise. Emma had been there a few times for long weekends when Raymond was out of town. It was Gloria’s favorite place in the world.
Emma understood why, now more than ever.
Gloria busied herself in the kitchen, setting a tea kettle on the gas stove to boil while Holly excused herself to the bathroom. When the door shut, Gloria turned to Emma. “What’s going on?”
Emma stepped close enough to whisper. What she had to say wouldn’t be easy. “You were right. About the car following you and the danger we’re in. Zach—” Emma faltered. “Zach was murdered.”
Gloria’s eyes widened and she almost knocked the kettle off the stove. “When?”
“Right about when we lost power. I was stuck in an elevator at Fielding. By the time I got to his place, he was already dead. We found Holly in the basement, hiding.”
Gloria raised a brow. “Who’s we?”
Emma swallowed. “John. He’d been in the elevator with me when the power went out. I thought—” There was no good way to say it. “I thought he was a good guy, but—”
“Did he try to get in your pants?”
Emma waved her off. “Nothing like that. Turns out... at least I think... He might be trying to kill us.”
Gloria scrunched her face in disbelief. “You just said he went with you to Zach’s.”
“He did.” Emma sighed. “It’s a long story.”
The door to the bathroom opened and Holly ducked into the room. She tugged her sweatshirt over her fingers and wrapped her arms around herself.
Gloria smiled. “Tea is just about ready, hon. Come sit at the table.” Gloria pulled a chair wide and offered it to Holly. “I’m sorry to hear about your father. He was a good man.”
Holly’s brow knit as she focused on the table. Her lip wobbled.
“About that tea.” Emma tried to distract them all, holding up selections from Gloria’s tin and advising Holly on the flavors. When they all were sitting at the table, she sobered. “Before you get too used to us visiting, we need to catch you up.” Emma glanced at the front door. “Ray should hear this. too.”
Gloria ushered Raymond inside, and together they listened to Emma’s story, beginning with the elevator and ending with the mad dash away from the family in the woods. The whole time, Holly sat, legs pinned to chest, chin resting on her knees.
Gloria reached out a hand and patted the girl’s arm. “What an ordeal. I’m so sorry you’ve been through it all.”
The girl nodded, unable to speak.
Emma cupped her hands around her mug. “Now that you’re
apprised, I completely understand if you don’t want us to stay.”
Gloria glanced at Raymond. “I’m fine with them staying. What do you think, honey?”
“They stay.” Raymond made a fist on the table. “If you’re a target, then so is Gloria. We have land, weapons. We’re basically off the grid. We can hide out here and defend ourselves if need be.” He leaned back. “It’s what we’d prepared to do anyway ever since the EMP.”
Emma swallowed. She’d almost forgotten about the power grid sitting in their cabin with electricity and heat. Thanks to the solar panels on the roof and the propane tank out back, the Sanchez family didn’t need city electric to keep their cabin operational. She turned to Ray. “What do you know about what’s happened? We’ve only heard bits and pieces.”
Ray sobered, running a hand across his chin. “Based on what we’ve seen and heard, it’s looking like complete grid collapse. No power to the entire United States, except maybe a few pockets in Texas. Fried substations for water, natural gas, you name it.”
He leaned back. “Since everything is hooked up to the grid, everything is ruined. Gas companies scrambled to keep what they could operational, water the same. But without the pumps and the regulators, everything that hasn’t failed yet, will.”
Emma swallowed hard. She hadn’t stopped to think about how reliant the world had become on electricity. Now that everything was computerized, from water flow, to treatment plants, to natural gas pipelines, everything relied on the grid. “The people who found us in the woods, they said the agriculture supply chain would break down. Without power to keep refrigeration going, farms wouldn’t be able to export their crops and livestock. Meat processing facilities couldn’t run.”
Raymond nodded. “Add in the bakeries that can’t mass produce packaged foods and this country is a few days away from starvation.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. “Whenever the power goes out, people ransack the convenience foods. The easy to cook, no need to prepare aisles. Produce? It’s full. But canned goods, gone. Fewer and fewer people know how to do anything anymore. People rely on restaurants and fast food and things in a bag or a can. Without mass food production...” He didn’t finish the thought, but he didn’t need to.
