The Girl Who Kicked Ass (Death Fields 3)

“Darlin’ I’m well aware that you don’t need a weapon to hurt me.” He stares at my lips, and before he can take this moment somewhere darker, I kiss him. To my relief he kisses me back.

“I’m sorry I’ve been a little distant lately,” he says, wrapping his arms around me.

“A little?”

He tilts his head. “Okay, a lot. It’s just—”

I put my hand on his chest and stop him. “I get it. Things have been hard. Emotionally draining. We’ve both had heavy stuff on our mind and it’s easy to get distracted and weighed down by the things we can’t control.”

Is that my way of apologizing or explaining what happened with Wyatt? I don’t know for sure but it’s the best I can do.

His hand settles on my hip. “For what it’s worth, I’m so very thankful you’re in my life. So thankful that you tolerate me and stick by my side.”

I snort. “It’s not like I’m a piece of cake.”

He sits on the edge of the table and I follow, wedging myself between his legs. He’s too tall this way, but I push up on my toes and press my lips to his again. He kisses me back and it’s sweet and soulful.

I take a moment to sink into him—away from the others and our mission. I take time to appreciate the warmth of Cole’s body, the weight of his hands and feel of his mouth. In moments like this we’re connected—the angst and stress washed away, but like every other moment in our life the good ones end quickly.

This time is no different.

“Patrols start in ten minutes.” Davis voice comes from a distance. “Cole, you have first shift.”

“Got it,” Cole replies, leaning his forehead on mine. “Be there in a minute.”

I play with the shaggy, curling hair on his neck and say, “That was a nice break. Thanks for chasing me.”

“I’ve been chasing you down for a long time now. Don’t think that’ll stop any time soon.”

“No?” I ask, because sometimes I’m really not sure.

With eyes hard as steel he replies, “No.”

Chapter 15

Davis sleeps like the dead, and it’s a testament to how exhausted I am that his snoring doesn’t keep me awake. He’s up the instant Cole comes in to swap shifts, wide-eyed and alert while I feel like I still need another twelve hours.

Cole and Parker take our places in the bed-nest and he gives my hand a squeeze before he lands face first on the still-warm pillows. Parker curls into a ball next to Jude, stealing part the musty afghan he found draped over the bannister in the back of the shop.

I slept with my boots on, an old habit from my early days on the road, and tug on a hoodie over my t-shirt. Fall is rushing toward winter and although there’s the weight of humidity in the air, it’s cool enough outside to see my breath.

“Do you think they’ll slow down in the winter?” I ask Davis, once we’re on the porch. “The Eaters?”

“They may,” he replies after a little thought. “If that scene from earlier today was any indication of how the elements and environment can change them, I’m hopeful maybe they won’t always be a problem.”

“That was weird.” I shiver, a little from the cold but mostly from remembering the clogged streets. “I wonder if that’s what bigger cities are like.”

“I don’t want to know.”

“Me either, but at some point Jane or someone else is going to have to deal with them, don’t you think? It seems like her plan right now is collecting and vaccinating survivors. Phase two must be eradicating the Eaters and reclaiming urban areas.”

I follow Davis down the steps and we walk around the side of the house to check on the SUV and make sure everything’s secure. Other than the sound of a bird calling in the night, the whole world feels still. “So that thing you said earlier,” I say. “About kids…”

“Yeah?” He tugs the back door, testing the lock. “What about them?”

“I didn’t know you had a family.”

He moves away from the door and along the back windows of the sun porch. I spot the mannequin pressed against the window and feel the embarrassment all over again. I think he’s not going to answer me but he finally says, “I had two kids—girls.”