Fight (NOLA Zombie Book 2) by Gillian Zane Page A

over-the-counter drugs but nothing to write home about. We were about to brave the Winn-Dixie across the street when we heard engines.  
    They were coming from the west. There was nothing out here. There was no reason for people to be pushing this far out into the swampland. They should have just gone down I-10 and crossed the lake on the Twin Span. This was the reason we were out here.  
    Yet, there were a few big vehicles coming right for us. Friend or foe?
    “Hey, you guys hang back. I’m going to make contact,” Romeo said and like the wuss I was, I hid in the store.
    When the caravan spotted Romeo, the first vehicle pulled into the parking lot. It was a rugged looking SUV, followed by an RV and then another SUV.   I wanted to see who got out of the vehicles, see if they looked friendly, but the storefront was all glass and I didn’t want to give away my position, so I unholstered my gun and slipped behind some shelves. Cole took point on the other side. If there was trouble, we could make it to the door easily.  
    I heard the mumble of male voices and the slam of doors as God knows how many people exited the vehicles. I was such a dumbass for leaving Romeo on his own. I was about to just say fuck it and come out, guns drawn, not caring what type of people these fuckers were, until my whole body froze at the sound of an elated shout.
    “Romeo, is that you, you son-of-a-bitch?”
    Blake.  
    Blake.  
    It was Blake.  
    I would have known that voice anywhere. And who else would have known Romeo on sight?  
    “Who else is with you? Are you guys still on S-Island? I came home. I fucking came back. We fought our way through Texas, shit…who else is here?” His voice sounded panicked, like he couldn’t believe what was happening.  
    I guess I had to go out there. It took everything in me to force myself to walk out that door. Cole wasn’t that far behind me, but I felt like there was a spotlight on me as I revealed myself, my gun still at my side, my finger on the trigger.
    Blake looked even better than the last time I had seen him, even though he was a bit dirtier and more rough looking. His hair was greasy and his clothes were torn, but he was still so handsome and strong.  
    Our eyes met and I saw a million emotions flit across his face. I had barely crossed the threshold before he was running to me and wrapping me in his arms, his mouth on mine. I should have pushed him away, but I didn’t. It was Blake.

SIXTEEN
    Big Island Blues

    “Lex,” he repeated my name over and over again as he kissed my face and cheeks. “I didn’t think I would ever see you again.” And that was the tipping point that had me pushing him back and stepping away from him, trying to ignore the hurt look on his face.  
    “You just fucking left,” I pushed at his chest and the bastard didn’t even move which pissed me off.  
    “But I came back.”
    “Welcome home.” I turned and walked toward our truck. To give him a warm welcoming feeling I gave him the one fingered salute over my shoulder. I didn’t look back. Fuck him. It might be a goddamn apocalypse, but there was still such a thing as a radio. Maybe the same fucking radio his ex-wife used to get his ass to leave me. I wasn’t bitter. No not me.
    “Who’s that?” I heard some shrill female voice ask, and from his murmured, placating response I assumed it was Clara, the ex-bitch. I guess he managed to save the ex after all. Must not have been in that much jeopardy if she was able to hold on long enough for him to cross a state to save her.  
    It felt like a T-Rex was in my head and roaring if I didn’t distract myself I would start screaming.
    Cole jumped in the driver seat of the truck after a quick word with Blake and looked over at me. His pitying gaze made me want to kill something.
    “At least you know for sure now.”
    “Yeah,” I hissed. And he was right. Not knowing if he was dead or alive had plagued me with all sorts of nightmares. I might have