Outbreak The Beginning (The Outbreak Series Book 1) by Deausha Kristal Page B

Hank’s papers and magazines thrown all over the place. Looking at the wall someone spray painted an anarchy sign on it. I let that burn into my memory.
    I walk into the bathroom and into the walk-in closet, my mom’s clothes are thrown all over the place. I feel a hand on my shoulder and whip around my gun at the ready. Sal doesn’t move or take his hand off my shoulder. I lower the gun and look back to where the shoes are just carelessly thrown around. I bring my hand up and put it over his. I know he’s just trying to comfort me. I squeeze it gently.
    “Egypt it’s time to go,” he says.
    Wiping my eyes I nod OK. I head into the kitchen where Mack is standing looking outside. I’m glad he’s not looking at me because I don’t think I could stand anyone’s pity right now. This is something I have to be able to deal with. No one can do it for me. We head out the door and don’t look back. I won’t be coming back. This part of my life is over. Sal helps me into the truck and we head out of the driveway, heading home to a future no one knows, to a life that is completely changed.
    As we pull to a stop right in front of the house the gates start to open. “Hey let me out I’ll keep watch,” I say.
    “Egypt you need that shoulder looked at. You don’t want to get an infection in it,” Sal says.
    Looking at him I say, “I know I will once the gates are closed and everyone’s inside.” He doesn’t look convinced so I climb over him, open up the door and get out. I pull my 9mm and walk to the back of the truck. My shoulder does hurt. I’ll have to get it cleaned up. Nate comes out and walks over to me.
    “Mom, what the hell happened to your shoulder?”
    “It’s nothing, that woman and I got into a fight and I hit the pavement. It’ll be fine.”
    “Mom that needs to be cleaned up,” Nate says.
    “I know and it will be. Let’s head in. Everyone’s inside now.” We start walking up the driveway as the gate closes behind us.
    Opening the front door we head in. Looking into the living room I see John, Tabby, Liam and Tomas watching TV. I head into the kitchen and everyone else is sitting around the table. Hank looks at me with questions in his eyes. 
    Shaking my head, I say, “I know we all need to talk but right now I’m going to get cleaned up and by then we can have dinner. Then we can decide who is staying where, that kind of thing. I don’t think we will have any trouble with those guys. I know everyone has questions but I have to get cleaned up.”
    I head down the hall to my bedroom. Opening the door I go in with Herk and Rufus at my heels. I close the door and grab a fresh change of clothes and head for the bathroom. Turning the water on, I start taking off my old ones. At this rate I’m going to be doing laundry two times a day. Tossing them on the ground I step into the hot water and almost immediately feel better. There’s nothing like a good hot shower to make you feel better. I finish up and hop out to dry off. Getting into the new clothes I brush my hair out. Ouch the brush just hit my shoulder. Moving my hair away from the injury I look at it in the mirror. Damn it does look bad I’m going to have to get someone to clean this up I guess. Pulling my hair up into a messy bun I head out to my room. Looking up, I stop dead in my tracks. Sal is sitting on my bed petting my traitorous dogs.
    “What the hell are you doing in my room?” I say.
    “I told you that shoulder needs to be cleaned and bandaged,” he says.
    “Oh and you’re going to be the one to do it?” 
    “Yes! Or I can go get Mack?” he says.
    Letting out a sign I think he’s right I guess I can’t really stand Mack. He’s the lesser of two evils.
    “Egypt I’m not going to bite!” Softer he says, “Much!”
    I walk slowly over and sit on my bed next to him. “Let’s get this done,” I say. I sit straight up watching him open up the first aid box. He grabs a few things and looks over at me.
    “This is