Siege (As the World Dies #3)(159)

“I need to get going,” Jason said as the other three kids prattled on.

Suddenly, the little family looked quite somber. Jason, like many of the teenagers from thirteen on up, was part of the fort’s defenses.

“Give me a kiss, nieto,” Rosie said throwing out her arms to him.

Jason stood up and moved into her arms and looked a little embarrassed by her tight hug and kiss. Juan rose to his feet as well and moved to hug his son tightly. Jason’s arms came about him and they held each in an embrace that said more than words ever could.

“Me, too!” Margie leaped onto Jason. He laughed as he hugged the younger kids.

Juan took a step back, feeling tears threatening. Jason was his son. He loved him fiercely. He could not love him more if he had fathered him. The pride he felt in him was overwhelming and he fought for control.

Leaning over, Jason kissed the sleeping old woman that was his adopted great-grandmother, then strode away.

“He’s a good boy,” Rosie whispered.



“So am I!” Troy leaped into her arms to hug her. Rosie laughed and hugged the little boy tightly. “Yes you are. Now kiss your Daddy One.”



Juan could feel his control slipping, but he managed to not cry as the three kids kissed him and hugged him tight.

“Go kill the zombies,” Margie ordered.

“I will,” Juan promised.

“Shoot dem in da head,” Holly instructed.

“I will,” Juan answered. “In da head,” Troy repeated.

“In the head,” Juan assured him.



Then he was walking away, his heart in his throat and his head spinning.

There was just no way about it. His children would not die today. They would not. There was simply no other choice but to win.





*

Kevin and Nerit stepped into the elevator and the doors closed behind them.

“Here,” Kevin said softly, pressing a tiny metal box into her hand.

“The detonator?”

“I have one, too.”

“We won’t use them,” Nerit assured him. “We’ll win.”

“But just in case.” “Of course.”



Kevin shifted on his feet and looked at her steadily. “I want to say something. It’s something I wanted to say since you woke up.”

“I already know. You don’t have to say it,” Nerit responded quickly.

“Arnold once called you the sexiest old woman around, you know.” Kevin said bashfully.

Nerit rolled her eyes, but looked amused.

“I think he was right.” Kevin drew closer to her. “Nerit...”

“You deserve the right to find a new family. To rebuild just like everyone else once this is over. I can’t give you that.”

“But you feel it, too. If we were closer in age and met-” “Yes,” Nerit said simply. “But that is not the case, is it?”



Kevin nodded sadly, his green eyes staring deeply into hers. “I wish it was.”

Nerit looked away and stared at the elevator door. “Me, too.” Just before the elevator reached their floor, Kevin pressed a firm, hard kiss to her cheek. To his delight, Nerit blushed.



The doors dinged then opened. Kevin stepped out onto this floor, waving at her.

Nodding once, she tucked the detonator into her jacket pocket and took a breath as the doors closed.





3. And The Clock Winds Down...

It was an odd moment. One of many, considering the last year. As Katie was staring out the window over the fort’s defenses in front of the hotel, the ascending sun caught the glass. A flash of light blinded her instantly.

When her eyes cleared, she was driving the old white truck. Jenni sat next to her in jeans, a tank top and a cowboy hat with a good pair of knock off Fendi sunglasses perched on her nose. Jack sat between them, the hot wind ruffling his fur as it poured through the open windows. Beyond her was the desert, hot and fierce. Waves of heat rippled over the endless stretch of highway.

“Jenni,” Katie whispered, confused, her fingers gripping the steering wheel. “This could have been it. You know. Our future.” Jenni grinned at her and turned her face into the scalding wind. “The desert.”



The heat was amazing and the sun was unrelenting. Jack woofed beside them and licked at his paw. “I thought about it,” Katie confessed. “Before we found Nerit and Ralph.”



“Me, too. Even after we found the fort. I thought about us and Jason just going away.”

“You would still be alive if we had,” Katie said after a beat. Tears were in her eyes again. “Maybe,” Jenni agreed. She leaned over the dog and kissed Katie’s cheek and hugged her tight. “You miss me!”



“Well, yeah, you bitch. You went and died on me!”

Jenni laughed. “Yeah, but it was one kick ass exit.” “Oh, f*ck you,” Katie snapped, but couldn’t help but smile.

“It was worth it! Everything was worth it!” Jenni grinned at her. Reaching out, she gripped Katie’s wrist tightly and leaned toward her. “You know it, Katie. You know. Every moment was worth it. Every little tiny bit of it…all building up to this.”