Heaven in Hell: Episode One: A Post-Apocalyptic Paranormal Romance Series (The first episode in the Heaven in Hell Series) Read online

  Eden snapped to awareness and grabbed my hand in shockingly strong grip. “I’m fine.” She pushed my hand away. “I just haven’t been sleeping much since Mike left.”

  Reed and I shared a look. Eden had fallen hard for Dominic’s second in command. A week ago, he’d left on a mission to bring back aid from base. There’d been no word from him since.

  Eden pushed against the display case and stood. “I’ll be fine once he gets back.”

  I softened my tone. “Eden, he’s been gone too long. He’s not coming back.”

  She pressed bloodless lips together and shook her head in denial. “No. He’ll be back.”

  I let out a heavy sigh. The soldier was most likely staggering around outside with the other Biters.

  She has to get over him.

  I wanted my little sister to find happiness, but the end of the world was no time to fall in love.

  Eden swayed unsteadily on her feet.

  Concern blossomed into worry as I grabbed the nearest chair and helped her sit down. I crouched down and grabbed her ice-cold hand in mine. “You’ve got to take care of yourself, Edie.”

  She glanced down at me and her sunglasses slipped. Pale silver eyes stared out at me from her gaunt face.

  What the hell?

  I blinked in confusion. Eden had brown eyes, the same color as mine. “Do you have colored contacts on?”

  She quickly pushed her sunglasses back up the bridge of her nose. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  It must be a trick of the light.

  “And stop fussing over me. I’ll be fine.” She exchanged a meaningful glance with Reed.

  I looked between them in confusion.

  Something’s up. But there’s no time to dig into it now.

  “You should’ve stayed at the safe house.”

  Eden struggled to her feet. “No. This mission was my idea. We need medication from the animal hospital, and no one knows their way around it as well as I do.”

  That was true enough. Eden had volunteered there for two years in high school. I was overjoyed when they offered her a full-time position, but she’d thrown that opportunity away much to my frustration.

  She continued, “Besides, I need to do everything possible to save Rosie.”

  My mind flashed to the gap-toothed six-year-old back at the safe house. She seemed like a sweet kid. I felt bad she’d gotten ill, but I wasn’t about to risk my sister over her. A fierce protectiveness rushed through me.

  It’s your job to protect her, my older sister’s voice whispered in my mind.

  I could hear Dominic stomping back in our direction. “Look, Reed, you stay here with Eden and keep her safe. I’ll go with Dominic.”

  Reed opened his mouth to argue, but I wasn’t hearing any of it. The animal hospital was too close to the horde. There was no way I’d let them go out there. Their safety was the only thing that mattered.

  I turned to my sister and tapped the handgun holstered at my waist. “I’ll be fine. I visited you at the animal hospital dozens of times. I remember where the pharmacy is and I’ll get the meds for the kid.”

  “Promise, sissy?”

  Her plaintive tone gave me pause.

  “I promise.”

  Dominic’s gruff voice rumbled, “We’re aborting the mission. Everyone get your gear—we’re moving out.”

  Before we could react to his words, the café door flew open.

  A tall, dark-skinned woman in military fatigues rushed into the café. Her arm was slung around a thin, middle-aged man with graying hair. He was cradling a bloody arm to his chest. Huffing behind them was a heavyset man in a sweat-stained sleeveless NASCAR T-shirt.

  The female soldier scanned the room in one sweep of her catlike amber gaze. Despite her size and severe crew cut, Darcy was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. When our eyes met, her expression tightened. Her full lips flattened, and her high cheekbones threatened to cut through the smooth ebony skin of her face. No surprise there.

  Darcy has no love for me.

  Her gaze sharpened when it fell on Dominic. “Sergeant, Roger was bitten.”

  Roger half sat, half fell into the nearest chair. He pushed back the sleeve of his shirt. A kiwi-sized chunk of flesh was missing from his right forearm. He looked up at us, tears swimming in his bloodshot eyes. “Looks like my number’s up.”

  Eden let out a gasp. She tried to walk over to him, but I grabbed her elbow. She wasn’t getting anywhere near a zombie bite.

  I shook my head in pity. Roger was a good man—never too busy to read to the kids or volunteer for a watch shift.

  It’s a damn shame that he was the one bitten.

  I looked over at Grady who was smoothing back his mullet.

  As if feeling my gaze, his beady eyes swept over me like a swarm of insects. As usual, they lingered over my chest.

  I scowled and zipped up my leather jacket.

  He spat a stream of chewing tobacco onto the tile and, without even a glance at the man he’d lived with for the past three months, headed over to the counter. There he mopped the sweat off the back of his neck with a grease-stained bandana.

  Who put that guy on the list?

  Other than being Rosie’s father, Grady had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

  Reed gave Roger a sad look. “I’m so sorry, man. I’ll miss our nightly chess games.”

  Dominic frowned and strode over to Roger. “What happened?”

  Despite his injury, Roger straightened in the chair. “I screwed up, sir. I got separated from Darcy and Grady. A Biter came out of nowhere and…”

  Darcy cleared her throat. “I can patch him up.”

  Dominic put a hand on Roger’s shoulder. He looked as troubled as I’d ever seen him. “There’s no point.”

  Roger closed his eyes for a second, absorbing Dominic’s words. His entire body trembled. When he opened his eyes again, he seemed calmer. “Will you tell Enrique that I love him? The twenty years we had together were the best in my life.” His eyes widened as if he was stricken by a terrible thought. “You won’t throw him out of the safe house, will you?”

  With a sinking feeling, I realized that only Roger’s name must’ve been on the military rescue list. I could only imagine that he would’ve refused to leave his partner behind when the soldiers came. It’d been the same with Reed. Eden and I refused to leave him, so he was rescued with us.

  Dominic looked away.

  A dry sob escaped Roger’s lips.

  My stomach turned over on itself. I got that rations were limited, but kicking Enrique out seemed cold and heartless.

  Dominic stepped behind Roger. “Take a deep breath. Look down. This won’t hurt.”

  At the sight of the knife in Dominic’s hand, Eden let out a hoarse cry.

  I stepped in front of her to block the view.

  Reed shook his head as if Dominic had lost his mind. “You’re going to kill him right here?”

  Even Darcy looked disturbed. “Sarge, maybe we should—”

  She was interrupted by the sound of Dominic’s knife slicing into Roger’s skull.

  Roger fell forward over the bistro table, his arms dangling free. The coppery tang of blood filled the air.

  Bile rose up in the back of my throat. It was a terrible reminder of the reality we faced. One misstep, and that fate would be ours. Once bitten by a zombie, there was no hope. The blood-borne Z-virus had a one hundred percent fatality rate. At most you had twenty-four hours before you died and turned into a flesh-eater. Not that Dominic ever allowed a person to suffer that long.

  He didn’t mess around. Any survivors who left the school were subject to immediate bite checks upon return, and Dominic required frequent bite checks of all survivors every twenty-four hours. None of us complained. We’d all seen what the infected could do once they turned.

  Dominic lowered his head, as if saying a prayer. Then his head snapped up, as he said, “The blood will draw the dead. We leave now.”

  Grady turn
ed to Dominic. “I ain’t leaving.”

  Darcy snorted. “It’s your funeral. You heard the sound of car engines, same as me.”

  “Other survivors?” Eden said, stepping around me. When she caught sight of Roger’s body, she shuddered.

  Darcy bared her teeth. “Most likely gangs hunting for pretty little girls like you.”

  Gangs and zombie hordes? I’ve heard enough.

  I tried to grab Eden’s arm and missed. “We’re getting the hell out of here.”

  Dominic gave me an approving look. “Finally, you’re showing some sense.” He scanned the faces in the room. “Let’s move out, people. I want everyone in formation back to the SUV just like we practiced. Remember, where do we shoot the dead?”

  “In the head,” we replied in unison.

  We’ll get to the safe house within the hour. As soon as we get back, I’ll make sure Eden starts taking better care of herself. Soon we’ll leave for a safer location. One where zombies are scarce and stubborn sergeants don’t drag my family into danger.

  Grady rested one hand on the mother-of-pearl butt of the handgun holstered at his waist. “Gangs don’t scare me.”

  “We’re leaving. Now.” Steel underlay Dominic’s words.

  Grady rocked back on the heels of his work boots as if digging them into the ground. “Not until we get the medication for Rosie.” He nodded in Eden’s direction. “She said the animal hospital has what my daughter needs.”

  Eden nodded slowly. “If it’s still there. We stocked up to treat the epidemic last spring, but then Order 1537 went into effect…” Her voice trailed off as she rubbed the dog collar she wore around her neck.

  Eden never took the damn thing off. It was her way of remembering Sasha. Unfortunately, the pit bull mix had been one of the many casualties of the controversial canine flu legislation mandating the euthanasia of all dogs.

  Darcy sat down at one of the tables near the front window, cradling her assault rifle in her lap. “It’s too dangerous. The horde is blocking access to the building.”

  Grady paced in front of the counter. “We’ll use the back entrance.”

  Darcy shook her head. “You saw how the Biters were behaving. There may be a Howler with them.”

  I rolled my eyes at Reed. The soldiers’ warnings about a rare type of super zombie were getting old. According to them, Howlers were supposed to be stronger, faster, and smarter than the other zombies. Since we’d never seen evidence of one, I figured the soldiers made them up to scare us and keep us in line.

  Grady’s eyes lit with ferociousness. “I’ll kill everything that stands in my way. Gangs and Howlers won’t stand a chance.” He flexed his arm and the Confederate flag tattoo on his flabby bicep shook.

  Darcy’s laugh was hollow. “You wouldn’t last five seconds against one of them.”

  He rounded on her. “You don’t know shit about what I can handle, jungle bunny.”

  Darcy’s hand tightened around her weapon. “What did you just call me you backwoods motherfucker?”

  Dominic held up a hand. “Enough. We’re leaving. We can plan another supply run tomorrow.”

  “No,” Grady said, straightening his shoulders. “I promised my wife that I’d watch over Rosie, and I’m going to keep that promise.”

  “We’re all leaving,” Dominic growled.

  “I’m getting the medication today. If you’re too scared, you can run your pussy-ass back to the school.”

  Dominic’s expression sharpened like a blade. “Did you just call me a pussy?”

  “Yeah. I’m not a soldier-boy like you and my brother, but I’ve got more balls than you both. It’s time a real man took charge.”

  Oh shit. Other than me, no one challenged Dominic and got away with it.

  The tension in the room ratcheted up five notches.

  As if sensing an impending explosion, Reed darted across the café to step between them. “Grady, we get that you’re worried about Rosie, but you need to chill out, man.”

  I clenched and unclenched my fists. Reed’s habit of jumping into every fight drove me crazy. Someday it would get him seriously hurt, or worse.

  Grady shoved Reed. “Back off, Jesus.”

  Reed flew into a coffee tower display. Bags exploded, and beans skittered across the floor.

  I threw Grady a dirty look as I rushed over to Reed. “Are you okay?”

  Reed dusted a handful of beans off his jeans, and then his gaze locked on the men behind me. “Damn it, they’re gonna fight.”

  I spun around in time to see Grady punch Dominic in the face.

  Grady snarled, “You don’t care if my daughter dies.”

  Without flinching, Dominic looked calmly down at Grady. “Get a hold of yourself.”

  Grady drew back to punch Dominic again. “You don’t give a shit whether any of us dies.”

  Dominic caught the punch, trapping Grady’s hand in the air. “That’s why I risked my life to rescue you all and train you to protect yourselves,” he said dryly.

  Grady’s lip started to quiver, but he quickly schooled his face into a grimace. “Then help me get the medicine for Rosie.”

  Dominic released Grady’s fist. He looked at Roger’s corpse. “It’s too dangerous.” His gaze searched out mine and held it. “I won’t risk your lives. You’re too important.”

  My heart skipped a beat. For a second, I felt guilty over my decision to leave him when we got back to the safe house. I fisted my nails into my palms. The pain grounded me, reminding me that men were nothing but trouble. Especially men like Dominic. The sooner I got away from him the better.

  The sound of Grady drawing his gun sucked the air out of the room.

  3

  Grady aimed the gun at Dominic’s head. “I’m doing this my way—”

  Before he finished his sentence, Dominic knocked the gun away. He seized Grady’s throat with one beefy hand and lifted him into the air.

  I marveled at the strength it’d take to deadlift that much weight with one arm.

  Dominic didn’t even look winded.

  Grady’s boots kicked wildly at the display case. His face turned a deep shade of red as he clawed at Dominic’s hand.

  The tic in Dominic’s jaw flickered. “If you want to live under my protection, you follow my rules.” He released his hand, and Grady fell to the ground.

  I’d thought zombies and gangs were our biggest threat. If Grady would dare pull a weapon on our leader, then the situation at the safe house was more volatile than I suspected.

  We need to leave ASAP.

  Eden cleared her throat, breaking the awkward silence. “There’s a window in the pharmacy. Could we try to break in from the alley?”

  Darcy let out a dry laugh and kicked her combat boots up on a chair. “The Biters will swarm as soon as they catch our scent. Grady, Roger, and I didn’t get within a hundred yards of the place, and we still had several come after us.”

  I sniffed my shirt. I’d doused myself in enough vanilla body spray to fill a bathroom sink. Hopefully, it was enough to mask my scent from the Biters. We didn’t know how or why, but the creatures seemed to use an enhanced sense of smell to hunt.

  Dominic glared down at Grady. “We’ve already lost one civilian. We’re not losing anyone else.”

  Grady fought to catch his breath, his Adam’s apple bobbing spastically. “We just need someone to draw them away,” he wheezed. “I can distract them, and you guys could get the meds.”

  Eden shook her head. “You can’t do that. You’re all that Rosie has left.”

  “We’re all leaving.” Dominic’s tone offered no room for argument.

  Grady’s suicidal behavior must’ve been catching because Eden shook her head. “I’m staying.”

  Darcy pushed out of her chair. She crossed her muscular arms, looking intimidating as hell. “You heard the sergeant. Get your gear.”

  Eden lifted her chin in challenge. “No.”

  This has to stop.

  I stalked over
to the counter, and slung on my backpack. “Grab your stuff, Eden. We can try the Urgent Care on 4th Street tomorrow or something. We’re leaving now.” I invoked the big sister no-nonsense tone into my voice.

  She shook her head. “It has to be today. Rosie doesn’t have much time. If you have to go, I understand. But I have to try to get the medication. Are you with me, Grady?”

  Grady gave a curt nod. “Damn straight.” His eyes flashed fire at Dominic as he retrieved his weapon and stood.

  Since when is my sister siding with some redneck loser over her family?

  I threw her backpack at her face. “Over my dead body.”

  She’s leaving even if I have to carry her out of here.

  She caught the pack and clutched it to her chest like the stuffed rabbit she’d carried around as a child. “I have to do this, sissy. It’s my fault,” she whispered.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Rosie’s sick because of me. Last week on a supply run, I came across an injured terrier…”

  A sinkhole opened in my stomach. “You didn’t…”

  Oh hell. Who am I kidding?

  This was my sister. The girl who’d left her dream job at the animal hospital and quit her first year of college to lead canine rights protests. She’d turned our home into an underground dog rescue for Christ’s sake. Of course she’d try to save the first mongrel she came across.

  My gut churned as her earlier words sank in. “Wait…Tell me you didn’t take the kid…”

  Eden lowered her head. “The terrier didn’t initially show any signs of the virus. I thought it’d be safe and brighten Rosie’s spirits…”

  Grady, who’d walked over, inhaled sharply. He looked at Eden as if she’d sprouted another head. “Terrier? You exposed my daughter to a dog?” he shouted.

  Dominic turned to look at Eden, his expression thunderous. “What did you do?”

  I grabbed the lip of the laminate counter to steady myself as the ramifications hit me. I’d thought the kid had a respiratory infection. If she’d contracted the canine flu, it’d spread to the rest of the survivors like wildfire. Last spring, the highly contagious flu had taken out a quarter of the world’s population. In a cruel twist of fate, the long-awaited vaccine had turned a subset of the population into zombies. They’d succeeded in finishing off nearly everybody else.