Chapter 1
Kara doesn’t remember what it felt like to be clean.
Washing in the river isn’t the same as a hot shower at one of the solar-powered communities that have popped up since the outbreak. It’s not worth it to overstay her visit at Paradise Falls just for the chance to scrub her skin raw.
The small talk mixed into Luke’s constant flirtation isn’t a price she’s willing to pay. All persistence has an endpoint, or so she assumed, but it’s been years and he hasn’t given up. Of course, she’s one to talk when it comes to that, she thinks with a sigh, strapping the last of her bounty to the bike before kicking it into gear and aiming for the place she hates most.
She would trade elsewhere, but anything within a reasonable driving distance never has enough fruit. Paradise Falls is rolling in apples and peaches from trees in the back pasture. It’s either this or end up with scurvy. After making it six years into the apocalypse, there’s not a chance she’s going out like that.
The rumbling bike prompts scowls at the gate before she’s even rolled to a stop. Reluctantly, she’s granted entrance to what used to hold the promise of a new beginning, but now only offers irritation.
Kara doesn’t bother with greetings. She has one purpose here and the longer she fucks around before getting it done, the worse mood she’ll be in. Gravel crunches under her boots with everyforceful step that carries her to the trading tent, where she plops down five rabbits and a string of squirrels.
“You didn’t gut them this time. Told you before that you get less if they come in whole,” the man behind the table says with a sneer.
Her face remains impassive. She’s used to this bullshit every time she arrives and rather than argue, she simply unsheathes her knife, twirling it on her finger and prepares the meat in full view of a group of doe-eyed children. She leaves the product of her efforts dripping blood onto the cobbled street.
“How’s that?” she replies evenly.
The man’s jaw twitches with the need to tell her she can’t keep coming here and disrupting the peace. That she’s notwelcome, but he doesn’t, for two reasons.
He is afraid of her, like most are, and Luke still refuses to admit defeat when it comes to courting her. Though why he has any interest now after what she’s become is anyone’s guess. It’s a pride thing, she assumes. Can’t accept that what he put so much effort into has become an unattainable goal.
Not that she’s a prize. No, even before the world went to shit, she hadn’t been a prize.
Kara cleans the knife on the tablecloth before wiping her hands on the only clean towel in the trading stall. She accepts the bag of fruit she came here for and can’t wait to escape the stench of civilized society to get back to camp and pack her supplies for the next search radius.
Further north this time. Up into the mountains where someone like Silas might hide well enough to evade her this long.
“Making friends, as always.”
She cringes at Luke’s voice, doing her best to wipe that look off her face before she turns around, because she’s nottryingto be an asshole. He is always nice enough, just can’t take adamn hint. “You know me. Always winning people over with my sparkling personality.”
The next sentence out of his mouth stops her cold as she moves to leave.
“We found him.”
She never imagined three words could destroy her so completely and so quickly. Or that denial would be her first reaction. “You didn’t. Why would you say that?”
“This morning. He was dumped at the gates with a note. You need to listen to me first before you—”
“Where? Where is he? Wade!”
She calls out like he might answer. Rushes past Luke toward the common areas and housing, not having a clue where she’s going.
If hyperventilating were a job, Kara would be getting paid overtime. Her lungs work against her, legs like jelly as she accumulates stares from onlookers. She must seem crazier today than all the other times she’s graced their presence.
“Kara, stop.” He grabs her arm, swinging her around so forcefully she nearly cracks him on the jaw on reflex, only holding it in at the last second.
“Don’t touch me. Tell me where he is. What are you waiting for?”
“I’ll show you. Come with me.”
Her skin still crawls where his hand squeezed, but that matters far less than what’s about to happen. Six years of searching is about to end, giving her exactly what she’d hoped for.
Prayed for.
Killed for.
