What Remains_Mutation (9 page)

Harper merely smiled. “Maybe. But there could be fires, dangerous chemicals. There were a couple of abandoned fire trucks outside the premise. I couldn’t access them on the way out…not dragging Lelin, worrying about watching my back as much as avoiding infected. But I was told they still had some supplies. I need men who have experience working with respirators. Who know the structural integrity of the walls and the ceiling. Who can navigate a hallway full of smoke as well as they can if it’s clear.” She looked at the men, compassion coloring her eyes. “I’m the one who doesn’t measure up. I just hope I don’t slow them down.”

The lump in Sully’s throat damn near gagged him. Barrett had a valid point. Despite his sudden determination to keep Harper safe, and that he knew without a doubt Cogan and Jake shared his feelings, they weren’t tactically trained. Sure, he and the guys had been holding their own since the start, but they hadn’t faced some of the numbers the others had. Hadn’t been forced to kill with their bare hands. Barrett. Hunter. Gunner. They’d taken the brunt of the dirty jobs. And just the thought that they might be the cause of Harper getting killed…

Harper met his gaze, and the thoughts vanished. She believed in them. It was written in the curve of her lips, the line of her brow. The way she held her head high, confidence pressing her shoulders back. He’d be damned if he’d let her down. Not after she’d stood up for them. Put her life in their hands.

Her trust.

Cogan glanced back at him, giving him a nod as if he’d read Sully’s mind, before stepping forward, stopping beside Barrett. “Look. I realize we don’t have some of the same skill-set as all of you. But I assure you. If Jake or Sully or I thought for one second we’d be jeopardizing Harper’s safety, or the viability of this mission, we’d back out. Truth is, we have everything to lose, and far more to gain than anyone else here. We’re going. Period. If you try to stop us, send another crew, we’ll follow. Anyway we have to. Not sure I can make it any clearer than that.”

Barrett stared at them, mouth pulled into a firm line then chuckled, shaking his head as he looked between them and Harper. “You know. If I’d known fireman were so damn stubborn, I would have kicked Gunner in the ass for bringing you three here.” He sighed. “Fine. We’ll get a Hummer ready. Give you as much as we can spare. Kace will ensure you’ve all been vaccinated.” He held up his hand. “It’ll give you some protection against the original strain. That’s better than nothing.” He nodded at Harper. “Does that fit with your conditions, Agent Rawlings?”

She pushed off the wall, walking over to the men and stopping in front of Sully. She studied his face, turning to do the same to Cogan and Jake. Something flashed in her eyes as she took a deep breath. “You realize what you’re getting into, right? I can get us there but…”

Sully pressed a finger to her lips, savoring the feel of her soft flesh against his. “You’re stuck with us, darling. So save your breath. There’s no talking us out of it.”

Tears glittered in her eyes before she blinked them away, giving him a shove as she drew herself up. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She glanced over at Barrett. “There’re a few bunkers located around the perimeter. They were used as sentry positions. I’m not sure if any of the surveillance is still operational, but our best bet is to head there first. Camp out for a few days, maybe a week. Get an idea what kind of numbers we’re looking at. If they’re all this advanced strain or a mixture. Once I’m certain we’ll last more than a minute inside, we’ll make some dry runs. But this could take a while…if we don’t die before we even get there.” She spun on her heels and walked away, gazing back at them when she reached the doorway. “I’d love some arrows if you have any. But I’ll use the time before we leave making some, just in case. And I prefer a pistol. Not too heavy. Good range. But I’ve already got plenty of blades.”

Sully ran a hand through his hair, watching her lithe form disappear into the compound. The girl definitely had a way about her, though he wasn’t sure whether he was impressed or intimidated.

Barrett gave him a hard pat on the back. “Damn, guys. You sure picked an odd time to get interested in a woman.”

Sully’s heart swelled at the thought, followed by his cock. He willed the damn thing away, focusing on Barrett. “Something tells me Harper picked us. But this is about far more than that.”

“Right. Let’s just hope the woman doesn’t get you all killed.” Barrett reached for Abby’s hand, leading her to the door. “And don’t go sightseeing along the way. I know you guys still want to find Gunner but… We won’t have much of a haven for him to return to if we can’t protect our borders. Let’s tackle one issue at a time. You can go after the big jerk once you’re back.”

Sully raised a brow. “If Harper doesn’t get us all killed.”

“See that she doesn’t.”

Sully nudged Cogan, heading toward their barracks. “You guys okay with this?”

Cogan shrugged. “Does it matter? Harper’s going. That means we are, too.”

He nodded, mulling over everything she’d said. “She didn’t have to stand up for us. Hell, she could have taken Rhys or Barrett up on their offer. They are better trained.”

Jake scoffed. “Not better. Just different. And as much as I’d love to think Harper is having similar confusing feelings about us, I’d also like to think she wouldn’t risk her life just to make us feel good. Though that thought certainly fuels the ego.”

Sully punched him in the shoulder. “Jackass.” His smile faded. “About Gunner…”

Cogan sighed. “I want to go after the jerk as much as you do. But this… They’re right. We’re talking about the safety—the lives—of everyone in this compound. Of any others we may eventually find out there. It’s not just us risking ourselves anymore. We’re risking Abby’s unborn children. Kace. Not sure I could live with myself if our actions resulted in their deaths.” He ran a hand through his hair. “The only thing I’m sure of is that…if it were us out there, waiting for help. I’d hate to think they put our three lives ahead of a hundred.”

Sully nodded, knowing the man was right but hating every second of it.

Cogan nudged his arm. “This isn’t us giving up, Sully. It’s merely a detour. One that may end up saving Gunner, too.”

Sully shoved him back. “Let’s just get ready. No telling what Harper’s going to get us into. One thing’s for sure, though. The woman’s going to be damn hard to keep in line.”

Cogan beamed. “Good thing there’s three of us.”

Chapter Six

Jake paced back and forth across the bunker, stopping to stare at the facility off to his left. They’d been gone too long. Something was wrong. He slammed his hand against a wall, embracing the stinging pain that vibrated up his arm. He never should have agreed to stay behind. Watch the damn camp. It wasn’t as if anyone was going to happen along and steal their stuff. At least nothing human.

He glared at the overly white collection of buildings. Though he wasn’t sure what he’d envisioned in his head, it’d paled in comparison to the real thing. The facility was massive—a collection of four buildings arranged in a rectangle connected by hallways and a series of underground tunnels. It’d exceeded his expectations. It also meant the reality of their mission was far more complicated than he’d initially thought. Despite any previous beliefs, there wasn’t a way to secure the site, not even a fraction of it. And the daily scouting missions were getting riskier with every outing. Their only saving grace was that the bunker was still well stocked. Food. Water. Power. Even a functioning toilet and shower. Though the crowning glory had been a couple of boxes of cookies they’d found in a cupboard. He laughed. Of all the brands to make it through the apocalypse, Watermelon Oreos hadn’t been his first choice. But who was he to argue. And it, along with the other amenities, had made surveillance bearable—except when his damn team didn’t return on schedule.

He slammed his hand on the wall again when the door crashed open and Sully stormed in followed by Cogan and Harper. Jake could tell by the firm press of Sully’s lips the man was pissed. And he had a distinct feeling their feisty little brunette had something to do with it.

Jake crossed the room, running a hand through his short hair. “Jesus Christ, Cogan, I was starting to think you three weren’t coming back. You disappeared off the monitors thirty minutes ago. I was just about to come looking for you. Last bloody time I stand watch. You damn near gave me a heart attack.”

Cogan sighed, nodding at Harper as she headed straight for the far side of the room, her back stiff, her hands fisted at her side. “We ran into a bit more resistance than we’d planned. They’re scaling the damn chain-link now. Had to kill a couple dozen of them once we cleared the exit.”

Jake hissed out a breath through clenched teeth. This fucking assignment was insane. They’d been facing increasing numbers ever since they’d arrived. And not the shambling infected they’d been battling these past twenty months. Fast, nimble bastards that kept coming until their brains had been splattered across the pavement. A sight they’d witnessed more times than he cared to count. And despite their determination, they hadn’t been able to recon more than a fraction of the facility before they were forced to retreat.

Jake gazed at Harper, his breath hitching at the blood dotted across her shirt. He marched over to her, tugging on the sleeve. “What’s this?”

Her muscles tensed, her knuckles turning white. “What the hell do you think it is? I eliminated the threat.”

Her voice sounded cold. Distant. As if the question had wounded her somehow.

He slipped closer, pressing his chest into her back. “Harper? You okay?”

She spun, shoving him aside as she retreated into another corner, once again isolating herself.

Cogan walked up beside him, shaking his head. “These bastards are getting faster. Stronger. Even with us using our guns, with Harper drawing arrows like fucking
Robin Hood
, we barely made it back. The last one got a bit close when she leaped off the ladder to stop it from grabbing my leg. The resulting kill wasn’t pretty.” He moved into the center of the room. “You shouldn’t have risked your life like that. I would have made it up in time.”

Harper’s back stiffened before she glanced at them over her shoulder. “And if you hadn’t? What was I supposed to do, watch that thing eat you?”

“I could say the same thing. My heart fucking stopped when you dove at it. Shit, Harper. You’re not the only one here who gives a damn. Do you think it would have been any easier on Sully and me to watch you get shredded?” Cogan huffed out a breath. “You think we haven’t noticed that you’re getting more reckless as the days go on? We’ve been here a week, yet you seem to trust us less every day.”

“Do you honestly think this is about trust? Damn it, Cogan, you three are the first men I’ve ever truly trusted. This has nothing to do with my faith in you.” She turned away, a shiver working through her body. Something akin to a sob drifted along the air. “There’s no way we’ll all get in and out alive. There’s too many of them. We’re too visible. I need to go…alone.”

Cogan growled when Jake grabbed his shoulder, shaking his head as he motioned to Harper. Cogan glanced at her, his lips twitching in irritation before he grunted and stalked away, pounding a fist into the console along the opposite wall.

Jake watched the man pretend to study the screens, the tilt of his head more than indicating his mind was somewhere else. Harper had claimed that the power grid supplying the facility hadn’t been depleted, and she’d been right. A few of the security cameras still broadcasted to the bunker, giving them fleeting images of the interior and some of the grounds. But even with the small measure of insight, they’d yet to find a way in or out that wasn’t crawling with infected.

He looked at her. She had her back to him, head bowed toward her chest. She’d gotten increasingly withdrawn with every failed attempt to access more than just the first level of the facility, her latest announcement not coming as a surprise to him. Shortly after they’d arrived, she’d starting acting differently. As if their presence made her happy and sad at the same time. He’d caught her watching them, confusion furrowing her brow. She seemed to be warring between wanting to draw them close, but acting as if she didn’t know how. Or maybe she didn’t want to take the risk. Either way, her unrest was palpable.

He sighed. She wasn’t the only trying to make sense of everything. Every minute he spent next to her, studying her, listening to the easy sound of her voice, only made him acutely aware of how much she’d come to mean to him in what he knew was a short time. But damn. Time wasn’t a luxury they had any more, and after spending all of his just trying to survive, he couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t something more. If the four of them could make something worth fighting for.

He looked at Cogan and Sully. Their gazes were pinned on Harper, the fire in their eyes impossible to miss. Jake knew his friends felt the same. Determined yet afraid to scare her off. To force her into making a choice that would drive her away, or worse—get her killed.

Jake took a calming breath, slowly moving over to her. He brushed his hand along her spine, smiling at the way she inhaled, her eyes closing on a soft moan as another shiver worked through her. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t hide the way she reacted to him. To them. He could see the light flush that colored her skin and smell the sweet earthy musk that scented the air whenever one of them touched her. He just didn’t know how to prove to her they were worth the risk.

He settled his hand on her hip, reminding himself to stay calm. “Harper. I realize you’re frustrated. We all are. And none of us want to see the others get hurt. But going alone isn’t an option.”

Her shoulders drooped, her head tilting to the side before she clenched her jaw and turned, moving sideways until she’d slipped out of his reach. Tears pooled in her eyes, but he knew she wouldn’t let them see her cry.

She swallowed and the cold, calculating operative was back, staring at him as if he were still a stranger to her. “This isn’t a question of compassion. It’s logistics. You guys aren’t exactly small. And despite your obvious skills, it’s impossible for three or four people to move silently. I spent several years here. I know the layout. I can hide in spaces a group can’t. It makes sense.”