Life After The Undead (Book 1) (88 page)

“When
tha
t’s
the
case,
we
’l
l
know
where
we
need
to
go.
You
don
’t
need
to
send
anyone
else
out.”
I
tried to
keep
my
anger
under
control.

Liet
set
his
plate
on
the
table
and
then
wiped
his
hands
on his
pants. “Actually,
I
believe
we
’ll
start sending
others
out.
Quinn,
Bill,
Kyle,
I
appreciate
all
that
you
have
done
for
us,
but
I
don’t
think
we
’ll
be
needing
your
services
any
longer.”

I
moved
so
I
was
on
the
edge
of
the
couch.
“What
are
you
talking
about?
They
’r
e
the
only
ones
who
know
the
West.
You
saw
what
happened
when
you
sent
rookies
out…they
died.”

Liet’s
eyes
narrowed
to
slits.
“Others
can
learn
the
nuances
of
the
West.
I’
m
sure
these
men
have
families
they’d
like
to
be
with.
We
can
take
care
of
ourselves.”

I
opened
my
mouth
to
protest,
then
thought
better
of
it.
If
Liet
had
his
mind
set
that
we
didn’t
need
Quinn
anymore,
nothing
was
going
to
change
it.
My
jaw
ached
from
clenching
it. I
stared
hard
at
Liet,
hoping
he’d
burst
into
flames
or his
head
would
explode.
He
didn
’t
even
notice.
He
ignored
me,
so
I
turned
back
to
the
map.
The
four
of
us
marked
the
cities
and
towns
we
believed
would
be
the
best
to
pillage
for
supplies.
After
an
hour,
we
all
decided
it
was
time to
turn
into bed.

My
heart
stopped
for a
moment
when
Liet
followed
me
into
my
room.
I
turned
to
face
him,
my
arms
crossed
over
my
chest.

“I told
you
this
was
the
last time
you
were
going
out.
I
need
you
here.
I
need
to
know
you
’r
e
safe.
I
expect
them
to
be
gone
before
ten.”

“That
shouldn
’t
be
a
problem.”
I
spoke
between
gritted
teeth.

He
stopped
with
his
hand
on
the
doorknob.
“It
better
not
be.”
He
closed
the
door
behind
him.

I lay
in bed
and
stared
at
the
ceiling.
What
was
Liet’s
problem?
One
minute
he
was
like,
“Yeah,
go
to
the
West.
Be
free,
but
be safe.”
Then,
the
next
he
wanted
me
locked
in
my
room. His
mood
swings
were
exhausting
and
potentially
deadly.
I
wanted
nothing
more
than
to
remove
him from
his
position
of
power,
get
out
of
his
house,
and
ride
off
with
Quinn
into
the
sunset.
Even
if
he
didn’t
let
me
go
back
out
when
I
returned
from
Florida,
I
was
still
going
to
leave.
I knew
where
all
the
keys
to the
vehicles
were. And
we
had more
than
semis.
I
rolled
onto
my
side
and
closed
my
eyes,
but
sleep
did
not
come
easily.

***

When
I
woke
up
the
next
morning,
the
guys
had
already
loaded
Quinn
’s
Jeep.
Liet
stood
over
them,
watching intently.
I
was
a
little
disappointed
no
one
had
woken
me
up,
but
I was
sure
Liet
had
planned
it
that
way.
I
asked
if
they
needed
any
help,
but
they
told
me
they
were
fine.
I
embraced
each
one
of
them and
told
them
how
much
I
appreciated
their
help
and
how
much
I
was
going
to
miss
them.
I
tried
not
to
linger
longer
on
Quinn,
but
I
found
it
difficult
to
let
him
go.

“Don
’t
worry,”
I
whispered.
“I
’ll
see
you
again
when
I
get
back.”

“I
hope
so.”
He
glanced
at
Liet
over
my
shoulder.
“I’l
l
see
you
soon.”

I
waved
at
them
as
they
pulled
away,
and a
tear
dropped
onto
my
cheek.
I quickly
wiped
it
away
so
Liet
wouldn
’t
notice.
I
turned
toward
him.

“
I’m
ready
to
go
whenever.”

He
scowled.
“You
’r
e
not
going
anywhere.”

I stared
at
him
in
confusion. “
I
thought
you
said
you
wanted
me
to
go
to
Florida.”

“Do
you
really
think
I’m
that
stupid?”
He
snarled.
“You
put
on
a
great
performance
the
other
day, but
actions
speak
louder
than
words.”

I
was
dumbfounded.
“What
are
you
talking
about?”

He
pointed
at
me.
“I
see
how
he
looks
at
you.
And
the
way
he
escorted
you
to
the
truck
after
Wilks
killed
himself.
Don’t
tell
me
nothing
is
going
on
between
you
two.”