Page 73 of Waves of Fury

I don’t know much about the NHP, but these guys, dressed casually, don’t appear to be a part of them.

Thunder rumbles again in the distance. Both men stop to peer toward the easterly direction.

“It’s going to storm and we’re the lucky fuckers who have to clean up their mess. What’d we do to deserve this, Manny?”

Manny, the shorter guy, grunts again. “Low men on the totem pole. You haven’t been laid in a while.” He playfully ribs the other man. “You want some cold, dead pussy, Derek?”

Derek shoves at him. “Don’t be a sick fuck.”

The two of them start moving again down the road.

“After we take care of this shit, I’m going to visit the hotel. Surely it’ll earn us some warm, live, and kickin’ pussy.”

Derek snorts. “Now you’re talking. That one they captured yesterday on the highway had a nice pair of tits…”

Their voices grow muted again as they get out of earshot.

Turning, I motion for Jesse to head toward the back of the building. Once we’re hidden better, I let out a sharp breath.

“I knew it,” I grit out, grinding my teeth together. “It’s a trap to lure people here. Women specifically. Fuck.”

Jesse scowls. “Time for Plan B.”

“You think we can steal that police car?”

He shakes his head. “No, but there’re a few cars parked nearby at the hotel. I saw a Suburban big enough to hold our crew. It’s older looking too, which could mean easier to hot-wire.”

We make a plan that involves me being the lookout while Jesse crosses the road to try to steal the vehicle. If the guys near the police car hear him and go after him, I’m to pick them off with the shotgun.

Suddenly, I wish Aaron or Kellen were here. Me and my little brother aren’t exactly tactical dudes. I have no idea how this will go down.

“We can do this,” Jesse assures me, clutching my shoulder. “If I get it started, run back to the group and get them ready. I’ll make it over there to you guys and we’ll haul ass out of here.”

“If you can’t get it started?”

“We’ll move along to Plan C.”

“What’s Plan C?”

“Kill those guys and take their vehicle.”

I grimace at his new plan, which sounds horrible. I’m about to suggest my version of a Plan C, which involves going back to the group and getting the hell out of Dodge on foot, but my impatient brother is already hoofing it across the road before I can stop him.

Fuck.

I hustle after him, stopping just at the edge of the building. Miraculously, he makes his way across the road undetected. Aiming my shotgun at the guys, I wait, listening intently while my heart races in my chest.

I’ve never shot a gun before.

On one of our long walks, Kellen of all people, explained the basics of weaponry to me. It’s a little more than point and shoot, but I have a general understanding now. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, though.

Seconds turn into minutes and I start to worry. I would imagine if Jesse were caught, he’d raise all kinds of hell. But it’s been too quiet, which probably means he’s having trouble.

A loud rumble of thunder makes all the buildings rattle and beyond that I think I hear shattering of glass. The huddle isn’t running toward the Suburban, however, and are instead pointing at the storm lighting up the sky in the distance.

So far so good.

An eternity later, I hear the sound of the Suburban’s engine turning over. Then headlights flood the dark parking lot.

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