Page 42 of Night of the Living Manny
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t just leave you behind.” To be honest, he never even considered it. The epicenter of the virus was right there. Better for Brenden to be hours away.
“No, I’m glad you didn’t just cut me loose.” Brenden shrugged. “I’m just not sure what to do.”
“Help me unload the car and set up house? I need to get the generator running and see if I can’t get back to work on the antidote.”
“You go look at the generator. I have a ton of weapons out here, and I have a strong back.” Brenden gave him a strained smile, then began opening car doors.
“Thank you.” Liam needed all the help he could get.
“Anything I can do. Sounds like we have to have that cure.” Brenden smiled, but Liam felt as if any progress they’d made as more than boss and employee was gone.
It was probably for the best. He wasn’t really lover material. He had too much to hide….
He headed inside to work on the generator, his shoulders feeling like frozen rope. God, his life had felt as if it was going so good. Now Liam felt like crap.
All he had to do was keep his family safe and finish his work. That was it.
Nothing else.
Chapter Five
BRENDENchecked on Brittany and Peter before he started dinner. They were subdued but not wigging out, so he checked on Moose, who was asleep on the rug in the living room. Susanna was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at her phone, which was turned off. Poor baby had to be freaking out, since she’d formed the most long-lasting friendships at her age.
“How are you doing, hon?” Brenden asked.
“I’m fine. I wish Daddy had let me bring Shelly.”
“The military is coming in, right? Or at least he said he’d hit the panic button. She’ll be fine.”
“Yeah.” She heaved a sigh. “Do you need help?”
“I got this. You should grab a nap while you can.” He had no idea what would happen, but if they had to relocate again, they all needed to be rested.
“I don’t think Daddy will let either of us take watch at night.” She gave him an arch look.
“No, I bet not, but one of us will be up with him all the time, right?” He studied her intently.
“Yes. Are you mad at him?” He couldn’t tell if she wanted him to be or not.
Brenden gave that the thought it deserved. “Kinda? I feel like he didn’t tell me a lot. But I’m the new guy too, so he didn’t really have a chance.” He was more shocked, more reeling at the whole relocation.
“He only told me because Mom died. He needed help. He needed to know I could take care of Peter and Britt.” Susanna spread her hands. “I sure hoped nothing would ever happen.”
“You’re amazing. I need to tell you that now.” He broke out chicken nuggets. They would need to use up the frozen and fresh stuff first. Thank God his dad had been a bit of a prepper….
“Thanks. Daddy said he hoped it wouldn’t happen too.”
“No, I bet he was kinda desperate for it not to.” God, what a burden this whole thing had to be for Liam, especially without his wife. With a confidante, all things were easier. Brenden knew it wasn’t reasonable to hope to be that confidante now.
“Yeah. Anyways. Don’t be too mad. He needs a friend.”
“I’ll try.” Brenden was just confused. Worried. Scared. Freaking out.
“Me too.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she began to shake.
“Hey.” He went right to her, offering a hug. She took it, wrapping her arms around his middle and crying hard.
God, this wasn’t fair, and for a second he was so mad at Liam it hurt. She was barely sixteen. But Liam had told her. Warned her. So at least there was that.
