Outbreak The Living (The Outbreak Series) Read Free Page A

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    I hear Mack give a low growl, Sal is shifting from one foot to the other. Tabby looks scared out of her mind.
    “You, Egypt. I want you. You come with me and I’ll let your daughter go,” Jake says. The yelling and screaming starts. Looking around, I have to make a decision fast. I have to get Tabby away from him and get the kids to safety. I know these guys would die for me. But I cannot let them do that.
    I don’t see any other way. “OK, Jake, I will go with you! But first let me go talk to Mack. You can hold on to Tabby so you know I’m not going to back on my word.” I say. Everyone quiets and looks over at me like I have grown two heads. Looking at Jake, he nods his head. I start to walk over to Mack and I know that my knee is not going to help me walk.
    Dragging my leg behind me, I make my way to Mack. I hear Sal yelling my name. I look over and shake my head. Getting to Mack I fall into him. Wrapping my arms around him I whisper in his ear, “Listen, this is the only way. Get the kids to safety, find out how he got to her. I hurt all over. I really got my ass kicked this time. “
    Mack squeezes me softly. “Egypt, don’t you dare ask me to watch them walk away with you. I won’t fucking do it!” he says forcefully.
    Hugging him, I pull away a little. I look him in the eyes. I can see the hurt and despair in them. “Come for me," I whisper to him. Walking away I look over at my other guys. I know Pete understands why I’m doing this. We really are outnumbered. Sal is shaking. He is so pissed. Giving him a small smile, I turn and hobble back to Jake. Walking right up to him, I grab Tabby out of his grasp and give her a big hug. “Shhh, don’t say anything, baby, go to Pete right now. I will be fine.” Looking over my shoulder at Jake. He nods. Tabby runs over to Pete. I feel Jake put his arm around my waist. My hand reaches out and I grab his chest to steady myself.
    “Go, start walking away,” Jake says to my group. He looks over and says to Hunter, "You and I will talk later, give us twenty minutes and follow. Make sure they don’t circle back around. Matter of fact, two of you stay behind to make sure they don’t follow us. At least two hours,” he says.
    Gently grabbing my arm, he starts to lead me away. It’s very slow going I can see my knee turning black and blue. My ribs hurt and I’m sure my face is swelling. I can hear Tabby yelling for me and shouting. I don’t look back. We walk for about ten minutes and my knee finally gives out. I never hit the ground because strong arms catch me. “That motherfucker will pay for touching you,” Jake says. He swings me up into his arms like I weigh nothing at all.
    “Let go of me, put me down,” I growl. I feel him shaking. I see that he’s laughing. “Egypt, you can’t walk. Hunter did a number on you. Just let me carry you to the SUV,” he says. Shit! I’m going to have to give in and let him. If I push my knee anymore it might not heal back to normal.
    “So tell me, how is it any different what you want to do to me than what Hunter did?” I feel him stiffen up. Looking into his face. I slowly make my eyes go upwards until I am looking him in the eyes.
    “Because, Egypt, I’d never hit a woman. And besides, you will enjoy what I’m going to do with you,” he says.
    “You can’t be fucking serious, Jake! I’m never going to want to sleep with you.” Jake jumps over a creek and it jars my knee. Gasping for air, I think I’m going to pass out.
    “Sorry, Egypt. I know you hurt,” he says. Looking around I know where I am, sort of. We are heading to the lake up the road. Looking out ahead I see a boat with a guy waiting in it. “Hey, Gus. Start her up we need to get a move on,” Jake says. He slowly gets into the boat. I try to get down so that I can sit on my own until he squeezes me. I stop moving. He sits down and moves me so that I am cradled in his arms on his lap. I try not to move too much. I find myself dozing