Paradise: An Apocalyptic Novel Read Free Page B

right.”
    They’d escaped the storm, but it still held them captive; patches of grey littered the shoreline. But here, in the middle of a jungle paradise, all that you noticed was the cool blue, the color of endless possibility.
    Jackson sat down against a palm tree and closed his eyes. The others would think him an oddball for not sleeping in one of the ridiculous beds, but he found peace out here, on the cusp between nature and modernity. It felt right, comforting.
    He slept as the sun spread warmth across his face.
    “This is kind of bullshit,” Sam said, looking around at the bunk beds, “they could at least give us our own rooms.” He’d grown irritable since his encounter with Britt the day before.
    “It’s clean,” Melina replied, “be thankful for that.”
    “But over there ,” Sam said, like it was another world, “that place is ridiculous. It’s like they’re rubbing it in our faces. Like we’re worth less.”
    “We are, Sam,” Melina said, lying back and shutting her eyes, “that’s why we work for them.”
    Sam said something else, but she was already fast asleep. Dinner was in a couple hours, and they’d trekked pounds of champagne, exotic foods and luggage over the quarter mile trail. It’d taken a couple hours, and everyone was shot. The four of them snuggled into their bunk beds.
    No one worried about oversleeping; there was a dinner bell that the patrons would no doubt ring when the time came to eat.
    “So,” Ziggy said, balancing a glass of expensive wine in one hand, caressing Penelope’s slender shoulder with the other, “what is it you do for old Maverick, anyway? Besides, you know…” Every good jungle critter needs its camouflage. And the wine allowed Ziggy to blend in with all the other fools.
    She slapped at his hand, but it was playful. “You asshole.”
    “Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’d do it too, if he’d have me.” Ziggy made a sad face. “But I’m not pretty enough.”
    Penelope blushed, and drank to regain her composure. She kind of knew she was pretty, but it always felt good to hear it, have it confirmed by a third party.
    “Well,” she said, biting the edge of the glass in what she hoped was a sexy manner, “I do reports, analysis.”
    “I bet you do,” Ziggy said, moving his face closer to hers.
    “And, I well, I—” The words were halted by their lips meeting. None of the other guests noticed, engaged as they were in their own lusty business.
    The dinner bell rang; it was Britt, and he was hungry.
    No one was pleased about this, least of all Ziggy and Penelope, who had half an idea to skip eating altogether. But that would be insulting to Maverick. Plus, the food looked fantastic—the assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and various creatures to be served up for the ensuing courses looked mouth-watering. Penelope had stolen a few peeks at what was being brought in during her tour of the premises.
    A few members of the group shot cursory glares at Britt, who was sitting next to the bell, arms folded.
    “What,” he said underneath his breath, low enough so that no one would kick his ass this time, “I’m hungry.”
    “What was that,” Davey said as he walked by, “I thought I heard something.”
    “Nice abs.”
    “You got a front row seat.”
    “And I enjoyed every minute of it,” Britt said, trying his best to not sound sarcastic. Davey said nothing, just flashed a megawatt grin as he traipsed off with the others. “I’ll get that smug son of a bitch,” Britt murmured to himself, leaning up against the wall, “I’ll get him.”
    “The guy grabbed your damn ass, Melina,” Sam said as they hurried back to the kitchen, “boundaries.”
    “I was paid a lot less to have other things near my ass,” she said, as if these were the facts of life, “be quiet and just do your work, okay?” Melina had been in a few adult videos. This gig, by her standards, was way better than having weird objects put where they didn’t