Dead Endz Read online

  He released me. “Go ahead and check it out for yourself.”

  I walked over towards it, took off my shoes and dipped one of my toes into the water. It felt only slightly cool against my skin.

  “Can we swim?” I asked.

  “Of course,” he replied.

  I bit the side of my lip. “I don’t have a swimsuit.”

  “I won’t look,” he said with a devilish grin.

  “Seriously, I don’t have one and I’m…”

  He laughed out loud. “Would you please stop being so shy around me? Just go in your underwear, Wild. That’s what I’m going to do.”

  Then I watched as he began removing his clothing. First his jacket, his shirt, and finally his socks and pants. When he stood in just his boxers, I couldn’t stop staring at his lean hard muscles.

  “Do you need help getting out of that dress?” he asked, moving towards me.

  “I um…”

  He stepped behind me and began kissing the back of my neck.

  “I thought you were going to help me,” I whispered closing my eyes. He definitely had the knack for finding my weak spots.

  “Patience,” he murmured.

  His mouth was so warm against my skin and when I let out soft moan, he stopped. “We’ll never get into the pool at this rate,” he said, unzipping my dress. It fell to the ground and he turned me around.

  Bryce stared at me for a few minutes but didn’t say anything.

  “What?” I asked, feeling silly and a little self-conscious. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

  His eyes met mine. “You’re just so beautiful. It’s hard not to stare.”

  “Oh, thanks,” I answered, blushing. I looked towards the pool. “So, should we go in?”

  Before I knew what was happening, he picked me up in his arms and started walking into the shallow end of the pool. The water was much cooler than I’d expected and I shivered.

  “Ready?”

  “Bryce!” I hollered as he began swinging me in his arms.

  “What?” he laughed and then tossed me high into the air.

  I smiled as I went under and then turned around to retaliate. Soon we were both splashing and dunking each other.

  “There’s a beach ball,” I said, getting out of the water. It was sitting on one of the patio chairs.

  “Stay there for a minute,” he said as I was getting ready to jump into the water.

  “Why?”

  He stared at my body and I looked down. My bra and panties were obviously wet, leaving little to the imagination. I quickly jumped into the water.

  “You wimp,” he laughed.

  I threw the ball at his head and he retaliated. Soon we were playing dodge ball, both of us laughing so hard, the zombies could probably hear us on the streets. After a while he got out of the pool and I stared with lust at his hot body.

  “And what are you looking at?” he asked with a silly grin.

  “Just admiring the view,” I said, swimming backwards.

  He chuckled and then took a running leap into the pool. “Cannonball!” he hollered as he hurled himself into the water next to me.

  “You’re such a boy,” I laughed when he came back up the surface.

  He swam up next to me and pulled me into his arms. “That’s funny because I thought you brought out the man in me.”

  We stared at each other in the darkness for a few seconds and then he began kissing me.

  “Thank you,” he murmured, after a while.

  “For what?”

  “For saying yes, tonight.”

  I smiled. “There was no other answer for me.”

  He pulled me over to shallower end of the pool and began kissing me, again. Soon I had my legs wrapped around his waist and both of us were breathing heavy.

  “Let’s get out of the pool,” he whispered.

  “Okay.”

  “Just one minute,” he said.

  Before I knew it he’d unclasped my bra and I was holding it against my breasts.

  “Wild, we should remove our clothing,” he said. “They’re a little wet.”

  “Um…”

  “Don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you.”

  I let out a sigh and removed my bra while he stared into my eyes.

  “See, that wasn’t so bad,” he said.

  Our bodies were pressed together and I could feel his excitement poking me under the water. I smiled.

  “What?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “Nothing.”

  He began kissing my lips again and his hands cupped my breasts. After a few minutes one of his hands traveled down to my panties and I held my breath. “These are wet, too,” he murmured into my neck.

  That was an understatement.

  Soon those were off too and he began walking out of the pool with me still wrapped around his waist.

  “Still doing okay?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  He took me into the suite. “Don’t worry,” he whispered, entering one of the bedrooms. “This room hasn’t been used by the others.”

  At that point I didn’t care; I was nervous, excited and a little cold. He dropped me onto the bed and I stared up at him.

  “Don’t you dare move, I’ll be right back,” he said.

  He stepped out of the bedroom and feeling self-conscious again, I pulled the covers over my damp body. When he returned he was clutching what appeared to be a condom. His lips turned up as our eyes met.

  “What?” I asked, pulling the blankets closer.

  He shook his head and chuckled. “Nothing.”

  “I’m just cold.”

  “I’ll warm you up.”

  I smiled. Just looking at his broad shoulders and narrow waist warmed me up.

  Then he pulled off his boxers and I took a quick look.

  “My eyes are up here,” he teased, crawling onto the bed.

  I guess it would always be our private joke now.

  Bryce took my hair down, running his fingers through it. Then he began kissing me all over, making me so excited that I forgot to be nervous.

  “I love you so much,” he whispered, staring at me with his crystal blue eyes.

  “I love you, too,” I answered, trailing my finger along the white scar near his chin.

  He licked his lips. “Is this okay? I don’t want to rush anything.”

  “It’s more than okay,” I answered.

  Then he made love to me so tenderly that there wasn’t any pain, only intense pleasure. I was so shaken and overcome with emotions that when it was all over, I was close to tears.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, staring into my eyes. “Was it that bad?”

  I shook my head and laughed. “No, it was…amazing.”

  “Then why are you crying?” he asked, touching a single tear that trailed down my cheek.

  “Because I’m just so…happy.”

  He smiled. “Me too.”

  Then he kissed me one last time before we both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  I woke up in the early hours of the morning and stared at Bryce who was still sleeping alongside me. His eyelashes were so long and he looked like a little boy resting. He was the most amazing guy I’d ever met and last night had been one of the best times of my life.

  I stared at the ring on my finger and sighed. I would someday become Mrs. Bryce De Luca. I smiled, or maybe he would be Mr. Cassandra Wild. I couldn’t wait to see his face when I teased him about that. Then I remembered…

  Nora.

  We were going to Minnesota in a few hours. Bryce would be pissed but it was something I had to do. I’d already lost my parents and I had to try and save my grandparents. I just had this feeling they were still alive and needed me. I’d rescue them and bring them here, where it was safe.

  I moved slowly out of the bed, trying not to disturb Bryce. He reached out towards where I’d been lying then murmured something in his sleep.

  I froze.
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  After a few minutes his breathing became steadier and I got up enough nerve to leave the bed.

  I went out to the pool and grabbed my clothing. After I got dressed I wrote him a note to let him know how much I loved him and explained why I had to go back to Minnesota. After I was done, I decided to leave the note under the door to his real suite.

  I tiptoed back to the bedroom and stared at his still form, wishing I could slide back into bed with him and never leave his side. My love for him was so intense at that moment that I almost changed my mind about the trip.

  Almost.

  I sighed and left him sleeping, praying that we’d be back together again, soon.

  Chapter Forty

  My sister and Kylie were both sleeping soundly when I got back to our suite. Goldie slept on the ground next to them and attacked me with puppy kisses when she noticed me peeking into the room.

  “Shh…” I whispered to the happy pup. I was certainly going to miss Goldie as well, who seemed to be growing larger every day.

  I gave her some food and water then took a quick shower. Luckily my sister and Kylie both slept like the dead.

  After packing some things for the trip, I wrote my sister a note, telling her how much I loved her and why she couldn’t come with. I added a separate note for Paige and Kristie to let them know how sorry I was about sneaking away. But neither Bryce nor they were going to stop me from doing what I had to do and there was no way I’d risk Paige’s life. She’d already been through enough the last few weeks.

  “Bye Goldie,” I whispered, hugging her tightly. “Take care of Allie, okay?”

  She stared at me with her puppy grin and I kissed the top of her yellow head.

  The hotel was quiet as I made my way down to the kitchen. I knew there’d by survivors guarding the doors against zombies or other dangers and had already started thinking of an excuse for leaving the building.

  “You made it,” said Nora as I met her in the kitchen. “I have to admit, though, I thought you’d stay here.”

  “It certainly wasn’t an easy decision.”

  She sighed and grabbed her backpack. “I know what you mean.”

  “Because of Billie?”

  She shrugged.

  “You can admit that you like him Nora. He adores you.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Did he tell you that?”

  “Yes he did as a matter of fact. Just before he gave me a birthday hug yesterday.”

  She blushed. “Sorry about that. I walked in on you guys and thought you were making out or something.”

  I lifted my left hand. “I’m engaged to the man I love. Billie’s nice but we’re just friends.”

  “Congratulations,” she said. “I’m truly happy for you guys.”

  I smiled. “Thanks.”

  “So, you still want to do this even though your sister is here and you’re engaged to stud muffin?”

  “Not really. But it’s something I have to.”

  “I hear you. Okay, let’s hit it. I found us a ride.”

  I followed her to the hotel’s underground garage which nobody usually ventured to, so I knew it wouldn’t be secure. The chance of their being zombies around was very high.

  “Our driver has a ride and keys. He insisted on coming with us when he heard the rumor that we were going, practically begged me.”

  “Who is it?” I asked, very intrigued.

  “You’re just going to have to find out,” she said with grin. “He should be waiting for us.”

  “Okay.”

  Nora opened the door slowly and then slammed it back shut. “Fuck.”

  “What?”

  “Zombies, what else? You ready?”

  I pulled out the ax I’d taken from one of the hallways in the hotel. “Yeah.”

  She nodded and then opened the door.

  There were over twenty zombies wandering around this part of garage.

  “A few?!” I hollered at her.

  “Okay, maybe a lot. Shit, I hope he made it to his truck.”

  “Me, too Nora. It’s hard to believe that anyone got through this mess alone.”

  The zombies began noticing us arguing in the doorway and two of them charged us.

  “I got it,” I mumbled taking a step towards the nearest zombie. I raised the ax and swung it, hitting the zombie right in his neck. Its gaunt rotted face stared at me for a minute and then fell backwards, rolling across the floor.

  “Shit, I knew I should have grabbed an ax,” said Nora rushing towards another zombie. She was yielding a baseball bat and caught a young male zombie right in the forehead.

  “I don’t know,” I said, swinging the ax towards a female zombie with a floppy green Mohawk. One of her eyebrows appeared to be missing, torn away from her face. From the piercings on her other eyebrow, I figured someone ripped out the matching ones. “Bats seemed to do the trick pretty well.”

  “Dude,” laughed Nora when an old naked man zombie shuffled towards her, his noodle flopping around and a big zombie grin on his face. “That is gnarly!”

  I burst out laughing as he chased her around. It was so disturbing it was comical. “Come on!” I yelled. “Quit playing with the zombie. Put us all out of our misery and get rid of at least one of his dead-heads!”

  She snorted and then cracked his noggin with the bat. He fell to the floor and this time, everything on him was limp.

  I heard a truck engine roar to life and then a white pickup screeched to a halt next to us as we were trying to kill the remaining zombies.

  “About time,” breathed Nora, who’d just swung and taken out two teenaged zombies at once.

  I watched as the driver rolled down the window. He spit out a wad of chew and grinned. “You girls coming or what?”

  “Seriously? Henry, you’re coming with?”

  “Damn tootin’,” he said. “Someone’s got to keep you two girls safe.”

  “Get in, Wild,” hollered Nora as more zombies stumbled out of the darkness towards us with hope.

  We scrambled towards the truck and once inside, Henry chuckled. “Say, saw you with the old timer back there, Nora. Looked like you were playing tag with that feller.”

  Nora laughed. “Yeah, he kind of resembled you. I almost thought the zombies had gotten a hold of you, Henry.”

  “Well, that’d be the way to go,” he said. “Naked with a big fat grin on my face.”

  “Oh, Henry,” I sighed.

  “Everyone ready?” he asked.

  “Let’s go before I change my mind,” I said, thinking back to Bryce and his gorgeous body probably still warming up the bed. I already missed him and we hadn’t even left the garage yet.

  “Sure about this?” asked Henry.

  “Yes,” I said. “Let’s go Henry.”

  “Full speed ahead,” said Nora.

  He opened the window and spit out another wad of chew at one of the zombies. He then looked at us and smiled “All righty then.”

  He put it in gear and turned the truck around as zombies tried holding on to our vehicle, reaching for us in a last ditch effort for a meal. Henry grunted and then stomped on the gas. After a few thumps of bodies under the tires, we were off.

  “Congratulations again on your engagement,” said Henry. “I trust you had a romantic dinner with Bryce?”

  “It was...awesome,” I said.

  He nodded. “I like that boy. He’s going to do well by you. I can tell.”

  As we barreled out of the hotel parking lot, past crowds of zombies loitering the streets, I stared back with heartache and longing. I was leaving Bryce, my sister, and all my friends. I could only hope that it wasn’t in vain.

  Chapter Forty-One

  “Damnit Wild!” hollered Bryce as he crumpled up the note and threw it across the room. “What in the hell are you thinking!”

  Bobby peeked out of his bedroom. “Bryce?”

  He sighed. “Hey buddy, it’s okay. Come here.”

  Bobby smiled and then ran into Bryce’s arms. “I
love you, Bryce.”

  “I love you, too,” answered Bryce, closing his eyes.

  Besides Bobby, the only other person he’d risk his life for was Cassie. Now he had to decide whether or not to risk the chance of losing one or the other. No matter what he did, the risk would be great. Even if he left Bobby in the hotel with friends, there was no guarantee something horrible wouldn’t happen.

  “Listen,” he said, staring into his brother’s eyes. “I have to go on a little trip again, Bud.”

  Bobby, who didn’t understand the horror of the world around him, only smiled and nodded.

  He hugged the boy tightly again. “I’ll be back though, okay? And then we’ll always be together, okay?”

  Bobby nodded. “Okay Bryce.”

  “I think I’m going to have you stay with Tiny and Kristie, okay?”

  Bobby’s eyebrows furrowed. “What about Dave?”

  “He can’t be with you. He’s in Heaven. Remember, we talked about it?”

  “No, I think he’s somewhere else.”

  Bryce sighed. “No, Bobby, but I wish he was.”

  Bobby shook his head vehemently. “No, he told the zombies he’d see them in Hell. I heard him say that. Especially the one that tried to bite his hand.”

  Bryce tried not to laugh. “Okay, Bobby. But I’m guessing he never made it to Hell. Fortunately, for the zombies.”

  Bobby nodded. “Yeah, they probably were tired of playing our game. They kept losing.

  ***

  “They actually left, huh?” groaned Kristie. “Dammit. I was afraid of that.”

  “We have to go find them,” said Paige. “I’m coming with too, and don’t try to argue with me, mother.”

  “Listen,” said Bryce. “It’s too dangerous. I’m going alone to find them. When I do I’ll bring both girls back; at least Cassie. I doubt anyone can talk Nora into anything.”

  “You need me to come with, brother?” asked Tiny. “I’ll have your back.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it. I’d rather have you stay here and keep an eye on everyone, though. I have this uneasy feeling our hotel stay might not last as long as we think.”

  Tiny nodded. “It’s too good to last, that’s kind of how I feel.”