Free Dark Paths: Apocalypse Riders by Britten Thorne

said, “We’re in Chatham. Not too much further, I promise. Hanging in there?” She nodded. She was exhausted - she could practically feel the bags beneath her eyes - but Call didn’t look much better himself. Worry creased his eyes and his forehead. The lines relaxed some as a warm smile spread across his face. “One for the road?”
    “One what?”
    He cupped her chin and kissed her; it was like an electric shock to her system. Her pulse quickened, her blood heated; it was like waking from a daze. She felt like she was sinking as his lips melded with hers. I don’t think I could ever get tired of this. He pulled away all too soon and she couldn’t stop the little whine that rose in her throat.
    He laughed. “That put a little more life in your face. Ready?”
    She nodded, not trusting her voice.
    An hour later as they tore past gas stations and strip malls, Ripp finally slowed and waved them off the road and into a parking lot. Please let this awful flight be over.
    They silently stashed the bikes between cars in a parking garage next to a shopping center. “Third floor,” Ripp said, leading them to the stairs. “I’ve stopped here before. Got a spot with lots of big windows.” If the Satan’s Remains men were as tired as the three of them, Lia guessed it was safe to assume they’d halt the hunt to sleep for a few hours as well. And they might be out of gas.
    “I haven’t talked to anyone else since Lia’s farm,” Call said once they settled down with the packs and had something to eat. There was a jagged hole in the roof, so they’d felt safe enough lighting a small campfire. “What the hell happened out there?”
    “Satan’s fucking Remains happened. The whole fuckin’ gang fell in on us while we were out there,” Ripp said, shaking his head. “Or at least it seemed like it. Last I heard, they had pretty low standards for new members.”
    “So some of the girls might have fallen into their hands,” Lia said, her voice wavering. But Ripp shook his head.
    “From what I gathered we’d already scooped y’all up before the bastards arrived.” He pointed at her and wagged a finger. “Your little party really fucked up our night. We could have turned and fought the fuckers if we weren’t weighed down by a bunch of frightened chicks.”
    “I guess we should have stayed indoors and hoped we didn’t drown under the swarm?”
    He scoffed. “I’ve seen ‘em topple brick walls. It was just bad luck and bad timing all around.”
    “So what happened?” Call prompted.
    “I took off with Wales and Lark. Bunch of the Satan’s guys chased us. I had a girl with me but the two of them didn’t, so we split up. They led them away and I hid the girl until it was safe and then got her to the compound.”
    “So she’s there?” Lia asked, heart racing, “She’s safe? Did you get her name?”
    “Yeah, the tall Spanish lady, Charla.” Lia sighed with relief. Charla was a good shot and a tough girl. Lia was certain that she’d survived but it was still good to hear it confirmed.
    Ripp went on, “I know Lark drove east trailing four or five of them, but I don’t know how many were after Wales. I know they were practically up his tailpipe when he took off.” He looked between the two of them. “So I’m guessing you haven’t been home yet if you’ve got her warming your back. Where have you been?”
    Call paced as he spoke. He told the older biker about about her rescue that night at the farm, about how far they’d traveled, the stops he’d needed to make taking them miles off the route home, rambling on and dancing around the subject of the white farmhouse and their young friend and the stranger. When he finally brought it up, finally made himself say, “I found Wales. Kid was dead,” Ripp leaned back on his elbows and blew out a breath.
    “Fuck.”
    “Found him in a rest stop with one of the Satan’s guys.” His head dropped. “I let him go.”
    “You let the murdering bastard go?”