Free The Razor's Edge: A Postapocalytic Novel (The New World Book 6) by G. Michael Hopf

of too much booze.
    After killing Rahab, she'd chosen the life of an apocalyptic vigilante and the only way she was to know success was to be at the top of her game. The months that followed Rahab’s demise took her across the northwest, killing the evil and freeing the innocent. Occasionally she’d leave her calling card, Nemesis , so that she could strike fear in those hell-bent on pursuing lives of abuse and mayhem.
    Outside of her training and being sober, she had created a set of rules she lived by with the discipline of a Tibetan monk, until now.
    “Stephanie!” the man cried out from the bed.
    Lexi tore herself away from the window. Like before she stood at the door and peeked in but this time the man was awake. The nightmare he was having was too much for sleep to overcome.
    He sat up in bed, sweat streaming down his stubbled cheeks, and his bandages showed signs of fresh bleeding. He looked around, surprised to find himself in a house. He touched his side before swinging out of bed. When he stood, he noticed he was only wearing his briefs. He frantically looked around the dimly lit room for his pants.
    Lexi watched him carefully. She thought about saying something but held back. She wanted to watch more, get a feel for him by examining his actions.
    The man found his clothes in a pile in the corner, put them on and opened the door.
    “You feeling better?” Lexi asked standing in his way.
    His eyes widened with the shock of seeing her. She was mere inches from him. “Um,” he mumbled then paused when he looked down to see she was holding a pistol and had it pointed at his stomach. He took two steps back and asked, “Did you patch me up?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    Lexi thought then replied, “That’s a good question. I normally don’t do that sort of stuff.”
    He stepped back more until he felt the bed behind him and sat down. “Am I a prisoner?”
    “Not at all, you’re more than welcome to leave.”
    “Okay, good to know.”
    “Where were you going?”
    “If I’m able to leave, why the pistol?”
    “Because I don’t trust you.”
    “But you bandaged me up only to shoot me?”
    “No, but I will if you do something that threatens me.”
    “I’m not here to hurt you, trust me.”
    “Trust is something I’m not good at.”
    The man laughed and said, “I can see that.” He stood up and took a few steps towards her, his hand outstretched. “How about we start off on a new foot?”
    She didn’t flinch when he stepped towards her. She was confident in her capabilities, plus she had a 9 mm pointed at him.
    He kept his hand out.
    She looked at him, holstered her pistol and reached out with her hand.
    He took it, shook and said, “Nice to meet you.”
    “Same.”
    “And thank you for helping me and…” he said but choked with a pause.
    “Stephanie,” she said completing his thought.
    He looked into her champagne eyes and with sincerity said, “Thank you, I owe you my life.”
    “It’s what I do.”
    “I see that.”
    She pulled her hand away and glanced away.
    “What’s your name?” he asked.
    She looked back up and asked, “What’s yours?”
    “Oh, we’re playing that?” he asked and chuckled then continued, “My name is Nick, but my good friends and family call me Nicholas.”
    “Well, Nicholas, do you have a last name? I like to know people’s full names; it helps identify them better.”
    “You first,” he challenged.
    She turned away and walked down the hall. “I’ve got food if you’re hungry,” she said, ignoring his request.
    He raised his brow, stepped out of the room and said, “Knight, my full name is Nicholas Knight.”
    She kept walking.
    “Wait, you didn’t give me your name.”
    She stopped at the end of the hallway. Without turning, she just blurted out, “My name is Lexi, and that bundle of love at your feet is my good friend Beau.”
    Nicholas looked down at Beau, who returned the look. “Good doggie.”
    “Beau, come; let’s let Nicholas get