Free The Mortis Desolation (Book 1): Mortis by Logan Rutherford

think you’d be able to hold off a couple of Roves.”
    My body tensed and I could feel my skin flush with anger. “For someone who’s outnumbered, you sure are cocky.”
    Mila pushed part of her hair behind her ear and flashed a white smile. “You really mean it? Aww.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. “It’s called acting, kid. I would’ve gotten out of here if it wasn’t for Miss Grabby over there,” she said, pointing at Rachel with the tip of her knife.
    “Whoa,” I said reaching for my gun. “Where’d you get the knife? Put it down.”
    Mila chuckled and set it down next to her. “You should be more observant of your surroundings,” she said. “Had you not told Rachel to get off me when you did, it would’ve been just a few more moments before I pulled the knife on her.”
    I tightened the grip on my gun, ready to defend myself if need be.
    “You wouldn’t try anything,” she said, her tone changing. “If I don’t report back soon, a group from Brinn will be sent out looking for me. When they find out that the Knights of Jefferson killed me from their high horses, you’ll have the Roves and my people hunting for you.”
    “Nobody ever said anything about killing,” I said, trying to bring the situation back under control. “That’s exactly why I got Rachel off you. I have no problem with Brinn and don’t want to start any. In fact, we could use your help.”
    “We what?” Daniel asked from behind me.
    I turned and looked up at him. “Yes, we could.” I turned back to Mila who looked at me, enjoying every moment. “We can’t just stay out here, especially not this close to the Roves.”
    “Awww, poor baby feels scared without his Wall and bullets?”
    “Right now, all I need is one,” I said, motioning toward my rifle. I was fed up with her being so condescending. Asking her for help was hard enough, I didn’t need her childish jabs.
    She rolled her eyes but said nothing more.
    “If we could use Brinn as a base of operations while we plan our retaliation, maybe use some of your supplies and people, it’d be very beneficial for the both of us.”
    “Oh yeah? How so?” Mila asked.
    I smiled and gave her a smug smile. I knew I was about to play my checkmate. “We’d reward you for your generosity, of course. Maybe spare you some of those munitions you’re so jealous of?”
    Mila scoffed and looked away. “Yeah, if there’s any left once the Roves get through with it,” she said, although with not as much snark as her earlier comments.
    “It’s a good plan,” John said. “Everybody wins, and the Roves lose.”
    “Exactly,” I said. “We’d drive the Roves away. Brinn wouldn’t be in danger from them, and if they ever did, not only would you have more weapons and ammunition to defend yourselves with, but we’d owe you one.”
    Mila perked up. She definitely liked the idea of us owing her and her people one. She smiled and nodded. “It’s not up to me, but I think that you and my people would be able to negotiate something that would be mutually beneficial,” she said, as if the whole thing was her idea.
    “Well, good then,” I said as I stood.
    I reached down to help her up, but Mila stood up on her own.
    “We’ll stay here tonight,” she said. “The journey to Brinn isn’t safe at night, with so many more zombies out.”
    “Sounds good, then,” I said. “We’ll leave first thing in the morning."

Chapter Nineteen
    T he sun’s warm morning rays filtered through the blinds of the general manager’s office of the car lot, waking me from me sleep. I sat up in the chair I slept in that was sitting in front of the office door, and reached for my assault rifle, making sure it was still there.
    I looked around and saw that everybody else was already awake and packing, save for the injured. Julia lay on the couch, still asleep. Her color was beginning to return, and Rachel said it probably wouldn’t get infected. Thankfully the bullet had a clean entry and