Page 91 of Whispers of the Dead

“Stop underestimating me,” she says, giving me a warm smile.

I grin back at her, despite the growing pain in my leg. “Never again.”

Avery keeps a firm hold on my other side, then Emily’s men spread out beside us to cover our backs. Griffin’s voice booms loud over the increasing chaos. “Go with them. We’ll follow behind and make sure everyone makes it out.”

“Oh look, Willie’s out!”

“It’s a harmonica, you dumbass.” William puts the small instrument to his lips and blows, drawing the nearest rotters away from us while Max and Jace cut them down.

“You’re the one,” Benji says before moving toward William. He starts singing in harmony to the harmonica, drawing the attention of a few extra rotters.

Emily gives Griffin a quick kiss before rushing to Zoey’s side, and together we move.

38

ZOEY

The brightly lit room hums with quiet movement. The air is thick with the scent of antiseptic, sweat, and blood. Survivors spread out, and chatter bounces off the walls. The shuffle of boots echoes against cracked tile, punctuated by the occasional hiss of pain as wounds are tended to. The smell of damp concrete and antiseptic mixes with the metallic scent of blood.

I press an ice pack to Cole’s swollen ankle and watch while his jaw clenches in irritation.

He grumbles. “It’s not that bad.”

I glare at him. “Shut up and let me take care of you.”

He exhales through his nose before surrendering with reluctance. He doesn’t argue further.

His leg stretches out in front of him. The bruise is already darkening around the twisted joint. He’ll be fine, but it’ll take time, which means he won’t be making the trek to my colony any time soon. Looks like we’re stuck here for now.

He reaches up to press a gentle touch to my cheek, the one with the bruise from Eugene. The touch melts away my glare. “I should be the one taking care of you. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to you before he did this.”

His words bring a smile to my lips and I place my hand over his and squeeze. “We all made it out alive and in one piece. I’d say that’s a win. Besides,” I turn my head so I can press a kiss to his palm, “now we have matching bruises. We’re like twinsies.”

The seriousness in his expression fades, giving way to a laugh. The first laugh I’ve ever heard from him. He shakes his head, speechless.

Avery stands nearby, speaking quietly with Jace about securing the building, while Damon and Benji move through the remaining dregs. Their sharp eyes sweep over the room, making sure no one is secretly plotting against us.

They’re on edge. After everything that’s happened, I don’t blame them.

Emily drops into a chair beside me and Cole’s hand falls away to give me some friend time. Emily rests a gentle hand on my knee. Her amber eyes flick over my face, scanning me like she still doesn’t quite believe I’m real. “You’re okay, though?”

I nod, my throat thick with emotion. “I am now.”

She lets out a sharp exhale and shakes her head. “I never stopped looking for you.”

I tighten my grip on her fingers. “I know.”

Emily shakes her head, and frustration tightens her expression. “I should have come back sooner.”

“What do you mean?”

She glances around, then lowers her voice. “After William finally found some medicine, and I got better, I realized something felt off. The guy who told me you weren’t here…he was weird. I don’t know how to explain it, but it didn’t sit right with me. The way he rushed me out of here was like he was hiding something.”

Benji, who’s been silent behind me until now, clear this throat and pulls his chair closer to join the conversation. “That’s because he was.”

Damon sighs and stands behind me before reaching out to squeeze my shoulders. “We heard you. We all heard you.”

Emily stiffens. “What?”

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