He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Once we check the profile, we’ll know.”
She nodded and sat up. “No time like the present.” She grabbed the sample and headed to the opposite side of the lab. “Fingers crossed…”
“Son of a BITCH!” Simon screamed as Shooter tried to hold him down.
“Hold still. I need to get a better look.” Sinner growled through clenched teeth.
“I’ve been fucking SHOT!” Simon yelled, gripping the edge of the table as Shooter pressed harder on his chest, pinning him to the top.
“No shit.” Sinner ripped open a bandage with his teeth and held it in his good arm. “Now sit still so I can…”
“What?” Simon screamed. “How bad is it?”
Sinner stepped back and dropped the gauze. “It’s barely a scratch.”
“The fuck it is!” Simon screamed as he pushed his way to a sitting position. “It burns like the fires of hell. I think I’m gonna lose my arm!”
Shooter stared at the wound and shook his head. “It barely broke the skin, boss.”
“I don’t care!” Simon screamed. “It hurts, you fucker!”
Sinner leaned back and fought the urge to laugh. “You’ll live, Simon.” He tossed the other package of gauze down on the table. “All you need is some triple antibiotic and a band aid.”
“No way. I need surgery or something.” Simon pulled his shoulder toward him and stared at the red stripe where the flesh had been grazed. “Holy fuck that hurts…it feels like my damned arm is going to fall off!”
Sinner raised a brow at him. “It’s barely a flesh wound. It didn’t even go through the meat.”
“How would you know?” Simon screamed. “My arm hurts so fucking bad right now…I need your pain pills.”
Sinner raised a brow at him. “I actually WAS shot. Through the shoulder.” He shook his head at him. “All the way through.”
“Yeah? Well…mine went in and came out. That’s a through shot.” He glared at the larger man. “Gimme some pills.”
“Take aspirin.” Sinner came to his feet and walked out of the dining room.
“Give me your pills!” Simon shrieked.
“You have pills, Simon.” Sinner pulled the small orange bottle from his pants pocket and flipped the lid open with one hand. He shook the bottle and shook out a single Lortab. “I’ll spare you one.”
“Give me that bottle.” Simon glared at him, his face becoming feral.
Shooter grabbed the open bottle of cheap whiskey and poured it over the open wound. Simon yelled again and jumped away from him. “What the hell are you doing? That’s good hooch!” He snatched the bottle from Shooter and tilted it back.
“There’s your pain medicine.” Sinner scoffed. “Tie on another good one and you’ll forget all about that little scratch on your arm.”
Simon slammed the nearly empty bottle onto the table and glared at him. “I need a pain pill.”
“And yet, you’ll have to make do with what you have.”
Simon’s eyes went wild and he was about to launch himself from the table when Shooter stepped in the way. “I’ll go and check the houses again. I’m sure there are some pain pills around here someplace.” He swallowed hard and pressed a palm to Simon’s chest. “Don’t do nothing stupid, boss.”
Sinner nodded. “Yeah. Don’t do nothing stupid.”
Simon’s eyes went wild then suddenly calmed. He turned to Shooter and gave him a slight smile. “Thank you, Shooter. Your willingness to help is much appreciated.”
Shooter nodded nervously and backed away. “Just lie down and I’ll bring em to you split-lickety, boss.”
Simon nodded then turned for the hallway. Shooter watched him shut the door of the bedroom then turned on Sinner. “Why didn’t you just give him the damned pills?”
Sinner glared at the much smaller man. “They’re mine.” He pointed to his shoulder. “I actually was shot. I need ‘em.” He pointed down the hall with his good arm. “He just wants them cuz he’s a pillhead.”
Shooter threw his hands in the air. “Don’t get into it with him, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He reached for his jacket and slipped it over his shoulders. He paused at the door and turned back to Sinner. “It would go a lot quicker if I had somebody watching my back.”
Sinner glared at him.
“I’m just saying.” Shooter glanced down the hall to the bedroom. “Besides, you wouldn’t have to worry about him trying anything stupid while we’re gone.”
Sinner stood at his full height and squared his shoulders. “Why not? I might find me some more, too.”
Shooter grinned at him. “That a baby. Now you’re thinking.”
“What the hell?” Hank stammered. “S-she’s infected!”
“Patricia, go back to the bed! Now!” Trevor threw the RV into park and pointed a finger at Hank. “I told you to mind your own damned business.” He shook his head at the man threateningly.
“DAAHH!!”
Trevor spun and saw Patricia holding her belly and doubling over. “Oh no…hold on!” He tugged the seat belt off and scooped her up while Hank watched in horror.
Trevor stepped back to the rear of the RV and jerked open the bathroom door. A moment later a gut wrenching stench filled the small camper and Hank fought the urge to vomit. “Oh my god…what is that..urk!”
He pushed open the passenger door and leaned away from his seat. His entire stomach contents came up and hurled onto the pavement. Just as he thought he was finished, the stench washed over him again and he felt his body tighten, bile and stomach acid spewing from his throat once more.
Hank finally unbuckled and stepped just out of the cab. He bent over and spit, trying to clear his mouth. He stabbed at the window button and watched as the glass slid down into the door; he stood with one foot on the ground and tried to breathe through his mouth. “What the hell is going on back there!?”
A moment later Trevor stepped out of the bathroom with Patricia in tow. His eyes were watering and
