Perhaps it was just the way he’d gone about it. His father, grandfather and as far back as he knew, his family had been with the KKK. They had protected each other and stood up for themselves. He’d never been a violent man, but he would protect his children. But what had it gotten him? He had been too late and he’d had to kill his own babies for what they’d become. Little walking zombies and he’d had to kill his wife. Was that some kind of karmic justice? Would karma be so cruel as to sacrifice babies? He didn’t know, it was beyond him and he was still so heartsick he couldn’t think straight. He just knew he had three children who needed protecting and the way Xander and Ethan spoke, their own father had failed them as miserably as he’d failed his own family.
He turned the Jeep when the caravan headed west and the sun was edging down in the pale sky. He saw a haze of smoke in the distance as well as buzzards flying lazy circles that sprinkled the sky. Tomorrow, he’d head for his cousin’s home toward the east. He had a big spread and there was plenty of room and now that he had these babies, he’d need it. He wondered what Rose’s uncle’s home was like. Anywhere away from the city was a better place, he was sure. If the world was filled with zombies, then he planned to hit up as many gun stores as he could. He shivered at the thought of all those zombies in that store. He’d have been ripped to pieces with Shay if that werewolf hadn’t come. He guessed having werewolves around was okay. Better than zombies, he was sure.
Ž
Ethan’s gaze slid over to Rose, who had fallen asleep. She’d been looking out the window and seemed to drop off. How terrifying to fall asleep when you needed to be awake. There had been little conversation during the drive. He wasn’t even sure how to talk to a woman. It had been so damned long since he’d even been around a civilian. He could talk to Zahara or rather spar with her. He and Rose had talked about the crazy situation they now found themselves in and the poor children. She’d been amazed that the little girl was also a werewolf. He’d agreed. They had talked a little more and then gone silent.
He was usually a very taciturn man, quiet and thoughtful. He’d dated a few times in his life but he’d been so painfully shy around women, he had essentially given up. The women at work were nice but none had ever interested him. There was something about Rose that did. He slowed down and saw that there was a gridlock ahead, several vehicles had crashed and there were zombies scattered in and around the abandoned cars. He pulled his phone and called Zahara.
“What in the hell do you want? I finally get a break from hearing your ugly mug and now you gotta call?” He felt heat rise up into his cheeks when Rose looked over at him, a slender eyebrow up in question. He smiled slightly and shook his head.
“Tell Xander there’s an impasse ahead and biters roaming around. If he wants to get through, we’re going to have to move those vehicles aside.”
“You’re on speaker. Let’s stop; if Rose can drive those vehicles off to the side of the road, we can put down the threat, then help her,” Xander said, his voice raised.
“Pulling over now,” Ethan said and hung up. He looked at Rose.
“I’ll get out and go ahead with Xander and Zahara; we’ll get rid of the threat and if we can move those four vehicles over there, we can squeeze by.”
“I can do that,” she said and smiled. He thought she had a very pretty smile.
Ethan got out and pulled his weapon. He had several magazines in his pockets; he knew now to have plenty on hand. Once more he was thankful for the suppressor. He heard Xander and Zahara shooting and Rose went past him to the first car to be moved.
“Ethan, there are two zombies in here,” she said, eyeing the car nervously.
“Open the doors and step back. We’ll let them climb out and then I’ll put them down. I don’t think you want to sit in zombie juice,” he said and made a face. She laughed nervously and nodded. Stepping forward, she tapped on the window to get the zombie’s attention and it slapped its hands against the window. She opened the door and it fell out and Ethan shot it. He turned as he heard something from behind and brought his gun up just in time to kill a zombie kid. The boy looked to be three years old and it tore at Ethan to shoot him, but if the kid would have bitten him, it would have been game over. He turned back to see the sorrow in Rose’s eyes. He shook his head and then nodded for her to open the other door. Like the first, the zombie fell out and when it got up, he shot it.
Rose got into the car and tried to start it but the engine wouldn’t turn over.
“Just put it in gear and I’ll push,” Ethan said and looked around to make sure there weren’t any more
