Nuclear Survival: Western Strength (Book 2): Shelter In Place Read online

  A small fire glowed in between the shifting bodies of five young men. From Keith’s vantage point, he could only make out the faces of the two facing him: both in their late teens with Adam’s apples that bobbed when they swallowed and hair that fell in their faces and needed a trim.

  Brothers? He couldn’t be sure. They all hunched toward the fire, heads bobbing to the music. Empty beer bottles littered the ground at their feet, half knocked over, the other within striking distance of errant toes.

  One kid stuck out his hand, a glowing ember visible between his fingers. A joint. Keith figured as much. They were probably all three sheets to the wind at this point, judging by the scene. The kid next in line took the glowing joint and sucked, embers flaring as the paper and leaves burned.

  Keith pulled back. So far, he hadn’t seen any weapons or proof these were the guys who robbed Jerry. He needed to be sure before they left. He stepped over to Lainey, who was huddled beside the gate keeping a lookout for anyone coming into the yard. “We need to get in their house. See if we can find anything that belongs to Jerry or looks like it’s a stash they pilfered.”

  “How will we know?”

  “Jerry told me about the weapons they stole. A Remington shotgun and a military-issue Colt M4. It’s got the Army insignia carved into it. If it’s his, I’ll know.”

  Lainey glanced behind her. “Are you sure there isn’t another way?”

  “Can you think of one?”

  After a moment, she shook her head. “First sign of trouble—”

  “We run. If we get split up, go straight to Jerry’s. Don’t wait for me.”

  Lainey didn’t respond, but they didn’t have time to argue. Any moment one of the kids could decide to get inside and their opportunity would be lost.

  Keith led Lainey back through the broken gate, past the occupied backyard, and up to the front door. He crossed his fingers. What were the chances a bunch of kids left the door unlocked so their buddies could come on in?

  He tried the handle. It turned and he forced down a laugh. Thank goodness he remembered what it was like to be a teenage boy. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

  Chapter Eighteen

  KEITH

  House near Jerry’s Residence

  Altadena, CA

  Thursday, 2:00 a.m. PST

  Keith stepped into the house on silent feet, rolling his shoes to keep from making a noise. Lainey followed on his heels. A pile of garbage crowded the small entry, everything from bottles and cans to empty boxes of food. Keith dodged a wayward bottle as Lainey shut the front door, sealing out the moonlight.

  A glass sliding door took up most of the far living room wall, affording anyone in the backyard a clear line of sight straight to where Keith and Lainey stood. He ducked out of view and pulled Lainey into the kitchen.

  Once upon a time, the place might have been presentable, nice even. Not now. Almost as much trash covered the countertops as the entry, with empty bags of chips and bottles of soda mixing in with half-eaten containers of peanut butter and snack packs of Oreos.

  Lainey wrinkled her nose. “This place is disgusting. Who lives here?”

  “Teenagers, is my guess. If they had parents before the bomb, they don’t now.”

  She picked up a half-eaten bag of bread, mold visible even in the dim light from the single window. “Gross.”

  “Do you think any of this is Jerry’s?”

  “How would we know?” Lainey nudged an empty bag with her fingers. “They could have gotten this stuff anywhere.”

  Keith tapped his fingers against the counter. Searching the living room posed too great a risk. That left the other side of the house, presumably bedrooms and a bath. He led Lainey back through the entry, careful to keep to the far wall and avoid the trash. As they stepped into the hall, Keith stuck out his hand to stop Lainey.

  A faint glow cut a wedge across the carpet and a voice carried into the hall. “I’m tellin’ you, it was sweet.”

  “But what would we do with it?”

  “Get online, man!”

  Keith crept closer. Lainey tugged at his arm, but he waved her off. The open door promised a glimpse of the interior and a chance to confirm these boys as the burglars.

  The second speaker scoffed. “You don’t know nothin’ about no satellite dish.”

  Keith froze and listened.

  “Yeah, but how hard can it be? I bet it was one of those news vans and they stole it.”

  “Jerry ain’t into stealin’.”

  “Times change, Andy. Times change.”

  “We’ll never get it with all those other people with him. You see that dog? It looked big.”

  Something metal slid and locked like a bolt. “Sure we will. We got his guns, remember?”

  It was all the confirmation they needed. Keith twisted around and ushered Lainey back toward the entry. As they rounded the corner, Lainey stumbled. A bottle fell. Glass shattered.

  Keith reached out to catch her before she hit the ground and his toe caught in the edge of the carpet. He lurched in slow-motion like a slapstick comedian, only the laugh track never came. As his knee slammed into the ground, something sharp and wicked sliced through his pants and straight into his flesh. The broken bottle.

  A grunt slipped from his lips as he landed hard on the floor.

  “Keith!” Glass crunched beneath Lainey’s feet as she rushed over.

  The hallway spun. Keith blinked, trying in vain to bring the world into focus. The light in the hall warbled.

  “We have to get out of here.” Lainey bent to help him up. “You’re bleeding!” Her voice came out in a rushed panic and Keith struggled upright.

  His leg screamed in pain. He reached down toward the site of the pain and his fingers soaked in warm, fresh blood. “Think I landed on a bottle.”

  Lainey tugged on his arm. “We’ve got to go!” She hauled him up, struggling with the weight of his body. Keith used his one good leg and braced himself on Lainey’s shoulder. His vision dimmed and he reached out for the wall. “I don’t think it’ll be that easy.” He fell back and sucked in a breath. “I need to stop the bleeding.”

  Every second they wasted in the hall increased their risk of exposure. With one gun and fifteen bullets, they were no match for seven boys hopped up on booze and weed and adrenaline. Keith took a step and almost fell again. Pain shot up his leg, white-hot and overpowering.

  Lainey pressed him back against the wall. “Hold on!” She rushed away and Keith wanted more than anything to follow. But the pain forced him back. The ringing intensified in his ears. If he didn’t control the bleeding, he would pass out. They had to find a place to hide.

  He reached for the closest door, sliding along the wall as he staggered first one step and then another.

  “Stop moving!” Lainey’s voice filtered up to him from somewhere near the ground. She pulled his injured leg toward her and Keith bit his tongue to keep from screaming. Something tightened around his calf and shin, squeezing unbearably tight. “There. Now we’ve got to go!”

  His eyes refused to cooperate as Keith blinked again and again. This would never work. He reached for Lainey and his numb fingers grazed her arm. “You need to leave.”

  “We’re going together.”

  “No. I’ll only slow you down.”

  “I’m not going to leave you here.” She hissed the words at him as she ducked beneath his arm, dragging his weight onto her slim shoulders.

  “I’m serious, Lainey. Go and get Jerry. He can help.” Keith groaned as she took a tentative step toward the exit. “I can… stave them off… if need be.”

  “This is not up for debate.” She dragged him another step and he staggered, unable to put weight on his injured leg. His vision tunneled to a circular patch no bigger than a soccer ball. Clammy sweat broke out across his brow. “I’m better off hiding.”

  “No. I’m not leaving you.” Lainey hoisted him again, staggering beneath his weight. She dragged him clear of the hallw
ay and toward the front door. His bum foot kicked a can and it clattered.

  “We’re almost there. You can do this.” Lainey buckled as she took another step, straining to reach the door handle. Her fingers slipped. She heaved him closer and Keith bit back a wave of nausea as he put weight on his injured leg to keep from falling.

  “Lainey, don’t be a fool. Leave me here.”

  “I will do no such thing.” She grabbed the handle and heaved the door open. Cold air blasted Keith in the face. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.

  A voice carried from inside. They were going to get caught. Keith reached for the gun shoved in his waistband. He held it out to Lainey. “Take it.”

  “No!” Lainey dragged him toward the front steps. “We’re getting out of here.”

  More voices.

  It was too late.

  Keith ground his teeth together and shoved off of Lainey to stand on his own. He staggered down the front steps and missed the last, sprawling out on the broken concrete. The gun clattered to the ground somewhere to his right.

  Lainey cursed, scrambling to shut the front door before anyone spotted them. Keith dragged his injured leg as he crawled toward the nearest car. “Find the gun!” Keith focused on staying conscious, putting one knee in front of the other as Lainey swept the ground beside him.

  As he inched behind a low-riding sedan, Lainey hurried to his side.

  “Found it.” The metal pressed into his palm as the sound of a voice carried from the house.

  “Yo, I don’t see nothin’.” Feet hit the steps. One, two, three. “You sure you heard somethin’?”

  Keith struggled to breathe. Sweat slicked his palm and he set the gun in his lap, wiping his hand against his shirt.

  Lainey’s breath came hot and fast against his cheek as she leaned close enough to whisper, “I’m going to look for an open car. Maybe we can steal one. Ride it out of here.”

  The smell of smoke wafted over Keith and he shrank back against the car. Lainey tugged on the closest door handle, but it didn’t open. She waited, crouched beside Keith as another voice joined the first.

  “Sounded like someone breakin’ in, man. I swear.”

  “Probably a dog in the trash.” Another puff of smoke. “Or Donnie needing to take a piss.”

  The pair laughed and traded insults about their friend, content to stand on the front step and fill their lungs with nicotine. Keith struggled to stay awake. If he had to shoot, could he even make the shot? Maybe the first one. But the second he used the gun, he would be exposed. The chances of him taking out seven young men was slim to none even uninjured.

  He could only use the weapon as a last resort.

  As the door to the house shut and the two young men disappeared back inside, Keith turned to Lainey. “You need to go now. Get Jerry and get help.”

  “No. I won’t leave you.”

  He forced down his frustration. “I’ll never be able to walk there.”

  “Then I’ll find a car.”

  “Jerry has two and we know they run.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  Keith blinked in vain. Lainey’s face swam in his vision. “If you don’t go, and we get caught, then we could both die. Is that what you want?”

  “Of course not.”

  He nudged her shoulder. “Then go, please. I can hold them off until you get back.”

  Lainey’s face hovered inches away from his. “This is a mistake.”

  “Then it’s my mistake. You need to go, Lainey. You need to run.”

  When she didn’t move, Keith grabbed her by the shoulders, digging his fingers in until she winced. “I refuse to risk your life, do you understand?”

  She shook her head, about to argue, when Keith cut her off. He leaned in and kissed her, fast and hard.

  Lainey pulled back, eyes wide in the moonlight. Without another word, she stood on shaky legs, turned, and ran.

  Keith leaned back against the car in relief and let the pain wash over him. A thirty-year-old man, bleeding like a stuck pig, unable to walk without passing out. He huffed out a groan. Against seven guys, two of Jerry’s guns, and the brashness of youth. Not the best odds.

  At least he didn’t have to worry about Lainey.

  Sleep tugged at him, beckoning him into its warm embrace, but Keith forced his eyes open. He’d be no good to anyone dead. Lainey needed him alive. She needed the gun in his hand even more. Twenty feet separated him from the neighbor’s carport. If he could make it there, maybe he could break into the house or hunker down in the backyard.

  If I pass out on the way… He left the thought unfinished.

  He couldn’t do that to Lainey. He couldn’t fail after he sent her away. With his teeth clenched against the pain, Keith tightened the makeshift tourniquet around his leg and pushed away from the car.

  Chapter Nineteen

  LAINEY

  Jerry’s Neighborhood

  Altadena, CA

  Thursday, 3:00 a.m. PST

  Lainey’s sides heaved and her lungs ached as she raced to Jerry’s house. She tore past the van and the truck and banged on the side door. “Jerry! Owen! Open up!” When they didn’t immediately reply, she banged harder.

  Claws scrabbled on the other side of the wood. Lainey tried the handle. Locked. She hit the door with the side of her fist. Bear barked.

  “Hold on, hold on!” The lock turned and the door opened a crack.

  Lainey pushed her way inside. Owen stood next to the door, rubbing his eyes. “Where’s Keith?”

  “He’s hurt.”

  “Where?”

  “About five blocks away.” Lainey stepped past Owen. “Jerry! Jerry, I need your help!”

  Bear thumped his tail against the ground as he sat a few paces away from Lainey. She didn’t have time to give him attention.

  “Jerry!”

  As she shouted again, Jerry emerged from a bedroom, groggy and running a hand over his hair until it stuck up in all directions. “What time is it?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Get your keys. We have to go now.”

  Lainey couldn’t wait for either man to wake up. Keith didn’t have much time. She ran to the kitchen and snatched the van keys off the counter. Bear followed one step behind, almost clipping her heels as she strode to the door.

  “Lainey, slow down. What’s going on?”

  She turned back, one hand on the door. “I’ve got to go. Keith needs me.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s hurt.” She hustled outside without another word. As she opened the door to the van, Bear vaulted past her. He clambered over the console as she hopped up into the driver’s seat. She cursed. There wasn’t time to drag him back inside and from the nervous energy the dog exuded turning in a circle and staring at her, he wouldn’t go willingly. Bear would have to come along.

  She started the engine and threw the van into reverse as Jerry slapped his palm against the window. She buzzed it down. “What?”

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Lainey frowned. “We found the house. It’s about five blocks away. Positive ID on your guns. They seemed to know you.” No time to sugarcoat the facts.

  “Must be Gene’s kid.” Jerry shook his head. “I knew he would be trouble.”

  “There’s seven of them. We were snooping around when I fell. Keith tried to catch me and he missed. Landed on a broken bottle.” She blamed herself. “He’s bleeding something fierce.”

  Jerry grimaced. “Where is he?”

  “Outside. I left him hiding behind a car. We have to get him out of there before they find him.”

  She eased off the brake to leave, but Jerry grabbed her shoulder. “What do you think you’re going to do exactly? Just drive up there and shout for him?”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “We should go on foot.”

  “No way.” Lainey shook her head. “We’ll never be able to carry him back. We need a car.”

  Jerry frowned. “Then we drive,
but we park far enough away to not be spotted. We can’t just drive up to the front door if it’s like you said. We’ll be asking for trouble.”

  Lainey hated to admit it, but Jerry was right. She hadn’t stopped to think. She hadn’t stopped to do anything ever since she took off running. “Fine. But we have to go now.”

  Jerry loped around the front of the van and shoved Bear out of the way to climb into the passenger seat. Before he even shut the door, Lainey punched the gas and reversed down the drive, bumping over the curb as she threw the van into drive.

  She drove as fast as she dared with no headlights, slowing only when she turned onto the right street. “It’s the sixth house down.” She killed the engine and rolled the window down, listening.

  Jerry did the same, leaning out the window to catch smaller sounds. “I don’t hear anything, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe.” He reached for the door handle. “I’ll go on foot.”

  Lainey shook her head. “I know the house.”

  Jerry’s mouth thinned into a line. “We go together.”

  “What about Bear?”

  “He stays. One bark and he’ll alert the whole neighborhood.”

  Lainey nodded. She’d assumed the same thing. As they climbed out of the car, Bear rushed to follow, thick furry paws landing on the driver’s seat as Lainey closed the door. She ruffled his fur. “I’ll be right back.” As she shut the door, Bear jumped up and pawed the glass. She ignored it as she turned toward the house. “Keith’s behind a silver sedan, closest to the house.”

  Jerry kept close by Lainey’s side as they hurried down the street. Four houses down, a muffled bark made Lainey wince. Bear didn’t want to be left behind. She slowed but didn’t stop until they reached the driveway. “I’ll find Keith. You keep watch.”

  Not waiting for Jerry to argue, Lainey raced across the driveway and ducked behind the first car as fast as she could. It only took moments to creep up to the silver car’s rear bumper and only a second to see Keith wasn’t there. She spun around. No sign of him.