Willow by E.M. Raegan

Author:E.M. Raegan [Raegan, E.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

I didn’t see Paulie or Jason for the rest of the night. Gia and Rayna came in not long after they ran outside, sobbing and holding each other. I had to look away from their grief. If I hadn’t, my own would’ve eaten me alive. I didn’t catch another wink of sleep.

Eventually, the sun came up, and Billy came inside and shook Dahlia awake. He had dark circles under his eyes, and I didn’t miss the thick coating of blood that covered his clothes.

Dahlia gasped when she saw him. “What happened?”

“They’re everywhere,” he rasped, his voice thick with something that terrified me. “We were fending them off all night.” He closed his eyes tight. “We lost a man.”

“Who?” The question was out of my mouth before he finished his sentence.

Billy looked at his feet. “Dane.”

I blinked away tears. His old lady was asleep in the other room. I didn’t see anyone come in last night to tell her. She didn’t know.

I hadn’t heard any gunshots last night either. I hadn’t realized they were out there killings those people, those things. Did they even use guns?

Dahlia grabbed Billy’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

The front door creaked open again, and Ren came inside. His face was pale and haggard. Grief weighed his shoulders down.

He looked at Billy and gave him a chin dip that Billy returned. I looked between them. Ren’s eyes held gratitude and respect.

Then he turned and walked into the opposite family room where Dane’s old lady was sleeping.

I stared at Billy as a grief-stricken scream echoed through the house.

Tears pricked my eyes, and Billy pulled me into his arms.

The front door slammed open again, and Paulie and Jay walked in. Paulie stared at Billy that same way Ren had, but Jay stared at me. His eyes trailed down to where Billy held me, and his jaw clenched.

“Get somethin’ to eat out at the barn,” Paulie said to Billy, tipping his chin to the door leading outside. Paulie looked right through me before he followed the woman’s cries. Jay’s face was a mask of cold indifference as he nodded at Billy and then followed Paulie.

“Lordy,” Dahlia breathed. She fanned her face. “That man…”

Billy snorted and pulled us both out the front door.

Smoke billowed up into the early morning light from several spots around the field. The smell had both Dahlia and me gagging, as did the sight of bodies burning.

“The smell keeps em’ away,” Billy grunted as he guided us around back.

The barn was a few yards behind the house, and several members of the club were lounging around a fire pit with bowls and mugs. In the distance, I could make out several other members standing watch around the perimeter.

Monty grinned tiredly when we walked up to the fire. He had three dogs at his feet. “Coffee’s shit, but help yourself.”

I stood stiff and uncomfortable in the group of men, but Dahlia simply walked up, lifted one of the lids, sniffed, and wrinkled her nose. She poured three Styrofoam cups and handed them to Billy and me.

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