Abandoned by Ann Gimpel

Author:Ann Gimpel [Gimpel, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Supernatural and Occult, Post-Apocalyptic, dystopian, vampires, urban fantasy, shifters and werewolves, Paranormal
Publisher: Ann Gimpel Books, LLC
Published: 2017-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve: It’s a Toss-up

Recco watched Zoe march out of the dining room. How dare she bitch him out for what he’d done and then walk away? Maybe it hadn’t been the most elegant move, but everyone was still alive. So, his half-baked scheme, concocted on the fly with Juan, had worked, goddammit.

Startlingly well from his perspective. Why the hell couldn’t she see—or appreciate—it? Or him?

Anger simmered, flaring to painful brightness when Juan and Aura strolled by, arms wrapped around one another. She might not have been part of today’s confrontation, but she appreciated Juan, was grateful he was still alive. It showed in the way she leaned into him.

Before a few minutes ago, Recco thought Zoe cared about him. Obviously, he’d read the signs all wrong.

“Looking pretty bleak there, amigo.” Daide joined him. “What’s wrong? Are those sutures hurting?”

Wouldn’t it be lovely if it were so simple?

Recco gritted his teeth. “They’re okay. You did a good job.”

“Quite a story from the McMurdo staff, eh?”

“No shit.” Recco dragged his thoughts out of the drain they’d been circling around, surprised it was so difficult. “Poor sods. It’s a wonder any of them have a scrap of sanity left.”

Daide was still regarding him intently. “Maybe you should lie down for a while.”

“For Christ’s fucking sake. I’m not one of your patients.”

“Really?” Daide narrowed his eyes. “Not so many differences. They didn’t talk to me, either.”

“Where you off to next?” Recco changed the subject. No point falling farther down that particular rabbit hole.

Daide shrugged. “Not sure. It’s a tossup between the lab or the bar.”

“I vote for the bar. In fact, I’ll see you up there.”

Without waiting for Daide to tell him alcohol was a really bad idea after any kind of head injury, Recco hurried out of the dining room and up the nearest staircase. His head hurt, and his skin still felt raw, but he’d live. He didn’t hear the distinctive tread of Daide’s boots behind him. Relief mingled with disappointment in a puzzling shitstorm of emotions.

On the one hand, he didn’t want Daide probing. On the other, spilling his pain and confusion might help square things so he could occupy the same space with Zoe. Arkady wasn’t particularly large. No matter how he choreographed his shipboard life, he was bound to run into her.

He strode into the empty bar, crossing to where the liquor lived in slatted shelves, and picked up several bottles of wine before settling on blended whiskey. He wanted oblivion as fast as he could manage it. Wine didn’t have enough alcohol content. He’d poured a tumbler half-full of fragrant, amber liquid when a thought blasted him. He didn’t have to remain on Arkady. Assuming some of the McMurdo group opted to remain at the base, he could stay there. Surely, with the resurgence of marine life, they could use a veterinarian. Never mind Daide was the one who’d specialized in marine mammals and birds.

He rolled the idea around as whiskey slid down his gullet, creating a warm glow in his midsection.

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