Sympatico Syndrome (Book 1): Infection (A Pandemic Survival Novel) Read Online Free Page A

another brother I don’t know about?”
    He shook his head with a smile. “Shut up, smart ass.”
    Cole knocked, and then he did something completely out of character. He walked right in, his voice echoing in the entrance hall. “Hello?”
    Sean strode to him, grinning. “Hey, Cole. How’s it going?” He held out his hand to shake and pull Cole in for a brief, manly hug like they normally did, but Cole ignored the hand and said, “Are the kids here?”
    Jenna shot Sean a puzzled look, and he was sure his face mirrored hers. “Yeah, they’re in the other room watching a movie. Some horror movie.”
    “Good. I’m glad they’re home.”
    “I’ll get them—”
    “No!” Cole waved her off. “I have something I need to discuss with you two first.”
    Sean nodded. “Yeah. Sure. Why don’t we go have a cup of coffee? I think we still have some cake leftover from last night’s dessert.” He looked over to Jenna, who nodded.
    Cole gave a brief nod and headed to the back of the house, but when he got to the kitchen, he didn’t sit at the table but leaned back against the counter, his jaw tense. Sean wondered if he was angry about something and if so, what did it have to do with him and his family?
    “Have you guys been listening to the news today?”
    Sean shrugged. “I saw sports scores. Been busy working. In fact, I was going to call you in the morning and invite you out to dinner tomorrow evening. To celebrate.” Cole gave him a blank look. “Remember? I told you my company was in the running for the contract from the A&Y Builders for that new subdivision. Well, we got it!” He beamed and waited for the congratulations. When he’d told Cole about his bid for the contract, his brother had wished him well. Now, the expression that crossed his face was anything but happy.
    Jenna glanced at Sean but then focused on Cole. “Are you talking about that thing going on out on Aislado Island?”
    Sean tilted his head. Jenna kept better tabs on the news than he did. Most of it was just depressing stuff, and he didn’t have time to waste on shitty news.
    Cole looked from Jenna to Sean. His expression hit Sean in the gut. He’d only seen his brother wear it one other time. When he’d come over to tell them about Brenda’s death. “Oh, Jesus. Cole…is Hunter okay?” If something happened to Hunter, Cole would fall apart.
    Jenna gasped, covering her mouth. Already, Sean saw tears pooling in her eyes.
    Cole’s eyes widened, then he raised his hands, shaking off Jenna’s question. “No…no. Hunter is doing well. I spoke to him only a few hours ago.”
    Sean heaved a sigh. “So then why the somber expression? You’re scaring the crap out of us, bro.”
    Jenna crossed to Sean to stand beside him. She nodded agreement to his question.
    “That disease they’re talking about…it’s spreading. Fast . I got word from one of my former colleagues who works for the CDC, and she said we need to disappear for a while. Get away from everyone. That this virus is bad. And it spreads faster than anything they’ve ever seen.”
    Sean crossed his arms. “Get away? Where the hell would everyone go?”
    “I’m not talking about everyone going somewhere. I’m talking about us .” He circled his hand, encompassing all of them, “and our kids. We need to go, and I have just the place.”
    “Hold on a second.” Sean held up a hand. “We’re not going anywhere. I have a big meeting with the other contractors next week, and I have to prepare. No way am I jeopardizing it because of some flu bug out on some island in the Pacific.”
    “You don’t understand. This virus, Sympatico Syndrome , is going to have a global impact . In fact, it already has. It’s killed over four hundred people in the U.S—”
    “Four hundred people? Seriously? Out of three hundred and thirty million?” Sean chuckled. “Yeah. I’m scared of that. I think the reason you’re worried is that it’s your job to worry about diseases.” Then