Thirteen Roses Book Five: Home: A Paranormal Zombie Saga Read Online Free Page A

head. ‘I’m not, I’m just… it’s different when it isn’t us. I convinced them to come here and then this happens. It’s my fault.’
    ‘No it’s not. It’s the bloody demon’s fault. But he’s gone and now you’ve all seen his real face. I’d call that a pretty good deal.’
    ‘But what about Sarah and Hayley?’
    ‘What about them? There are always casualties.’
    ‘Casualties. We not fighting a war, Jackson.’
    ‘What? Have you seen the zombies out there? Did you see me fighting that bastard? Course we’re in a war.’
    She turned away and sniffed. Maybe he’d been too harsh, but he didn’t much care. She needed to understand the reality of the situation. He tried to sit up and his chest tightened. He grunted and lay back. She ran her hand down the side of his face again.  
    ‘Take it easy. Ella thinks you cracked a rib.’
    ‘Who’s Ella?’
    ‘She’s great. She’s one of the ones who helped—’
    ‘She the one got the hose?’
    Harriet frowned. ‘Yes, that’s her. She’s studying to be a doctor. She sorted your hands for you.’
    ‘What about them?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘When can I move them and use them?’
    Harriet turned away but he saw the look on her face before she did.  
    ‘What, what is it?’
    She took a deep breath and stepped away from the bed. ‘Your right hand has lost two fingers, the ones the demon crushed. The others should work again, but it might take a few weeks before you can really do anything with them.’ She took another breath and Jackson ground his teeth together. ‘Your left hand… most of your weight was on it and… Ella said she could be wrong, but she doesn’t think you’ll use it again.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Your fingers. All the nerves and tendons were severed. She doesn’t think you’ll be able to use them again.’
    He clamped his teeth together to try to stop the torrent of a— ‘What the fuck? I’ve lost my hand and you come in here moaning with your fucking self pity. What the fuck is this? What sort of stupid, dumb bitch are you, you stupid c—’
    She struck his left hand and the words became a scream that left him panting and sweating. She leant in close. ‘I’m with you because you are here to lead us in the new world. And I’m with you because you make me feel good. But use that language at me again and we are finished.’
    She stalked from the room and he watched her go, eyes wide open. Then he burst out laughing. He laughed until tears streamed down his face and he started coughing, hacking himself breathless. Finally he subsided and lifted his left hand. Blood was soaking through the bandages. Why were there bandages on there if it was useless? Why didn’t she just chop the damned things off and seal it with fire?
    Where was Ella? He wanted words with her. Words and more. He grinned and tried to sit up again. He was ready for the pain in his chest this time and held his breath until he was upright. He lifted one leg and let it hang over the edge of the bed. There wasn’t any part of him that didn’t ache. But he could stand, which meant he could walk.  
    He lifted his other leg out and put them on the floor. Using his elbows, he pushed himself upright and stood. The room spun around him and he leant back against the bed. Steady. Slow, easy breaths and take it easy. The door opened again and the strong lady came in.  
    ‘Ella?’
    Her forehead creased as she saw him. ‘What in God’s name do you think you’re doing?’ She marched over and shoved him back onto the bed. He was too weak to complain as she lifted first one leg and then the other back under the sheets. ‘You stay here until I say otherwise. You’ve lost a lot of blood, you’ve got a cracked rib and a lot of bruising. Frankly, you got off lightly—’
    ‘I could get off again, if you fancy it.’  
    Her eyebrows rose and she looked like she might spit. Instead she smiled tightly and shook her head. ‘Quite aside from your relationship with