Gena Showalter - The Queen Of Zombie Hearts

Kat practically bubbled over with exhilaration, and I didn’t have to wonder what she was thinking. The Wok and Roll was a twenty-four-hour Chinese buffet only a few blocks from here, and if Frosty was still there, waiting for Gavin, she could be in his arms within the next half hour.

Cole and Reeve paced beside the car. Spotting my ragtag trio, Cole rushed over and took Kat’s place. Reeve opened the back.

“Any sign of Anima on your end?” I asked.

“Not one.”

Together, we got Gavin settled inside. I straightened, stepped back and said, “Take him directly to your house, Reeve, rather than the church.” Gavin might blow an artery if he had to climb into the tunnel. “But call your dad on the way and let him know you’re coming. He’ll do something to ensure Anima isn’t nearby, watching.”

She nodded. “Done and done.”

Kat took my hand, tugged. “Ali and I are heading to the Wok and Roll. Frosty might be there, waiting for Gavin.”

“Uh, Kat.” I planted my heels. Hello tricky, sticky situation. “You’re going with Reeve.”

“What? No.” She gave a shake of her head, drawing attention to the fact that she was paler than before. “No way. No how.”

Yes way. Yes how. “You’re not objective when it comes to Frosty.” More than that, he’d had Anima on his tail. Could be with Anima right now. Not only would Mr. Ankh disapprove of me taking her into a situation far more dangerous than this one, but Frosty would also. “I need you to listen—”

“No.” She stomped her foot. “You listen. I’m going!”

O-kay. I suddenly understood why Cole was as hard-core as he was. Arguing with your allies wasted precious time. “Kat. Please. Be reasonable.”

Cole didn’t give her a chance to respond. “Two choices. You’ll do what she says.” In full commander mode, he added, “Or you’ll do what she says. Feel me?”

Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits, the patent stillness of a predator coming over her. “Oh, I feel you all right. Now you’re about to feel me.”

He flattened his good hand on the car, caging her against the metal, leaning down to get into her face. “You want to try something? Go ahead.”

Ding, ding. Round one of The Bloodbath has begun.

“Gavin could be bleeding out right this minute.” I glared at one, then the other. “We could have targets on our backs. Get in the car and go, Kat.”

Still she shook her head, stubborn to the bitter end. “I’m going after Frosty. That’s final.”

I looked to Cole. He was practically hemorrhaging determination. Hard decisions came with hard consequences—he was getting ready to make one. One of us would have to go with her, and we both knew it.

“It’s time for you to prove number seven.” That he would stand back and let me fight. “You’re injured. I’m not. I’ll be the one to find Frosty.”

I expected an argument. Instead, he gave me a clipped nod and grabbed Kat by the waist, hauling her inside the car, holding her down. She fought like, well, an alley cat, hissing, clawing, scratching, and it tore me up inside. Every fiber of my being screamed to help her, to stop this, to give her what she wanted, but I didn’t. Sometimes what we wanted wasn’t what we needed. I would apologize later, and she would have to forgive me...because Frosty would be with me.

Please, let him be with me.

I stored my .44 at my waist (safety on). As the car sped away from the curb, tires squealing, my gaze collided with Cole’s, and through the window, we experienced a moment of total understanding. He’d do whatever was necessary to protect the girls. Even at the cost of his own life.

It had better not come to that.

The second the vehicle was out of sight, I sprinted into the forest, heading toward the shopping center where the Wok and Roll was located. The activity helped loosen my regret, and I began to warm, my blood rushing faster and faster through my veins.

Eventually, gnarled trees gave way to a paved road. I went up a hill, down a hill, through another neighborhood, careful to study every passing car, before finally reaching my destination. My lungs burned. Despite the cold, beads of sweat rolled down my spine.

It was Saturday, and shoppers were out in droves. Building after building stretched on both sides of me, each peppered with stores and restaurants. Being around so many people unnerved me. Anyone could be with Anima, just waiting to strike.

Strike and die.

A bell tinkled over the door as I entered the buffet. The scent of fried meat immediately assaulted me, and I almost hurled.

Only one other customer was there. A middle-aged man who definitely wasn’t Frosty, and I highly doubted he was with Anima. He had to be one egg roll away from a heart attack.

Frustration cut at me. Enraged Kat for nothing.

No, no. Maybe Frosty had taken off, but had plans to return.

There was still hope.

A bright-eyed hostess approached me, smiling a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How many?”

Could she be with Anima? “Just one.”

She led me to a table in the center of the room.

“In back, please.”

Shoulders stiff, she moved to the booth hidden by a huge aquarium and arched a brow, a silent is this good enough for princess?

“Perfect.” I scooted into my seat, accidentally on purpose brushing against her to feel for weapons. Nothing. “Thank you.”

Her lips compressed as she set a menu in front of me and took off.

I pulled out my phone and texted Cole. Frosty isn’t here. Gonna wait N case he comes back. Has Kat calmed down?

Cole: Kat—no. U—DON’T WAIT LIKE SWEET LITTLE TARGET, GO HOME.

Swear I heard his irritated voice reverberating through my mind. He’d let me do this, and now he regretted it. Figured.

Me: News flash, Holland. ALL CAPS DOES NOT INTIMIDATE ME.

Cole: IT SHOULD. THE WRATH OF C.H. IS NOT A PRETTY THING.

Me: Bite me.

Cole: This just in—I will. W/pleasure. But I want U 2 come back & get me. Currently there R no other cars available. BTW this is nonnegotiable.

Me: Sorry, babe, but this was an FYI exchange & not a solicitation 4 orders. U can use the time apart 2 negotiate this. (I used an emoticon to flip him off.)

Cole: So that’s a soft yes?

Good glory. I put the phone away, before he distracted me from my purpose. More than he already had.

Think! Even if Frosty had plans to come back to the Wok and Roll, he wouldn’t have gone very far. Unless he was forced. He would probably move from shop to shop, where he could watch the restaurant’s front door for Gavin without allowing anyone to get a lock on him.

But...if that was true, he would have spotted me and come racing over.

“Know what you want to order?” asked the hostess—waitress now—when she reappeared at my table.

“Hey, was there a fight in here today? Any kind of yelling match?” Any hint that my friend had been spotted?

Her brow furrowed with confusion. “No. Why?”

Rather than answer, I threw a twenty on the table. “Never mind. I’ve got to go.”

She didn’t try to stop me as I stalked outside. I leaned against the brick wall, as if taking a moment to warm myself against the cutting breeze. Really, I was scanning the shops across the way. Clothes. Clothes. Coffee. Shoes. Bakery. Cloth—

Coffee.

He could stay there longest, without drawing notice.

I rushed over and entered the warmth and deliciousness of the caffeine-scented shop. I studied the occupants, my nerves about to reach the breaking point, and—

Found him!

Joy. Such profound joy. He was in the corner, looking out the glass window. He’d hidden his pale hair under a hat. The coat he wore had to be stolen, because I’d never seen him wear it, and it wasn’t his size. It was also pink with purple flowers.