Fallen Grace (The Grace Series) by M. Lauryl Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A

mostly as an office. A desk sat where a breakfast nook might have once been. The floor was old brown linoleum that was wearing through where foot traffic had been the heaviest. A small refrigerator sat upon the remains of a counter top. I had shoved my pistol into my waist band after making sure the chamber was empty, and now held my hatchet. The last thing we needed was to attract a horde with unnecessary noise. With some luck we’d be able to sleep in relative safety for a few hours.
    The room in which we stood was connected to the front of the house by a short hallway paneled in dark-colored wainscoting and a whitewashed interior door.
    “Should we check the rest of the place out?” I asked very quietly while motioning toward the white door.
    “Let’s check out this side first,” said Gus as he ascertained that the interior door was locked.
    “There’s a stairway here,” said Bobby.
    She was standing to our left, holding back a curtain that I had assumed led to a pantry or storage room. Leading up was a narrow set of stairs that was unusually steep.
    “I’ll go first,” offered our hero.
    As he climbed the stairway, several treads emitted a squeak or groan. Aside from that, we were met with silence.
    As he disappeared from our sight, he called down. “Come on up, girls. Lock that back door first, ok?”
    “I’ll get it,” offered Bobby.
    As she set to her task, I hurried up the stairway. I had to duck at the top as the pitch of the roof threatened to collide with my head.
    “Awesome,” I said in awe as I looked around.
    It was a converted attic space with a window that looked out to the street in front. It had been set up as the shop owner’s quarters. There was a twin sized bed, a small table, a TV that I knew wouldn’t work, and a large vinyl bean bag in a sleazy silver tone.
    “A candle. Thank God,” I moaned.
    “Why so excited, darlin’?” asked Gus.
    “Cause we forgot to pack flashlights. I know…it was stupid.”
    “We’ll be fine.”
    He walked to me and wrapped his strong arms around me. “We’ve made it this far. We’ll keep going, and be ok.”
    I nodded and let him hold me close.
    If I lose you, I don’t want to keep living. I hadn’t meant for him to hear that particular thought.
    You always have to live, Zoe. Always.
    The sound of Bobby clearing her throat interrupted our moment of intimate silence. Gus kept me close, but I turned around in his arms to face her.
    “Lookie what I found,” she whispered and smiled. “Pringles and Pepsi! And some whiskey!”
    Bobby held the twelve-pack of soda out to us. I took it in my arms eagerly, finally breaking Gus’ embrace. In her other hand was a tube of chips, and a second in the crook of her arm , alongside the whiskey bottle.
    “Are they full?” I asked eagerly.
    “Unopened and full as can be!” she said with a bigger smile.
    “Nice work, Bobby. Let’s grab a snack and take shifts sleeping. Three hours each?” suggested Gus.
    “Let’s do two shifts of four hours. Bobby, you go ahead and Gus and I will take the first watch.”
    “Sure.”
    ***
    We sat together on a small area rug in the middle of the floor, staying away from the front window. There was only one can of soda missing from the box so we each drank a full can and decided to leave the rest for later, as well as one tube of chips. We divided the other tube fairly equally between us, eating in relative silence. Since Gus was the largest of us, Bobby ad I slyly let him eat a few more.
    “Ok, Bobby. Take the bed and sleep. We’ll wake you in four,” said Gus.
    “I need to pee first,” she said with a sigh.
    “I didn’t see a bathroom. Think you can find a pot in the kitchen and dump it down the sink?”
    “Good idea, Gus. I’ll get creative.”
    As Bobby disappeared back down the stairs, I searched through the drawer of the small night stand for matches; there were none, but I was lucky to find a lighter hidden behind a picture frame that sat on the top of