The Becoming: Ground Zero by Permuted Press, Jessica Meigs Read Free Book Online

whom Gray didn’t spend a lot of time. In all honesty, the big man was absolutely intimidating, primarily because of his height and strength. Couple that with his frightening skills in dispatching the infected, skills that only Remy and Cade had been able to rival, and Gray was justifiably nervous of the man. He’d seen Brandt do it once; the ease with which Brandt took out five infected with nothing but a .45, two bullets, and a butcher’s knife was impressive. Brandt fought like his weapons were natural extensions of his body. Gray didn’t know where Brandt learned to fight like that—he doubted even the Marines trained their soldiers to fight quite at that level—but after that episode, Gray avoided ever getting on the man’s bad side.
    The sound of footsteps above him brought Gray’s attention back to the stairs. He expected to see Theo and Cade coming down, but instead Nikola descended the stairs, followed by a blond woman Gray had never seen before. Gray raised an eyebrow and pushed his dark hair back from his eyes, tilting his head to study her. The woman was maybe thirty years old, average height, slender by necessity, her blond hair falling to her shoulders and her blue eyes darting about in the same manner everyone’s eyes did. Gray supposed it was the old familiar feel of paranoia working through her system. She likely hadn’t been anywhere near a large group of people in quite some time.
    “Who is this?” Gray asked.
    “Avi Geller. She just got here,” Nikola said. She couldn’t offer any further information on the new arrival.
    Gray was willing to bet that Avi hadn’t gotten a warm reception from Ethan Bennett. Hardly anyone ever did. Gray would be damned if he treated her the same way Ethan likely had. Despite his worries over Remy and the faint twinges of exhaustion tickling at the back of his mind, Gray stepped forward and stuck his hand out, giving the woman a reasonably pleasant smile.
    “Welcome to the party,” Gray said. He took Avi’s cold hand in his and gave it a light, friendly squeeze. “I’m Gray Carter.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Avi replied. Her strong tone surprised Gray. He hadn’t expected her to sound so … confident. He expected a woman who was a little scared, maybe upset and tired and stressed. “Avi Geller.”
    “You staying with us or just passing through?” Gray asked politely. He skimmed his eyes up and down her body again. Avi didn’t look like she’d be much use in a close-quarters fight. Or any fight, really. She was too skinny—probably from lack of adequate food, which all of them dealt with now—and she didn’t carry herself like a fighter. She looked like a stiff wind would knock her over.
    Avi stepped to the bottom of the staircase, facing Gray. “I’m actually here to—” she began.
    “I said we’d discuss it later,” Ethan cut in. Gray shot Ethan a dirty look and rolled his eyes. Ethan ignored Gray. “Right now, we’ve got one of our team missing, and we’re making plans to go out after her.”
    “Go out after who?” a voice asked.
    Gray and the others turned as one. A slim brunette woman stood in the doorway leading to the kitchen. She was covered in blood and dirt and grime and who knew what else; she clutched a handgun in one hand and a long machete-like weapon in the other. Her dark hair was in disarray, pulled mostly free from a ponytail and tangled down her back. Her face was pale and sweaty, and the left sleeve of her jacket was ripped nearly free at the shoulder. She still panted from the exertion of getting to the house.
    “Jesus Christ,” Gray breathed as he took in the sight.
    It was, unexpectedly and impossibly, Remy Angellette.

Chapter 5
     
     
    Ethan reached Remy in four large steps, stopping short of pulling the woman into his arms. “Fuck, are you okay?” he gasped out. His hands were out to grab her, but Ethan didn’t dare. Remy was dirty, reeked of smoke and gas, and had been stained with potentially infected