Edge of Fear: An EMP Post-Apocalyptic Survival Prepper Series (American Fallout Book 3) Alex Gunwick (free reads .txt) 📖

After doing a complete loop around the property, they returned to the cabin. They hadn’t encountered anything this time, but Kyle still appreciated the experience. He wished his dad would let him go out on patrol by himself. If he could get his dad to take him on patrol more often, then he’d have a better shot at being allowed to go alone. It might take weeks, but what else did he have to do?

They shrugged out of their coats and wiped their boots on the mud mat. Kyle’s dad clapped him on the back and commended him for a job well done. Kyle grinned. See, it would only be a matter of time before his dad finally trusted him to be out by himself. He’d already done patrol before his dad had come home from Northern California, so there wasn’t any reason why he couldn’t do it again. He’d just have to convince his dad that he was capable of keeping his family safe.

“Let’s get some grub,” Luke said.

“Yuck! They’re so slimy.”

“I meant it figuratively. Grubs are disgusting, but it’s protein. We can’t be choosy when we don’t know what’s coming.”

“I swear they wiggle down my throat,” Kyle said with a shudder.

“Nah, your mom makes sure they’re mostly dead before they end up on the plate.”

“Mostly?” Kyle’s eyes went wide.

Luke laughed and continued teasing him as he ladled soup into two bowls. Kyle couldn’t stop grinning. His dad was so serious all the time. It was fun to laugh with him again. He didn’t realize how much he missed it.

The back door to the cabin opened. Kyle’s mom stepped inside. A concerned look knitted her brow. When she spoke to his father, her voice was shaky with worry.

“Sierra’s gone.”

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Luke asked.

“She’s no in her room, and she’s not out back. She’s gone.”

“Damn that girl. I swear I’m going to lock her in the closet when I get a hold of her,” Luke snapped.

Kyle cringed, but his dad had never actually locked them in a closet. It was just something he liked to threaten from time to time. And Sierra deserved it. She was a bigger brat than he was, and that was saying something.

Kyle smirked. He couldn’t wait to see the look on his sister’s face when their dad got a hold of her. She was so dead.

“Come on. Please don’t do this. I swear, I won’t tell anybody. I swear.” Tears began to well in Sierra’s eyes. She pleaded with Derek as he knotted the rope tightly around her wrists behind the chair.

“I’m sorry. I am. But like I said, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Please, let me go. I’ll do anything you want. Anything.” She twisted her head around and desperately tried to make eye contact with him to punctuate her unseemly offer. She liked to think she had some pride, but she was desperate and not above self-degradation if it meant getting her freedom back.

“Come on, you’re better than that.” He scolded her like she was some misbehaving child.

“No, I mean it. I think you’re, like, hot. Untie me and I’ll do whatever you tell me to.”

Derek finished the knot. The rough rope bit into her wrists. He came around and glanced down at her sympathetically.

“Don’t do that. What would your father think?”

“What Daddy doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She smirked up at him, but Derek only shook his head.

“See, you got what we call loose lips. You know the saying, ‘Loose lips sink ships?’ Well, I aim to stay afloat for a while. So until I get a better read on you and your family, I’m afraid I’ll have to keep a close eye on you.”

“But I thought we had a connection.” She blinked and gave him her best pleading, puppy dog eyes. “You know, I’ve liked you from the moment we first met when you saved me. I thought those bad men would kill me. But then you came along, and I thought I was the luckiest girl in the whole world to have such a handsome, strong man come to my rescue.” She batted her eyes up at him to look as innocent and pitiable as possible.

“Ha. Nice try. Listen, I’m sorry again, but I can’t take any chances. I wish I didn’t have to tie you up like this, I do, but I have to check this place out first. If I could trust you not to run off and do something stupid, I would. But, well, you don’t exactly inspire a ton of confidence on that front.”

“Oh, fuck you.” Her expression changed from pathetic pleading to venomous anger. “You think you’re so fucking smart, but you fell down that hill earlier, tumbled around like an idiot. Plus, I followed you all the way here without you realizing, so maybe you’re not as smart as you’d like to think.”

He flushed. Maybe she had gotten to him. But then he smiled as he shook his head and chuckled.

“Yeah, that wasn’t too graceful of me. To be honest, I wasn’t too worried about you being the one to follow me. I figured your dad or brother might, but I didn’t expect you to pay attention to anyone but yourself. Figured you’d sit there whining about your dead phone.”

“Screw you. God, how did I not realize you were such an asshole.” She stamped her feet in anger and strained pointlessly against the rope. “I knew tons of guys like you at school. You think you’re so fucking cool and smart and better than everyone. But you’re nothing. I bet you don’t even get laid or have any friends. You probably have a tiny little dick.”

“Ha. Okay. Whatever you say. You stay here while I check this place out.” He took a few steps past her before her anger melted away and she was overcome with desperation again.

“Wait. Don’t leave me here like this. Please. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that stuff. I’m