Fate's Surrender (Eternal Sorrows Book 3) Sarra Cannon (best english books to read txt) 📖

“I know my ideas are not always the most popular ones, but here’s how I see it,” she began. “Just down this road, I saw some beachfront mansions. I’m talking about ten-million-dollar, we-could-never-have-owned-a-house-like-this-in-our-dreams, kind of houses. And I’m guessing the owners of these homes are either deceased or moved on by now for the most part. I was just thinking that since we might all die tomorrow, it would be nice to live a single night in luxury and peace.”

Parrish wanted to agree with her, because the sound of a gorgeous, luxury mansion on the beach with a really nice bed sounded amazing. But at the same time, there were dangers in a big house.

She opened her mouth to protest, but Karmen held up a hand first.

“Don’t even tell me the houses are too big or too dangerous,” Karmen said. “You’re the one leading us all into the city of death, so I don’t want to hear it.”

Noah tried to hide a smile, and Parrish smacked his arm.

“What?” he said, laughing. “She’s got a point.”

“Come on,” Karmen said in a pleading, sing-song voice. “This is my one last wish. I'm begging you.”

Parrish looked to Crash, and he shrugged.

“It’s safer to get inside than be out here in the dark trying to make a decision,” he said. “We can go in together and clear it out, block the doors, and do what we need to do.”

Parrish sighed. “Okay, Karmen. Take your pick. We’ll follow you.”

Karmen’s eyes widened, and she clapped her hands together, raising her shoulders. “I can’t believe we’re actually going to do what I want to do. This is so awesome! Follow me. I know just the one.”

She led them to a large, modern home with floor-to-ceiling windows all the way around and some kind of fancy modern arch at the top. At least they could basically see through the house, so it was easy to tell there was no one home.

It looked to be deserted but clean.

Like most cities they’d passed through, the power seemed to be permanently off, but with Crash in their group, that didn’t matter as much as it could have.

They didn’t want him lighting up this house like a Christmas tree and announcing their presence, but they also didn’t want a small horde sneaking up on them.

While Crash and Karmen searched through the garage and the downstairs rooms, Noah and Parrish went through the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, just in case.

From the looks of it, no one had even squatted here or looted this place. It was completely clean and organized, which felt strangely unsettling to Parrish.

It was too much like normal life for her taste. She didn’t want to be reminded of how things used to be, but Karmen was right. It was a beautiful, wildest-dreams kind of house.

Parrish led the way, her sword raised with a soft blue light emanating from the blade. Noah had a gun in each hand, both new and courtesy of Tank’s armory.

“Did you ever dream you’d be such a natural with a gun?” Parrish asked.

“I never had any desire to shoot a gun in my life before this, but now it feels like I might as well have grown up with a pistol in my hand,” he said. “It’s weird.”

“Weird is the new black,” she said, laughing. “Nothing's going to be normal ever again.”

“I suppose not, but there are perks to this new life, too,” Noah said, giving her a look that made her cheeks warm.

He took out a flashlight and shone it into one of the bedrooms. When they were sure it was clear, he shut the door and moved on to the next room.

“Wow, look at the view from this room,” she said when he opened the door.

This was obviously the master suite, and whoever had built this house pulled out all the stops.

Iron chandelier, a large canopied king-size bed, and a limitless view of the Atlantic from the large balcony.

While Noah checked for zombies, she stepped outside to take in the view of the beautiful sunset.

For as far as she could see, there were no rotters in sight. Just waves and sand. It was so peaceful, it nearly took her breath away.

It was like the world had no idea it was dying.

“Isn't this beautiful?”

Noah came to stand beside her, leaning on the railing as they watched the waves crash against the shore.

“You're beautiful,” he said.

She was about to tell him that was the cheesiest transition she’d ever heard in her life, but when she glanced over at him, the expression in his eyes made her knees weak.

She’d never imagined herself as the kind of girl who wanted a guy to bring out the romance, but here she was, practically swooning.

He reached for her hand and pulled her closer, causing her heart to beat faster.

How many lifetimes had they found each other? How many years had they spent together over all this time?

And how much more time would they have?

Was it too much to pray that when this was all over, they could have just one more lifetime together? One last chance to get it right and to have peace?

Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips dipped toward hers, but just before they kissed, a gunshot sounded downstairs.

Without hesitation, they both drew their weapons and ran.

Twenty-One

Karmen

Karmen screamed and turned away as the rotter’s body fell to the floor, its dark blood oozing across the hardwoods.

“That was a close one,” Crash said, lowering his gun. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, her heart racing. She’d been stupid, stepping into the massive closet without checking it for rotters first.

The house had been completely empty so far, and she’d just assumed no one was home. Besides, what kind of person locked themselves in the closet?

Maybe someone else had locked this woman in the closet when she’d turned. There was no way to know now, but if it hadn’t been for Crash, Karmen might have been rotter food just then.

He never seemed to be too far away