Broken Dreams(17)

“Insurance policy. Let’s get the fuck out of here before we attract any more attention.” As we headed out of the garage, I was a bit baffled by his nonchalance.



***



“Henry.” I was becoming more nervous. I wanted to ask more probing questions, but he was focused on the road.

“Yes, my love?” His voice was calm and soothing, like it used to be, but with his British accent.

“I need more info. I have shared my life, my love, my bed with you. I nearly married you today and I feel like I know nothing about you. When were you going to tell me about all of this shit?” I felt that it was a valid question.

“I hadn’t found the right time yet.” He sounded regretful and sad, but that statement made me angry. Big shocker right there.

“Wow. Okay. So, before we went out on our first real date wasn’t the right time? You could have told me everything, and then I could have decided if I wanted to have a relationship.”

“I couldn’t tell you! And once I got involved with you, I couldn’t lose you. I loved you from the moment I locked eyes with you. You know that!”

For real? That was all he could come up with? “Lose me? How is that your decision? And how selfish are you to bring me into this blindly!” I felt rage burn through my body. I thought about the probability that my entire family was being eaten by each other. “Damn you, Liam!” I slammed my fist down on the dash.

“Don’t call me Liam! I’m Henry! Henry, damn it! And, in case you have forgotten, this is not my fucking fault! I didn’t make this. I’m just here to fight it and protect you!” he shouted, full of rage, and punched the dash. I was startled. He was used to my outbursts, but he had never reacted to me like that before.

“Why? Tell me why I can’t call you Liam?”

“Never mind,” he muttered, returning his focus back to the road.

“I want to know! I deserve to know!”

“You do, but now is not the time, Elaina!” He grumbled something, then slammed on the brakes. Just what I needed, a little more whiplash. He cursed to himself and looked over at me. “I need to talk to you about a few more things before we go back to the church.”

“Great. Are your mummy and daddy from Neptune?” There. I mocked him in his own accent, but it didn’t make me feel any better. It made me feel like I was two.

He growled. “This is hard for me, too. I wanted to tell you so many bloody times who and what I am! But I couldn’t. I wanted to be completely honest, but I didn’t have that luxury. You have given me everything. I have given you nothing but doubt and anger.” He was upset with himself and his eyes began filling with tears.

“You got that right, asshole.” I was pissed. Pissed at everything. Fuck it all.

“Both of you need to stop this banter! I want to get to the church, now!”

“Right.” Henry put the truck in park.

“Umm, putting the truck into park is not getting us to the church.”

“Yeah, I realize that. Listen, after the church, we need to get back to our place.”

“No! We need to go check out my place and my families’ homes!”

“Elaina, please, let me explain.” Henry reached for my hand and I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Elaina,” he whispered. “We need to go back to the flat. There’s another agent coming, and she will be here later tonight.”

“She?”

“Yes. She. Her name is Sophie. She trained with me and will be helpful to us here.” I couldn’t help it so I laughed. “What is so comical?”

“A girl trained with you to fight this? She must be more truck driver than I am! Can’t wait to see this chick. Does she rock a mullet?” Claire’s impatience was very evident from the sounds that she was making in the back seat.

Henry shook his head. “No.” He seemed angry with my truck driver reference. “Anyway, she’s on her way and we are going to devise a plan for this area. We have other plans in place, but dealing with this area is a priority at the moment.”

“Devise a plan? What kind of plan?”

“I’m not exactly sure yet. This is why Sophie is coming in.”

I laughed while looking at Claire. I could barely get my words out between my laughs. “Perfect. The secret agent up here doesn’t know what to do.”

“Whatever, Elaina! I don’t have time to argue with you about all of this. Can you please ditch the sarcastic attitude for once, and just go with the flow?” I admit I did feel kind of bad. Kind of. Just a teensy bit.

“Yes. I guess.” I rolled my eyes.

“Thank you!” He slammed the Tahoe in drive and practically stood on the gas pedal. We rounded the corner, and there was evidence everywhere that the undeads had been around. Crashed cars, pools of sticky blood in the street, body parts strewn about, and let’s not forget the obvious…the roaming undeads.