Okay, so this is chapter one of the second book. I hope everyone enjoys :)
Here is the new and improved trailer for this book:
h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = Y v - 0 9 B p J 1 s U
I'd REALLY appreciate feedback everyone. Thanks!
I own nothing.
Tallahassee crept into the house closing the door soundlessly behind himself. His eyes scanned every shadow as he moved through the darkness. Not a thing stirred. He pulled his gun from his holster and smiled a little to himself. 'The perfect crime,' he thought.
When the light flicked on above him he jumped, freezing. Chicago stood by the switch looking very un-amused. She had her arms folded and her hips out on one side, a stance always denoting she was pissed. "Hey darlin' I didn't think you would be up so early," he said putting on a grin. Tal always held onto hope that he could salvage anything.
"Yeah, you didn't come home last night… we're you been Tal?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"I told you I was going out with the boys," he said in his best innocent voice.
"Uh-huh," she nodded then her eyes flicked to the gun. "What's that for?" she asked. He looked down at the gun.
"What this?" he asked.
"You said you were going bowling… shooting the pins now?" she asked.
"Well uh, we were gonna go bowling, but then we went hunting instead," he smiled pleased with how smooth he was. She gave a fake grin and closed the space between them. She looked down and pointed to his shirt.
"Is that blood?" she asked. He looked down.
"I got a nose bleed," he said.
"Oh, you poor thing," she pouted. "Why don't you take of your jacket?" she suggested with an air of sympathy.
"Oh uh, no, I'm chilly babe," he shook his head.
"Oh, com on… take it off," she said firmly. He sighed and she his jacket. She walked around to his back. "So where's your second nose?" she asked. He gave a sigh if defeat. "The one that was bleeding down your back?" she added storming back to his front.
"Would you believe it is deer blood?" he asked. She gave him a hard glare. "Ok… I'm sorry baby," he said finally dropping his ruse.
"I can't believe you Tal!" she huffed walking away. He put his gun down on the table near the door and followed after her.
"I'm sorry," he repeated.
"You promised!" she snapped whirling around and pointing her finger at him.
"I know I did, but I jus-" he shut up when she shook her finger at him again.
"You promised me, you wouldn't do this anymore, and yet every time I turn around you are either walking out the door or in it with blood all over you," she said sharply.
"I just can't stay in here," he said taking her wrist and guiding her finger away from his face. "Baby I'm so bored I could snap," he said.
"Why can't you be like the rest of us? Get a job find a hobby… something," she sighed turning away from him.
"Because this is what I am good at," he said. She shook her head.
"Get out," she said calmly.
"What?" he dropped his 'forgive me' tone.
"Get out Tal!" she snapped spinning around and swatting at him.
"Chicago don't do this!" he snapped as she backed him towards the door. The pitter patter of doggy nails on linoleum flooring came and Tal looked over at the mutt standing in the doorway. "Koda, come here and tell her she needs to calm down," Tal said to the dog. It perked its ears up, wagging its tail at him.
"Get. Out," she repeated and jabbed him in the shoulder.
"Make me!" he shouted finally loosing his temper. She rolled her eyes reached over and grabbed his shotgun.
"I'll count to three," she said.
"You're not going to use that on me," he said putting out a hand.
"I may not shoot you, but I will sure as hell beat you," she warned. "One," she said. He gave her a 'you can't be serious' look. "Two," she counted. He took a step back. She stared him down as he backed out of the front door and she slammed it shut. "Three," she sighed leaning against the door.
"This isn't funny Chicago!" he snapped. She ignored him and locked the door. "I'm just going to come back inside!" he growled. She grinned to herself and parted the curtains. She peeked through and showed him his keys, the ones he had left on the table. Tallahassee sighed as she disappeared again. "Chicago!" he shouted beating on the door.
Next thing he knew she was in the bedroom window on the second story. "Here!" she snapped. "Here's your travel bag that you always have packed!" she shouted throwing the duffle at him. He jumped out of the way.
"Fine! I'm leaving!" he shouted.
"Go on!" she screamed back and slammed the window shut.
Letting out an angry huff she sat down on the bed and flopped back. Pulling a pillow over her face she let out a scream.
Tallahassee bent down and picked up his duffle. He sighed and looked down the street. Fran was opening the coffee shop for the day. He sighed and started off.
"Good morning Tal," the woman beamed when he walked through the door.
"Good morning Fran," he replied.
"Coffee?" she asked.
"Pancakes," he replied dropping his bag and sliding into a booth.
"Alrighty," she nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. He took off his hat and stared out the window. The town was just starting to wake up.
Chicago went to the bathroom and took her morning shower. She tried to put Tallahassee out of her mind. She had bigger things to take care of.
Once out of the shower she selected her clothes. Jeans and a t-shirt, Chicago liked consistency. Downstairs she grabbed her thermos and filled it with water from the fridge. She pulled her boots on, grabbed her phone from it's charger, and put her belt in. She secured the snap in the front and another around her thigh.
As she pulled on her jacket she looking in the mirror. After grabbing her sunglasses she was ready for her day.
A horn honked and she grabbed her backpack and her thermos. Locking the door behind herself she crossed the lawn. Sliding into the passenger seat of the pickup truck Chicago looked over. "Ready to go?" she asked looking back at the trailer behind them.
"Lets hit it," Little Rock grinned.
Tallahassee wiped his mouth after finishing his pancakes. He sighed and tipped Fran. As he got up he tipped his hat at her. The waitress was already busy with other customers and he didn't know if she saw or not.
On the street again he pulled out his phone. It rang four times before anyone answered.
"Hello?" Phoenix whispered slouching down in his seat.
"Hey brother, where are you?" Tallahassee asked as he walked down the sidewalk.
Phoenix looked around at all the disapproving eyes glaring at him. "I'm at the school. Nana has a presentation this morning. What do you want?" he asked briskly.
"I need a favor," Tal said.
"Of course you do," Phoenix rolled his eyes. He watched Nana cross the stage. She had become one of the tallest in her class.
"I need a place to crash. Can I come stay with you for a while?" Tal asked dodging a man walking his dog.
"Chicago kicked you out again?" Phoenix asked, now whispering as the other parents glared at him.
"Yeah, we had a fight," the cowboy replied.
"Details later. The key is above the door, you can stay in the basement," Phoenix said.
"Thanks," Tal replied.
"You're welcome," Phoenix said sounding annoyed. He snapped the phone shut just in time to cheer as Nana took the microphone.
Tallahassee crossed the street and walked up the steps of a two story house with blue shutters and an oak tree in the front yard. Reaching up above the doorframe he retrieved the key and entered the house.
Not being a stranger to the home he made his way to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge before retreating to the basement. He dropped his bag, pulled off his shirt and hat, and dropped onto the couch.
"A night well spent none the less," he sighed settling down.
"You gotta be kidding me," Little Rock sighed as the wind blew back her hair.
"He was asking for it," Chicago muttered.
"You need to cut him a break," Little Rock replied. Chicago looked at her for a moment.
"Why do you always jump to defend him?" she sighed running her hand through her hair.
"Call me a softie for the old guy," Little Rock grinned.
"He needs to grow up," Chicago said.
"What did he do?" the younger girl asked.
"He went out again behind my back," she said.
"So what?" Little Rock rolled her eyes.
"We all retired six months ago, remember?" Chicago muttered. "We spent four years on the road, on the run… now we can settle down and all he wants to do is run about with no purpose. I mean, I don't mind if we have something that needs done, but he goes out with his buddies just for the hell of it. Just to one up each other and sooner or later someone is going to get bit," Chicago said letting her flood of frustration flow freely.
"You ever consider that Tallahassee isn't ever going to settle into a nice quiet city life?" Little Rock asked glancing over at Chicago.
"I have, but it's not like he has even tired it," she replied. "All he does is lay around. He doesn't even make an attempt to keep himself busy. Everyday I say, go get a job, go do something, and he just says 'tomorrow' honestly I don't know what to do with him," Chicago said.
"So what do you plan for this little tiff then?" Little Rock smirked.
"I expect he will beg me to forgive him in a couple days. He will make the same promise as before and I am sure he will break it just the same too," Chicago said with and air of disappointment.
"Well… whatever happens just don't kill him," the younger woman replied. Chicago nodded then looked back at the trailer again.
"How many?" she asked.
"Four," Little Rock replied.
"How do they run through 'em so fast?" Chicago muttered.
"They are killing them faster than ever," Little Rock frowned.
"Any progress?" Chicago asked.
"Other than making them more aggressive?" Little Rock asked. Chicago frowned. "Nope," Little Rock finished.
"Don't suppose we could just kill them like roaches," Chicago suggested.
"You ever try to kill a roach?" Little Rock asked. Chicago gave her a smirk. "That's the problem, they can't be killed."