Read The Zombie Chronicles - Book 4 - Poisonous Serum (Apocalypse Infection Unleashed Series) for Free Online Page B

the most beautiful shade of brown. With an outstretched hand, she touched my hand, holding it gently against her damp, warm skin. I pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips, running my hand through her wet hair. I couldn’t help myself; I’d been dying to do that for so long. Then, just as I was about to deepen the kiss, I felt arms grab the back of my shirt.
    “ Zombie!” Jackie shouted, fumbling for her gun.
    I spun around just in time to see the undead thing lunging at my neck, its teeth just inches from my carotid artery. Suddenly, the green-skinned monstrosity fell backward and crashed to the ground on the gazebo, a knife jutting out of its brittle skull. It twitched and let out a few more hisses, followed by an eerie silence.
    “ I told you to bring Lucas or Val with you,” Nick said, standing in the pouring rain, tapping his foot as if he were really ticked off.
    “ I’ve got plenty of others with me,” I argued. I knew I’d screwed up and should have listened to him, but that pissed me off more than anything. Back at the school, I’d finally proven to my brother that I could go on a zombie mission without him, kick butt, and survive, but in one fell swoop of rebellion, I’d blown that hard-earned credibility.
    He crossed his arms. “And exactly how much good did that do you? Lucas and Val care about you and will always cover your butt.”
    Guilt flooded through me as I realized I should’ve been more attention to my surroundings than I was paying to Jackie’s soft lips. “Fine. I learned my lesson. It won’t happen again.”
    “ You’re right. It won’t. If I need to put you on a leash, that can be arranged.”
    The remark angered me something fierce. “Don’t be such an idiot, Nick.”
    “ I have to be if I’m gonna teach you how to survive out here. That little romantic distraction could’ve gotten you killed. The second you stop paying attention, a zombie will strike.” Rain dripped down his face, making him look even more angry. “You always have to be alert. You wanna kiss Jackie, that’s fine, but wait till we’re inside, in some safe place.” He glanced around. “Where’s your backup anyway?”
    “ They’re securing the perimeter of this building,” Jackie said. “We were right behind them, and…well, I guess we just got separated for a minute.”
    “ And that could’ve gotten you both killed,” Nick fumed. “Dean, don’t be so naïve! You’re so not ready to be out here,” he yelled. “I had no choice but to bring you along since that helicopter crashed. I don’t even know if I can get you back to Mom and Dad in one piece, especially when you refuse to listen to me.” He pushed me hard in the chest, shoving me back in anger.
    I decided then and there that if he wanted a fight, he was going to get one. I shoved him back and sent a right hook crashing into his jaw. He swung back and nailed me, and pain exploded across my face. I lunged at him when he shoved me again.
    “ Stop it, you two!” Jackie yelled, stepping between us. “Save your anger for the zombies.”
    “ You just don’t get it, do you?” Nick asked me.
    I didn’t even dignify him with an answer.
    He narrowed his gaze and crossed his muscular arms. “Is this all some kind of game to you?” he yelled, his voice echoing off the ceiling of the gazebo.
    “ No.”
    “ Really? Then why are you in here sucking face with her and letting your guard down? This is exactly why I didn’t wanting you coming back here by yourself.”
    I knew Nick was right, though I was tired of being lectured about it. Still, he had a point. If our little impromptu make-out session had gotten any more intense, I might not have even heard the thing sneaking up on me in the pouring rain. My raging hormones had overshadowed my common sense. I wasn’t perfect and had never claimed to be, but I could have listened and learned from Nick, who was giving me a crash course in Zombies 101. I’d barely been out in Zombie