Cora (Love in the Apocalypse #2)

16. Remington

Chapter sixteen

Remington

W ho was the biggest fucking asshole of the apocalypse?

That would be yours truly.

I cursed as I watched Cora retreat to her bunker. I looked at the broken iPad and dropped back into my seat with a groan, rubbing my stinging cheek. I deserved that slap. And I deserved a hell of a lot more for taking my insecurities out on Cora and breaking the only form of communication she has. I was lower than an asshole. And what’s worse, there wouldn’t be any hiding it when the guys got back. The broken iPad was a dead giveaway that something happened. What’s worse is that I knew Trent wasn’t going to pick Cora over me, but sometimes that fear creeps up and takes over. I’ve created quite a mess, and I didn’t know how to fix it.

Of course, it didn’t help that I was just as wildly attracted to Cora as the rest of them. Or that I would have understood if Trent had picked Cora because she was an amazing woman. She said she liked all of us and didn’t want to come between us. Why couldn’t I accept that? Why did I have to be so fucked in the head that I was acting like this was Audri and Kevin all over again? This wasn’t the same. I actually had the chance to be a part of something beautiful. One big, happy, polyamorous family. God, I hope I didn’t just permanently fuck it all up with one stupid outburst.

I was sitting on the couch brainstorming how to make it up to Cora when the door flew open, and three men rushed inside. They were on me before I could recover from my shock. Two of them grabbed me and threw me to the ground, where they began to kick my ass. I curled into the fetal position to try and protect myself as best I could as they kicked and punched me all over my body. I was covered in blood and seeing stars by the time they backed off, and the third man crouched in front of me.

“Hello,” he said smoothly. “My name is Terrence, and I’m claiming this house for the Queen. She will need a castle to survive the winter in, and once she sees this one, she will bestow her favor upon me and make me her King.”

Queen? Oh, great. Not only are they violent, but they’re also fucking deranged. I had to think quickly. I had to make sure they didn’t discover Cora, and I couldn’t let Trent and my brothers walk into a trap. If only the marching band in my fucking head would shut the fuck up for two seconds.

“When the Queen sees this place, she’ll wear you out,” one of the men joked.

“Yeah, you’ll have her favor riding your cock hard,” the other man agreed.

“Too true,” the wannabe King agreed with a laugh. He stood and grabbed his cock in his pants, shaking it vigorously as he laughed.

Terrence looked down at me, and a considering look entered his eyes, making my blood run cold. I had seen that look too many times in the last three years. I was usually in a better position to avoid its repercussions. I feared that I wasn’t going to be so lucky this time.

“Perhaps I should practice and empty my balls a few times so that I don’t nut too quickly and disappoint my Queen.” He smiled as he snapped his fingers and pointed at me. His lackeys grabbed me and wrestled me to the kitchen table, where they bent me over the end. They stand on either side of the table, pinning my arms down, immobilizing me.

My head is turned toward the wall where Cora must be standing. I didn’t want her to witness this, but even more, I didn’t want her to be discovered and meet the same fate.

I hear the man’s belt as he undoes his pants and kicks my legs apart. He grabs the back of my pants and rips open the seam, baring my ass to him. “You should feel honored about what I’m about to do. You’re servicing the King and Queen. If you do a good job, I might keep you around as my personal pet.”

My eyes squeeze shut, bracing for what is about to happen, when I hear the familiar click of Cora’s door unlatching. My eyes open, and I see the door crack open slightly.

“No!” I yell, shaking my head and silently begging Cora to follow my order. If they find her, they’ll destroy her, and I’ll be powerless to stop them.

“No?” the man behind me scoffs as he spreads my cheeks and spits on my hole. “This is the apocalypse. That word doesn’t have any meaning anymore.”

Suddenly, Cora’s door slams open, and she appears like an avenging angel, rage billowing off her in waves. I’m so astounded by the vision she makes that, for a second, I forget my fear of her being captured.

If I was caught off guard by her, the other men were completely blindsided by her presence, giving Cora the opportunity she needed to take aim and shoot the closest man in the head.

Wait— Cora has guns?