Darkness Descending Read Online Free PDF Page A

had a manager who lived on-site.
    Like most men, he’d kept decoration to a bare minimum. The bed she presently rested on was shoved to one corner. In the opposite corner was a large chaise, a little tattered but still comfortable. A small round table boasting a precious and coveted half-empty bottle of scotch stood beside it. A second larger table, some mismatched chairs, and other miscellaneous pieces of furniture added to the shabby-chic charm of the place. The concrete floor was bare.
    Jesse silently approved. The home he’d carved out of the ruins wasn’t as bad as she’d imagined. In a city torn by poverty and devastation, he’d managed to find a safe haven amid the wreckage. Everything he had might have been scavenged, but it was all neatly arranged. It could even be called clean.
    Clicking off the flashlight, Maddox propped his shotgun in a corner. He stripped off his heavy duster and tossed it over a chair. “There’s no electricity.”
    She nodded, aware parts of the city no longer had utility services of any kind. “I see.”
    “But there’s water,” he continued, walking to the small kitchen sink and turning on the tap.
    Jesse’s brows rose. “How’d you manage that?”
    A slight smile parted his lips. “We broke into the main water lines and reopened them.” Shrugging, he turned off the taps. “Illegal, I know. But who cares now that this city is going to hell.” He paused, then added, “The water’s cold, but if you want a bath, you’ll bear it.”
    Jesse nodded again. Yeah, she could take it. When you lived on the street and scrounged to survive, the amenities of hygiene were few and far between. “I can take cold water.” Instinctively wrapping her arms around her body, she shivered. Not that he would see her naked. There was no way in hell she’d ever strip down for anyone’s eyes. Not when the beast she carried inside hovered so near the surface of her skin.
    Maddox noticed her discomfort. “You hungry?”
    Jesse had to reach deep into the near-depleted well of her inner strength to produce a smile. “I could eat,” she allowed.
    Rummaging among the cabinets, Maddox produced a handful of items. Grabbing a few utensils, he carried them to the table. Spreading out his meager feast, he beckoned for her to join him. “It isn’t much, but it’ll fill your stomach.”
    Sliding off the bed, Jesse limped to the table. Her ankle twinged, but it bore her weight. She sighed in relief. It seemed to be a sprain, not a break. Her luck was holding. A broken bone would have put her down, perhaps permanently, once others discovered her weakness.
    Taking a seat, she eyed the food he offered. There was half a loaf of some hard, crusty-looking bread, a semimoldy hunk of cheese, and something in a can. She didn’t know what was in the can because it didn’t have a label.
    It hardly looked like a feast, but her rumbling stomach didn’t care. She hadn’t eaten in a day, maybe two. It was difficult to remember, since regular meals were hard to come by. After the storm, the city had become divided between the haves and the have-nots. She was one who had nothing. Anything that would fill the hole inside her gut was welcome.
    Using a knife, Maddox trimmed the mold off the cheese and sliced off a hefty chunk of bread. He held both out to her. “It’s still edible.”
    Trying to keep herself from grabbing them, Jesse accepted the food. “It looks okay to me.” She took a hearty bite of the bread, chewing slowly to enjoy the yeasty flavor. It was a little dry, but tasty. She nibbled the cheese, a fragrant sharp cheddar. It wasn’t the best meal she’d ever consumed, but it would serve the purpose of helping keep her strength up.
    Picking up a knife, Maddox drove the blade into the can, prying it open. The cloying scent of sweet pears scented the air. “Been a while since you ate?”
    Jesse kept her gaze on her food. Nobody wanted to admit he or she was starving to death. A lump formed in her