Deadlocked 7 Read Online Free PDF Page B

lots of guns,” said Jack.
    “What about bullets?” asked Annie. “I’d be happy to give you mine, one by one.”
    Mac whistled and shook his head. “Listen to this one! What did I tell you? I like them fiery red heads.”
    “I’m sure we could get a little creative with what you’ve got to trade,” said Jack as he lecherously eyed Kim up and down.
    Arthur’s calm demeanor disappeared. “Watch your mouth, pal. I’ll rip your balls off and shove them up your friend’s ass before I let you touch either of these girls.”
    “All right, all right,” said Jack. “Calm the fuck down. I’ll get you a fresh spare for all your pistols.”
    “That’s crazy,” said Arthur. “One gun for one tire.”
    “Listen, kid,” said Jack. “You don’t have the upper hand in this trade.”
    “Bullshit,” said Arthur. “We can walk back to camp if we have to.”
    “And find a car on the way to jack too,” said Kim. “Come on, Artie, let’s get out of here.”
    “How you going to carry all the guns you brought to trade?” asked Jack. “You planning on leaving them here for us? That’s mighty nice of you. I’ll get myself a trunk full of guns without even having to trade a tire for them.” He chuckled and elbowed his friend.
    “ How about this deal,” Mac kept his eyes on Annie. “Three guns for one tire, but it’s going to take us a while to find one that fits. We got some pup tents you girls can sleep in tonight.”
    “We can’t stay overnight,” said Kim. “We’ve got to get back to camp.”
    “Hopefully you don’t have to,” said Jack. “But despite what you think, we didn’t pop your tires to try and steal a trade from you. We’re going to have to search around for a tire that fits your car here.”
    “Wonderful,” said Annie. “Mom’s going to fucking kill us.”
    Jack went to look for a tire while Mac took Annie, Arthur, and Kim to where the traders camped. There was a fenced area where several tents had been set up. During the day, the traders spent their time in the back of their trucks, but most of them slept in tents at night, preferring the safety of the fenced area in case of a Grey attack. Most trader caravans didn’t have enough vehicles to create a circled barrier the way the Rollers did, so they fortified campsites at each of the trader posts along the highway where they normally stopped.
    This fenced area had once protected a water tower, but the towering structure was now rusted, its paint mostly peeled, giving it the appearance of a massive, rotted orange looming above. The tents were scattered around the paved area, with the largest ones enjoying the shelter beneath the water tower. Mac led them to a group of smaller tents near the fence, away from the tower’s umbrella.
    The snow got worse as the day wore on, and soon it became apparent that even if Jack found a tire, they would still be mired here, at least until the snow let up. Arthur kept offering to help search for a tire, but Mac insisted that they make themselves comfortable. The tents were too small to accommodate more than two people, so Arthur stayed in one while Annie and her sister slept separately. Eventually, they gave up hope of leaving that night, and resigned themselves to being lectured by Laura and Billy in the morning.
    Annie was angry as she settled in for the night beneath a bear skin.
    “Hey, Annie,” whispered Kim.
    “What?” Annie made no attempt to hide her frustration.
    “I’m going to sleep in Arthur’s tent.”
    Annie threw off her cover and sat up. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
    “Don’t be a bitch.”
    “Fuck you. This is just what you wanted, isn’t it?”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Kim.
    “You were looking for any excuse at all to have to stay here overnight. You’re probably the one that popped the tires.”
    “Oh shut up,” said Kim. “You know that’s not true.”
    “You’re going to get yourself killed. You know what they’re saying about