Domino Falls Read Online Free PDF Page A

think that. We’re just looking for somewhere safe.”
    Darius snickered.
    â€œI’ll let you in,” the gatekeeper said finally. “But you’re on probation, which means there’s a zero tolerance policy for B.S. No one in your party is under fourteen, so tomorrow you’ll all work. No exceptions. No free rides in Domino Falls. And you’ll have a very thorough search—take me at my word. You surrender all weapons until after quarantine. After that, sidearms only unless you’re part of a street or fence patrol.”
    There’s always a catch, Kendra thought. She hadn’t been armed long, but she’d gotten used to it. They looked at one another, fidgeting.
    â€œQuarantine?” Piranha said, suspicious. “What’s that for? We’ve got a dog. You’d know if we were infected.”
    The gatekeeper looked like he was up to his tonsils with questions, so the redhead with the huge handgun spoke up. “Dogs don’t always pick up a fresh bite,” she said. “We’ve learned that the hard way. You’ll be quarantined for twelve hours. My advice? Get some sleep. You sniff all right after that, you’re in.”
    â€œOr we hit the road?” Terry said.
    The woman gave them a nasty grin. She had shaggy chestnut hair and a slight chip in one of her front teeth, made more noticeable by the gleam in her eyes. Otherwise, her teeth seemed cosmetically white. Maybe Threadville had a good dental plan.
    â€œYou belong to us now,” the woman said. “If you’re bit, you’re dispatched.”
    â€œDispatched where?” Kendra said. She imagined a concentration camp for the infected . . . until she remembered the burning freaks on the fences. She glanced at the men in yellow shirts again, noting their guns.
    â€œTo a shallow grave, chica, ” Ursalina said, chuckling.
    â€œBefore they’ve turned?” Kendra said, horrified.
    The woman shrugged. “Consider it a favor.”
    â€œGot that right,” Ursalina said. “This is war.”
    The gatekeeper and the woman both glanced at Ursalina appreciatively. One of the yellow shirts bumped Ursalina’s fist, although he didn’t crack a smile.
    â€œYour dog kennels with us,” the woman said. “Me and my brother will escort you to the quarantine site. Name’s Jackie Burchett.”
    She glanced toward the Twins again, and for the first time Kendra noticed the intrigue twinkling in her eyes. They smiled at her, whipping off their sunglasses, both of them rising from their bikes.
    â€œDarius Phillips.” He tipped an imaginary hat, winking.
    â€œDean Kitsap.”
    Jackie’s grin glowed. They all introduced themselves, but her eyes stayed on the Twins. Kendra doubted Jackie had heard anyone else or cared about their names.
    â€œOne thing, though,” Terry said. “Is there a mechanic?”
    â€œI figured her for a junker,” Jackie said, assessing the bus. “You might be better off scrapping her for barter. Think she’ll start back up?”
    â€œIt’ll take some sweet talk, but she’ll start. Just don’t know for how long.”
    Jackie and the burliest of the other men headed toward a massive white pickup truck parked near the intake desk. “Yeah, we can swing by Myles’s place. It’s on the way, he’s honest, and he’ll take good care of you,” Jackie said. “Just follow us.”
    Kendra didn’t want to follow them. The woman’s presence made it doubtful that they were being led to a slavers’ trap, at least, but nothing soothed the alarm bell that had been sounding in her head since she’d first seen the yellow shirts.
    But Kendra tried to ignore the alarm, following her friends back into the bus.
    Terry was ready to feel good. More than ready. But he wasn’t there yet.
    The Blue Beauty could barely push fifteen miles per hour as he tried to