Zone Zero: Vengeance (Book 3 of 3)

Chapter 13

The muscles in my right thigh seize up as the bullet from Max's gun finds its way into the tissue.

I am partially shocked that Max actually had the balls to shoot me but I am even more shocked that I barely flinched when the bullet hit my skin. My pain tolerance has definitely doubled, if not tripled, since becoming a vampire.

Maxim smirks at me with a devilish glint in his eye before placing his gun back into its holster.

"Whoops." He remarks.

I let out a soft laugh but soon pull it back when I feel the radiating rage that is building up beside me. Alex is furious and is using every single fibre is in his being to hold himself back from attacking Maxim.

He wants Max dead.

A quick delve into Alex's mind reveals that he is imagining tearing his oesophagus out of his neck with his bare hands. Followed closely by disembowelling him and decorating the corridor with his entrails.

I don't know if I should laugh or cringe at the thoughts that are running rampant through his mind. Either way I can't help but feel flattered that he would kill for me.

Max notices Alex's animalistic stance and rage-filled eyes and does what I can only guess he sees as a power play.

His smile widens and turns towards Alex. For some reason he believes that by pushing Alex he will inflict pain on me. Little does he know that Alex is almost at breaking point and if pushed too far, will tear max limb from limb.

"Whats wrong Alex? Did you want to be the one that gets shot? Well, that can be arranged!"

Max raises his gun and aims at Alex's face, all the while glaring at me. I have to keep reminding myself that he won't pull the trigger but then again I don't know that for certain.

I hide the struggle I am feeling and show only a calm demeanour when what lies beneath is anything but.

Alex's eyes begin to narrow in on Max and I know for certain that he is planning something.

What are you doing?  I ask him wordlessly.

Alex's lip twitches upward just as Max turns his focus back to me. He is wanting to see my reaction to him threatening Alex but he should be worried about his own ass.

With a ferocious speed too fast for the human eye, Alex sends his right fist flying at Max's face. The crack of bones breaking fill the hall followed closely by a scream from Max.

"Whoops." Alex mummurs loud enough for everyone to hear.

A gun is instantly pressed against the back of my head as is one to Alex but I can't help but grin when I see the blood gushing from Max's nose.

A nameless soldier comes to Max's aid and tries to remove Max's hands from clutching at his face but is met with only hostility.

"Get the fuck off of me!" Max screams at the poor soldier before turning his aggression toward Alex.

"You are as good as dead! You hear me? Neither of you will leave this place alive! I'll make sure of that!"

I feel the burn of silver touching my skin before I see it. My hands are being bound in silver hand cuffs but I don't scream out. The pain is excruciating on my wrists, much worse than the bullet hole in my thigh which is already beginning to heal.

A solid hand propels me forward and further along the corridor. Alex is being pushed right behind me as we pass by Max still clutching at his broken nose.

I glance at him and hold back a snort of distaste and continue on my way but Alex does not let the opportunity pass him by.

Alex stops in his tracks right in front of the wounded Max and glares at him with a deadly intensity.