Episode 4

Jordan strapped a couple of duffle bags to the back of the motorcycle and got on. Charlie climbed on the seat in front of him, and Bella and Bonnie got inside the windowless truck.

"Let's head out," said Jordan, starting the engine, and Bella pulled forward.

Abraham waved, and the kids headed toward the military bunker.

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Jordan and Bella pulled up to the gate, and Jordan opened it. They pulled the vehicles inside and closed the gate behind them.

"It doesn't look like a home," said Bonnie, getting out of the truck, and Jordan chuckled.

"It's better than sleeping outside, kid," he said, and she nodded, sighing.

"I guess you're right."

Bella snickered, handing Charlie a bag to carry, and she gave one to Bonnie. She slung a couple over her shoulder, and Jordan grabbed the bags from the bike. They went inside, and Charlie and Bonnie's eyes widened, seeing the rooms on the top floor.

The kids set the bags on the table, ran upstairs, and checked out the rooms. Bella and Jordan laughed as they set the duffle bags down, and Jordan walked toward Bella.

"So," he said, licking his lips and pulling her close.

"We gonna have separate places or bunks?"

He was a foot taller than Dale. His shoulders were broader, and his chest was more muscular, but that didn't bother her. People came in different sizes and shapes.

Bella rested her chin on Jordan's chest, biting her bottom lip and grinning. Jordan chuckled and gently rubbed her shoulders and arms.

"That's not an answer, baby girl," he purred.

"Uh, did the coagulated blood get to your brain? I'm sure my father will make that decision for us, but if he doesn't," she said, sliding her hands over his abdomen.

"I guess we'll be roomies."

Jordan inhaled sharply and blew a breath.

"Girl, why you gotta tease me?" he asked, and Bella giggled, squeezing his hips.

"Because I can," she whispered, and he shivered.

"Guess Imma pick out a room. Just in case your Dad decides to separate us. He did catch us kissing, and I want to keep on his good side."

Bella raised an eyebrow and gave him an impressed look.

"Wow! Do I detect a hint of gentleman under all that 'I am king' facade?" she teased.

Jordan turned his head, laughing, and looked at her, biting his lower lip.

"Maybe, but shsh. Don't tell anyone."

She snorted and pushed him away.

"You're quite the actor, Jordan Baker," she said, and he shrugged.

"That's how I make the big bucks, baby girl. Thought you knew," he said, and she laughed wholeheartedly.

"You arrogant son of a b.."

"Bella!" screamed Charlie.

Bella and Jordan's smiles faded, and they bolted up the stairs. They found the kids sitting on the floor in one of the rooms next to a stack of magazines, and Bella looked at her brother, alarmed.

"Charlie!" she exclaimed, and he grinned at her.

"Check it out!" he chirped, showing his sister the stack of books on the floor, and she noticed they were magazines.

They were comic books. Bella looked at Jordan, and he snickered as she blew a shaky breath.

"Damn it, kid. Give me a heart attack. I thought you were being attacked," she said, kneeling beside her brother, and Charlie gave her an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Let's see what we got," she said, going through the stack.

"Tales of the Gorey Night. Classic. The Man Who Came Back to Life. Flop. Uh, oh. Score, little bro. The latest editions of Dead Alive. These came out after the movie, and we haven't read these yet," Bella said, flipping the book over and snorting as she looked at Jordan.

"Look, Jordan Baker. You can be famous in the shit world and have beautiful women throw themselves at you. Just like old times," she teased, holding up the comic and showing him his picture on the back.

Jordan snorted and smiled.

"Look, Charlie, he's blushing!" she said, and Charlie and Bonnie giggled.

Jordan looked at Bella thoughtfully and sighed.

"You ever gonna give the other women stuff a rest?" he asked, and Bella shook her head.

"Nope."

Suddenly, they heard a car horn, and Jordan rolled his eyes, leaving the room. Bella snickered, and Charlie and Bonnie gave her a nervous look.

"Don't worry. He'll get over it. Besides, Dad's here. Sit tight," she said and left the room.

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Jordan opened the gate, and Abraham, Mike, Andy, and Sarah drove inside. Bella smiled at her father as he got out of the truck, and he grinned, nodding. She and Jordan helped everyone carry their stuff inside, and the group started making the bunker a home. They found a shower room with running cold water and a storage closet full of furniture.

Abraham, Jordan, Andy, and Mike brought out couches, tables, chairs, and an old dusty carpet, and Bella and Sarah helped set everything up. When satisfied with their work and everything was put away, the group felt safe for the first time since Baker County.

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Abraham stopped at Jordan's room and tapped on the door frame.

"Hey, Jordan," he said, looking around.

He was surprised that Bella wasn't in the room, putting her stuff away and getting situated. Jordan smiled at the man and nodded.

"Hey, Mr. Daniels," he said, folding a shirt and putting it on the stack of folded clothes.

"Surprised my daughter isn't in here unpacking and showing you her trinket collection."

Jordan looked at Bella's father respectfully and blew a breath.

"Because she two doors down," he said.

Abraham looked at the twenty-six-year-old, confused.

"So, ya'll ain't rooming together?"

Jordan shook his head.

"I mean, seeing ya'll in the back of the truck, I just figured you guys would," said Abraham, and Jordan chuckled, shaking his head.

"Nah. Bell said you might not like that idea, but when the time comes, my door is always open," he said, and Abraham sighed.

He knew his daughter put his feelings first when making decisions, but it was time for her to stop sacrificing her happiness on his account. He could tell Jordan made her happy again since Dale, and it was time for him to accept his daughter had grown up.

"She said I wouldn't like it?" he chuckled, and Jordan snickered, nodding.

"You know I can't stand that kid, sometimes. She's too good for her own damn good."

"You raised her right. Nothing wrong with that," said Jordan, putting a blanket on the bottom bunk and shoving a duffle bag underneath.

Abraham thought momentarily and gave Jordan a thoughtful look.

"So you knew what this place was before we set foot inside, and I noticed how you carry yourself. What did you do before all of this?" he asked as Jordan threw his blood-stained shirt in the corner.

Bella's father noticed the scars on his back and torso and wondered what they were from.

"Special black ops for a task force back in Philly, and when I got hurt, I went into acting," he explained, putting on a clean shirt.

"Is that where all the scars are from?"

Jordan sighed, shaking his head, and he gave Abraham a solid look.

"Some. My pops was a real bastard. Let's just say he was a real hardass on me when I was a kid."

Abraham looked at Jordan with care and felt sorry for the guy.

"I'm sorry you went through that, Jordan," he said, and Jordan shrugged.

"He died when I was twelve, and my moms raised me and my brothers."

Abraham nodded and started to like the kid more as he got to know him better. He couldn't compare Jordan to Dale, but he knew Jordan cared for his daughter as much as Dale did and made up his mind.

"Make sure you clean that top bunk off. You're getting a roommate," he said, tapped the door frame, and left.

Jordan smiled and shook his head. He wiped down the top bunk mattress, thinking he was rooming with Bella's father.

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"So, why don't any of the books have a story about someone surviving the bite? You're living proof it can happen," asked Bonnie, and Bella shrugged.

"I guess no one thought about that aspect of the story."

"Well, then, I think you should write the story about a little bird who survived the monstrous bite," said Bonnie.

Bonnie, Charlie, and Bella laughed, and Charlie gave his sister a thoughtful look.

"I wonder what would happen if you bit someone," he said, and Bella sat next to him, grabbing his arm.

She gently ran her fingers over his soft skin and pinched the muscle.

"Hmm, seems tender enough," she said, and Charlie gave her a strange look.

"What are you doing?" he asked, and Bella grinned evilly.

"Don't you want to see what happens when I bite someone?"

Charlie and Bonnie's eyes widened, and her brother shook his head.

"I don't want to be the guinea pig," he exclaimed, and Bella raised her eyebrows.

"Too late!" she chimed.

She brought his arm to her mouth and made growling and munching noises. The kids screamed at the top of their lungs, and Abraham, Jordan, Mike, Andy, and Sarah ran into the room, alarmed. Charlie realized his sister didn't bite him and started laughing. The group looked at Bella, and she snickered.

She stopped pretending and gave everyone a thoughtful look.

"What? I got hungry," she scoffed, and Bonnie snorted and laughed, rolling on the bunk.

Sarah, Andy, and Mike laughed, and Abraham and Jordan shook their heads.

"Are you sure about her?" snickered Abraham, leaning toward Jordan, and Jordan shrugged, looking at Bella.

Bella looked at her father and boyfriend and poked her bottom lip out. Jordan's heart melted, and he nodded, licking his lips.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he said, and Abraham clapped him on the back.

"She's all yours," he chuckled, and Bella grinned at her father.

"Now, Bell. Stop eating your brother and move your stuff into Jordan's room."

Bella looked at her father eagerly, and he sighed, nodding.

"I don't want to hear anything about it. Just do what I ask before I change my mind."

"But Charlie's so tender. Young meat is the best," she said, grabbing her brother's arm, and Charlie squealed.

The group laughed, and Bella grabbed her brother's hair, searching his eyes.

"Who am I going to play with when you're all grown up?" she asked, and he gave her a knowing look.

"Still me. Your games will never get old, Bell," he said, and she gently pushed his face.

"Love ya, kid. Gotta run."

She kissed her brother's forehead and left the room.