Affliction Z (Book 3): Descended in Blood by L.T. Ryan Page B

southern edge of the Research Triangle until they located a hospital. He could find a secure place for the others to wait while he set off on foot.
    “Dad?”
    “Sorry, Em,” he said. “Thinking is all.” He glanced over his shoulder, watched Barbara for a moment, then met his daughter’s stare. “I can help her, but I need medical supplies.”
    “There’s a first aid kit in—”
    Sean cut her off with a wave. “I need more than what’s in there. I need to extract the bullet and check for infection. If one has set in, she needs antibiotics and we’ll need a stack of fresh dressings. I can stitch her after the infection clears.”
    Emma’s eyes swelled with brine. “She’s gonna die, isn’t she?”
    He felt three sets of eyes on him. Four, if he counted Marley.
    “I’m going to do everything I can to help her.” He adjusted the GPS so that everyone could see. He pointed to Chapel Hill. “You see that area? We’re going to find a hospital near there and get what we need. And if not there, we’ll find it near Raleigh.”
    Sean didn’t feel that it was an appropriate time to mention leaving the women behind. No point in fighting the objections twice.
    The women voiced no objections, and after a few minutes, Addison, Jenny and Emma walked Marley into the woods.
    Sean climbed into the backseat. Barbara was hot, her skin coated in a layer of sweat. He peeked at the wound and grimaced at what he saw. The bullet had damaged the muscle and her upper humerus. A surgeon could repair it in a few hours. Which meant under these circumstances, Barbara would never enjoy full use of her arm again.
    If she survived the blood loss and possible infection.
    Sean reached into the rear storage compartment and grabbed the white case with a red cross stenciled on it. Inside were basic first aid items, none of which was of use to him. He fished through the container until he found a thermometer. It slid between Barbara’s lips with no resistance. Sean waited a minute before extracting it. The thermometer registered a temperature over one hundred and four.
    “Shit,” he muttered. The pack didn’t contain anything to help fight fever. Where the hell did they get it, a toy store? He leaned in close. “Hang in there, Barb.”
    Do I mean that? Really, do I?
    The woman was a hindrance. Even when healthy. But deep down, he didn’t wish for her death. Get rid of her? Yes. But only if that meant placing her with someone competent enough to help Barbara find her place within a group of survivors.
    Sean paced around the ATV, stopping to stare off into the woods, until Emma and the women returned with the dog. Marley ran up to Sean, waited for a pat on the head, then hopped into the backseat where he resumed watch next to Barbara.
    “Ready?” Sean said with a clap of his hands. He wasn’t keen on staying in one spot for too long. The ATV had alerted anyone within earshot of their presence. And not only anyone— anything .
    “Can I talk with you for a minute?” Addison asked, stepping away from the ATV.
    Sean took note of the nervous look on her face and the way she retreated. He nodded, pointing to a spot away from the group. The M4 strapped around his shoulder tapped his back every couple steps, reassuring him it was there, ready for duty.
    What was the younger woman concerned about that she had to speak with him away from the group? Had Emma said something? Revealed something? Was Addison worried one of them was sick?
    He turned to her, ready to speak, but was taken aback by the tears in her eyes.
    Then fear set in. “Are you sick?”
    Her lips parted and her head inched backward as though he’d slapped her. The verbal blow appeared to have taken her breath away.
    “Sorry, I just…”
    “No,” she said. “It’s okay. I understand. It’s always running through my head, too. What if one of us has it? What if we meet someone who needs help, but looks sick?”
    Sean nodded. The thoughts were always in the back of his mind.