Z 2136 (Z 2134 Series Book 3) by Sean Platt, David W. Wright

herself off of Liam, laughing.
    “Sorry,” Katrina said, emerging fully dressed in a long-sleeved black shirt over black pants. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    “You didn’t interrupt anything,” Ana said, though she wasn’t sure why she felt the need to explain herself. Perhaps there was some part of her that felt guilty to have found love with Liam while Katrina had no one.
    Not that Katrina ever acted like she wanted a man—or anyone really. She seemed tough—not needing either love or friendship. Ana had tried to get close, but Katrina always held a distance between them. Her arm’s length wasn’t exactly cold, but you couldn’t deny it was there, either. The warrior clearly enjoyed their company, and she had risked her life to spring them from Hydrangea, turning on Sutherland—a maniac unable to handle betrayal—to help them, two people she’d barely known.
    Obviously Katrina was a good person but she was also clearly damaged.
    Ana had seen proof of that a few months back. One morning she’d woken up early. The three were staying in a cabin they’d been lucky to find and secure well enough that it had provided safe harbor for three weeks. Liam was asleep, but Katrina wasn’t in the house. Concerned, Ana grabbed a blaster and went outside to look for her. She spotted Katrina bathing in the lake . . . and noticed her striated chest, vicious with long, intersecting scars. Who could have done this to her?
    Ana had wanted to ask Katrina about the scars ever since but couldn’t find a way to broach the topic without feeling like she was invading her privacy.
    Clearly Katrina was thinking along similar lines. She sat on the bed, pulled open her backpack, and began sorting her supplies. Without looking up, she said, “I’ll see if they’ll give me another room tonight. You two deserve some time alone.”
    Ana was going to tell Katrina that she didn’t have to do that, it wasn’t necessary. Liam spoke before she could, though.
    “Thank you,” he said.
    Ana met his eyes and smiled.
    Katrina nodded, then turned to Ana. “So, what do you want to do? Are you going to stay like Egan asked?”
    “No,” she said firmly. “We’re leaving in the morning. I can’t stay here while Adam is out there helpless.”
    Katrina drew a blade from her backpack and strapped its sheath to a spot on her back along her waistline.
    That’s just like Katrina, packing her own knife for dinner.
    Ana said, “But I don’t think Egan will tell us where Adam is if I don’t stay.”
    Katrina smiled, “Give me two minutes with him. I’ll get him to talk.”
    Liam sat up, saying, “No, we don’t need to hurt anyone.”
    “You’re no fun.” Katrina grinned.
    Ana tried to ignore their flirty banter. It was Katrina’s way and Liam’s. And she had no reason for jealousy. Katrina had never shown the least interest in Liam, nor had Liam’s eyes been all over her. But Ana couldn’t (and wouldn’t) have blamed him if he had noticed her, and that’s what made her feel like her stomach was filled with lead. Katrina was gorgeous, exotic, with more than enough years on Ana to make her much better under the blankets.
    She knew, rationally, that Liam had done nothing to cause this jealousy. But love isn’t rational.
    Katrina didn’t seem to notice her reaction, though, and simply shrugged. “Maybe you should stay here.”
    “What?” Ana asked, not sure she had heard right.
    “Oswald’s here. That means he can get to work. We need to find a cure, right? You should stay where you’re safe. You’re too important to keep putting yourself at risk. I bet Egan will let Liam and me go if you agree to stay. We can bring Adam back here and we’ll all be safe.”
    “I don’t want to be safe,” Ana said. “We’re a team, the three of us. I can’t ask you guys to go save Adam while I hide here. He’s my brother, my responsibility. It’s enough that you’re helping at all. I can’t ask that you go in my place.”
    Liam