You just knew there was going to be one.

Due to some contractual obligations – and the writing of the Infected: Paris prequel (oh yes, that’s happening), there will probably be a longer than average gap between Roan stories. But fear not! This is not the end. Just a brief hiatus until I can get ahead of my deadlines. Thank you for your patience, and for reading. (Infected: Freefall is out November 25th, in ebook and paperback form, in case you need a fix before I return.)

17 – All That Burns Is Burning

In the car, Holden was treated to the story of Mandy and her internet boyfriend in a meandering, compulsive bout of verbal diarrhea that made him want to pull over and put her in the trunk.

It turned out internet boyfriend was “like, fat and old” (thirty), and she was pretty disgusted by him, so she took off for the Church the first chance she got. Holden had to repress the urge to gasp dramatically, and proclaim, “Someone lied? On the internet? The police must be informed!” But he didn’t, because she might think he was serious.

Anyways, she found some people at the Church who allowed her to crash at their place, and that brought them up to date. She didn’t know if she was infected or not, but she kind of “hoped so”, and she had hoped to get in on that whole tiger thing, but she never met the right people, and besides, “some kinda shithead kitty fag guy ruined it all”. Holden winced, because she was talking about Roan, and he knew damn well what was coming.

Scott turned to look back at her, and said, “Not only is he a friend of mine, but he’s the guy we work for, so shut your ignorant mouth.”

She snorted, crossing her arms over chest. “He’s a fucking traitor.”

“Say it to his face. If he doesn’t rip your arm off, I will.”

“Do me a favor,” Holden interjected, before it could get really ugly. “Explain to me how he’s a traitor when he wants to keep people from dying horribly.” (more…)