Assault and Prepper: A Survivalist Romance Cozy Mystery: Apocalypse Girl Series

By E.R. Hepner

She planned for every possible apocalyptic event—except for in the event that her brother was a murderer.

Wilhelmina Romia is used to picking up the pieces for her little brother, Owen, but when he’s found passed out next to his one night stand’s dead body, Willa undergoes every discomfort to clear his name. Even if that includes making a deal with longtime family friend and detective, Levi, who she’s been arranged to marry since they were children. She knows Levi will cross lines to help her family—but will he get a hold of her heart?Torn between an old world life that her parents expect and a new future that could include the destruction of modern society, Willa puts all her tactical skills to use on the trail to clear her brother’s name.One body becomes a string of bodies. And being prepared for the end of days just might not be enough to stop the threat that’s on their radar.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elena K. Salvatore
• Release date: Sep 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005156152

Book preview

Chapter One

Levi, I refuse to talk about this stupid betrothal tradition. Haven’t you had enough? I have to lock up before my mom knocks on my door again. Owen flaked on the family business and yet everyone is so shocked. You have bad timing and we can pick up this lively debate tomorrow.

With a roll of my eyes—knowing my betrothed would be front and center in my family’s pizzeria on his lunch break tomorrow—I tried my best to shove my cordless phone in the cradle. His gruff voice was still transmitting over the phone line.

A light twinge of guilt made me hesitate. Was hanging up on a detective considered illegal? Sure, it was rude. But the brute wasn’t getting the elaborate picture I’d been finger painting him for years. One where a date with me was nowhere in the cards, even with our crushing parental expectations and old world, Romanian pledges.

Arranged marriage was a nice little custom my parents had brought back with them from the old country—but they hadn’t exactly checked it out with me first. Still, my intended was nothing if not persistent, despite the fact that he knew my parents old world lifestyle wasn’t what I wanted for my future. We had been at this song and dance for as long as our parents had been best friends and I had been old enough to understand our predicament.

You almost hung up on me again, didn’t you? His voice wavered as I put the phone back to my ear. You really have to work on your impulse control.

With a frustrated grunt I looked longingly back at the survival supplies still spread out on my dining room table. There was no way I was getting to everything on my list tonight. But first up on my list was to get the oh so helpful detective off my phone line so I could pick up where my baby brother had left off back at the shop before my parents got wind of his massive error in judgement.

Again. God, I wished it was a new occurrence.

I promise you can keep up the wooing, Levi. So long as you don’t expect me to give you a positive answer. Will that hold you over for another seven hours while I figure this all out and get some sleep?

Is that the reward I get for doing my job and calling you when I saw that the pizzeria lights were still on after closing time?

Generally, there isn’t a reward. It’s called being a good Samaritan.

Well, I’m a little more selfish than that, Levi chuckled.

I hadn’t anticipated a call from Levi when it was close to midnight and way past my bedtime. I was midway through packing and sorting new items I’d gotten for my bug-out bag—a bag filled with necessities in case the need arose for me to jet because of a national emergency or an apocalypse. And now everything had to put on the back burner for someone else’s needs. I bit my lip and started pacing across the small square footage of my kitchen.

I know, trust me, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, switching the phone from one ear to the other one. I was doing other things, you know.

Timing yourself again?

Despite myself, I smiled and shook my head. The guy paid attention, I had to give him that one. Though our parents were best friends, we merely ran in the same family circles, we hadn’t spent any real time together since we were thirteen and Levi was still collecting baseball cards while I learned to field dress a deer.

Doing a bug out bag drill. Though I don’t know why I’m telling you.

Levi’s chuckle slipped down my spine through the phone line, a tempting sound like caramel dripping down an ice cream sundae. My eyes fluttered closed and I realized I had stopped moving before I quickly course corrected to hover over the table, hitting the alarm button on my phone to stop the timer dead in its tracks.

Much like I would be in there were a nuclear war tomorrow and I didn’t get my bag time down to below a minute.

I’d pre-loaded my bag with medical supplies, two of every kind of pharmaceutical imaginable, and a fold up bag that could hold over eighty ounces of water. My newer, slim knife, a set of flares, and my high-tech water purifier were still abandoned on the table in front of me where I’d left them and the timer was still ticking away on my cell phone.

I always timed my packing sessions. Better to know to the second how long it would take me to get out of my apartment with everything I needed to survive for at least a month before I could make the trek to a secondary safe location. There was still a whole roster of drills I undertook every night to stay prepared and up to date should a crisis arise at the drop of a hat.

But our conversation had devolved into a relationship talk. Must be Tuesday.

So are we good?

I glanced longingly at the To-Do list taped to my fridge. There was no way I’d get to finish my nightly drill for the best space optimization in my getaway bag. Hell, I could completely forget my self-defense drills. The idea of missing my sit-ups made me cranky.

I haven’t decided yet, it would be criminal to hang up on me so soon.

Oh God, That was a horrible pun. Levi…

The only reason I took the gig at the family pizzeria in the first place was for easy money to provide for my first love: survival. Didn’t matter what I was doing during the day so long as it lined my pockets with money that would buy me all the supplies I needed for when money and careers meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Seriously, it’s late. Whatever points you have on the merits of old school wooing can wait until tomorrow, can’t they? I shouted toward the phone, blowing up a breath into my fringed red bangs as I rummaged for my coat in the dinky coat closet of my above garage apartment. Once I’d slipped into my coat, I shoved the phone between my shoulder and neck.

Will you be in a better mood tomorrow, Willa?

Probably the same mood I’m always in when my brother drops the ball and I have to open and close the store in the same day, even though I’m not getting paid for the extra hours. It’s not like you don’t know my habits, stalker.

Levi’s chuckle rumbled through the line and I pressed my lips together with a silent sigh, until I clutched the phone tighter, fingers cramping from the shot of pain through my muscles. Part of me wished he’d stop embarrassing himself. Another part of me knew my parents would have strong words to say to me about hanging up on a detective with the Tempest, Pennsylvania PD—and in their delusional fantasies, their future son-in-law.

You never make this easy, you know that? I spoke, all defeated and drained of bluster.

That’s because you like a challenge. I only aim to give you what you want.

Chapter Two

With a few, silent inner grumbles I slammed the door of my vintage, 70’s Volkswagen Square Back and mentally prepared myself for the short fifteen minute ride through Tempest.

Honestly, I didn’t really need to concentrate. The route was simple enough and I didn’t think I’d run into so much as a stray dog this late at night in my sleepy, suburban town.

But out of habit and to keep my visual skills spry when I pulled onto Main Street I kept my eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. In the inky blackness the line of trees dipped and swayed with the winter wind, my stomach knotting for no good reason other than the ominous clouds sweeping over my town.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But I couldn’t shake the intuition niggling low in my gut.

Three feet down Piper Lane and I saw the reason for Levi’s hubbub—Romia Pizza was clearly open for business—judging by the lights blazing bright through the windows and illuminating the whole block.

I pressed my lips tight together expecting a fun-filled family confrontation of epic proportions with my baby brother.

When I pulled in front of the pizzeria the front door was slightly ajar.

Jesus Christ, Owen. Really? Way to wave a giant red flag saying ‘we have money, come take it’.

Sure, I highly doubted anyone in Tempest was out to rob anyone, but there wasn’t any need for temptation.

I cut the engine, strode to the front door, and pushed it the rest of the way open with a squint into the brightness.

Clearly nothing had been touched since we’d technically closed at ten, because the tables were still littered with crumpled napkins and sauce stains.

You’ve got to be kidding me, baby bro.

With a deep breath I closed my eyes and tried to keep my patience.

The industrial salt and pepper shakers were knocked on the floor. A couple of chairs were lying on their sides. And the place looked like an overall mess, which wasn’t shocking given it was put under Owen’s care for the night.

He’d left it for me to do—like everything else.

I shook out my limbs trying to stave off the growing knots in my shoulders before swooping up the huge shiny bags of refuse waiting to make friends with the dumpster out back.

Thank God, no one was in the shop to watch me huff and puff my way to the back door holding bulging trash bags. I shoved the door open with my lower back and kicked an industrial box of yeast in between the door and the jamb to fill the gap, so I didn’t get locked out.

Not as though that wasn’t a routine mistake or anything.

I strained around the mess of the pizzeria as I pivoted on my ballerina flats, immediately hit with a blast of arctic air that stole my breath away.

A high pitched chirp came out of nowhere—then my back pocket in my jeans vibrated. I jumped a foot, dropped both bags in the back alley, and scrambled to get the phone out of my back pocket and away from my butt.

Without checking caller ID I swiped my finger across the screen. I held a vague hope that my brother would actually call with an answer as to why he’d left me to fend for myself tonight.

Even if it wasn’t him, my parents always called during closing time with a list of instructions.

Whoever was closing was required to call back as soon as every item was checked off and we were on our way home. Dear brother of mine hadn’t called, so our mother was probably having a fit.

Hello? I squinted out into the dark parking lot, kicking a rock.

You didn’t set the alarm. Levi’s voice hit me like a slap in the face. I rolled my shoulders staring into the inky blackness praying for a patience that had never been a part of my genetic makeup.

An olive complexion, a dire need for hair waxing, and a penchant for home cooked meals, yes.

Patience? Not even close. If it were anyone else on the phone…

I was in the middle of taking out the tra… My voice trailed off, chest tight while my gaze cut to the small strip of pavement under the overhead light in the farthest reaches of the parking lot.

My brother’s SUV was running, the back door half open…

Owen? I whispered, barely a breath of sound. What the hell.

A sense of unease made my thoughts float out of logical order and the world swam for a snap second.

I blinked. No, still there. Nothing had changed.

I was vaguely aware that I was holding the phone at my side as I sprinted toward my brother’s car ignoring the harsh whip of wind across my bare skin.

But goose bumps crawled along my flesh for a whole other reason.

An echo of my thrumming pulse rang out through my whole body. Until I was only vaguely aware of Levi’s voice, loud, on my cell phone.

But I only shook my head.

There was no voice left for the image in front of my eyes, for the possibilities that made my stomach turn while my throat squeezed tight.

Stuck in place, I couldn’t take another step forward.

Through a sheen of sharp, burning tears I looked at my brother Owen’s monster of an SUV with the rear door cracked open—and his large, piano player fingers sticking out from the gap, along with most of his arm.

Blood was smeared on his palm, in a small pool on the tarmac in a tacky stain.

My cell fell from my hand.

Shock tripped the wires in my brain until I was utterly useless, only mildly conscious of the fact that Levi wasn’t talking anymore and I was screaming my little brother’s name until my voice was hoarse from strain.

Chapter Three

A tingle threaded up the nape of my neck and I shuddered, hands clutched into tight fists at my side.

With a small nod of resignation, I numbly stepped forward.

Owen? O…wen, hon…ey? My voice cracked and caught, trembling fingers reaching for the door to yank it back so I could get a better view. Please, please…no…

That last was an afterthought while my scattered brain put together the horrifying puzzle in front of my face.

The car door creaked backward. I flinched, shutting my eyes, and looking away at the last second.

A steady burn of rage twitched through my muscles until I blinked, allowing the light to illuminate my little brother’s curled up form in the backseat of his car.

His face was buried in the seat, black hair sticking out all over and shrouding his profile. I couldn’t tell from my angle whether his chest was moving, had to get closer. The idea made me clutch out for the car with my other hand as my knees went weak.

With a sick detachment I watched while my fingers inched closer toward my little brother’s face.

If he was cold…then…my fingers were seconds away from his cheek.

Owen jerked up in the seat as if his body was connected to strings, whipping his hair out of his eyes.

What the hell? he growled, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. What are you doing here, Wilhelmina?

I took a step back and stopped breathing, covering my mouth.

Seriously, Owen? I thought you were dead! I can’t believe you!

When he moved to jerk his bloody hand across his face I snatched away his wrist at the last second. A cursory examination proved it didn’t look as if he was hurt.

What did you do to yourself, dufus? Where are you cut?

Huh? Owen shook off the sleep, slicking his tongue across his dry lips.

There was nothing. No wound. Even though I forced him to let me check.

While he scrambled away from my motherly examination it didn’t escape me that my brother’s pupils were the size of dimes, huge in comparison to his fawned over slate gray eyes.

Damn you, Owen! I pushed him until he all but toppled into the backseat. I thought you’d kicked this? After everything… My indignation sputtered out into an acute disappointment that on the heels of my adrenaline rush made my head pound, my heart sick for him. I let out a slow breath and spoke through my teeth. Go clean yourself up and figure out where you’re hurt, I’ll take care of everything else. As always.

I didn’t turn around to see if he followed my orders. I walked to the back door and kept doing what needed to be done. My dropped cell phone wasn’t going anywhere—the sooner I got done with the trash, the sooner I could keep an eye on my baby brother.

My hands blindly grabbed the forgotten garbage bags and I trudged toward the dumpster shrouded in darkness while I muttered curses under my breath. I really shouldn’t have been shocked. He’d only been sober for, well, I could count the months on one hand.

But it had seemed…I shook my head, resolved not to get into it anymore.

Owen’s demons were his companions, not mine.

I’d spent too many years clawing him back from his pill addiction and I wasn’t about to sink back down with him again.

A bag slipped from my still trembling hand, but I left it, moving the top of the dumpster until it leaned back against the brick wall. My nose wrinkled at the foul stench, worse than usual. Maybe Dad threw out another bad batch of sardines.

In the distance the sharp pierce of sirens roused me away from my train of thought. My head was thick with cobwebs tonight, too much to mull over while I was trying to focus on the damn reality of my life.

With a staggered inhale I threw the bags into the recesses. At least that was dealt with now.

But why were the sirens getting closer? I swallowed, sniffing my clothes. God, what was the disgusting scent clinging to me? It was worse than trash, like a giant burp from Hell. The top of the dumpster should have been enough to mask the horrible smell if it was coming from me.

A flash of light in the corner of my eye.

Light? Eh, probably from the streetlamp.

Am I ever getting home tonight? I grumbled before backtracking to pick up my phone that I’d left over by Owen’s SUV.

There it was again. Another flash.

Unable to ignore the weird signal I forced my feet straight ahead away from the pure oxygen until I had a good view behind the dumpster—downwind. Which didn’t help my revulsion. I squinted noticing a weird rattle happening against the bottom of the metal where the dumpster met the wall.

My senses went on full alert and my legs turned to jelly while I maneuvered into a crouch.

Owen, you better be coming back! I called out though I couldn’t get my voice an octave higher than a damn squeak. There!

The thing lit up again, enough to see the phantom object was a phone. Weird place for it, but who was I to judge? Weird seemed to follow me around tonight. Maybe we should get BFF charm bracelets.

After a couple seconds I figured Owen wasn’t coming out to help me move the dumpster. Another reason to be thankful that I hit the gym as a part of my end of the world survival training because this stupid metal box had nothing on me. Two shoulder heaves and it was away from the wall.

But my main concern was no longer the damn phone.

The woman was akimbo, human legs and arms not made to bend that way, bleeding from a gash in the back of her skull.

I sunk to my knees on the chilled pavement. My throat nearly closed as I watched my shaking hand reach for the pulse at her neck.

Nothing. There was nothing. No movement, no heartbeat.

My jaw dropped as the goriest scream I’d ever heard burst from my lips at the same time that a cop car came to a screech in the back parking lot.

All I wanted to do was get home.

That wasn’t happening tonight.

Chapter Four

Willa, are you okay? Levi’s voice washed over me, his heavy hand on my shoulder as he tried to pry me up from the icy tarmac beneath my knees. Come on, you have to get back, okay, honey?

I’m sure he was as sweetly persuasive as possible, but in my mind only anger registered kicking the shock out of my head until my whole body pulsed with heavy rage.

I got it, I snapped, allowing him to lead me over to his squad car only noticing at the last second