Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176 The Underground Bunker

Finished

Briggs marched back into the secured courtyard, handing Joanna her duffle bag of jewels with a nod of

respect.

Beside him, Will stepped forward eagerly. “Boss, we’re ready to assign housing. We can use standard army blankets as curtains for temporary sectioning inside. The interior is already a lot warmer than any tent we packed.”

Joanna took the bag, relieved that the insulated walls were keeping the biting mountain wind at bay.

“Perfect, we can talk logistics and resources inside while Will handles the shipping containers,” Joanna said. Turning to Jake, Briggs, and Julian, she motioned for them to follow her. Together, the four of them headed across the clearing and descended into the warmth and safety of her underground shelter.

Jake led the way down the hatch, showing Briggs the underground bunker. Built from two massive shipping containers joined together, the subterranean space was large enough to comfortably sleep twenty people.

The interior was incredibly warm, quiet, and cozy. With its clean layout and thoughtful setup, it honestly looked like a large, modern apartment. A small toilet area was neatly sectioned off in the back, featuring an incendiary toilet and several water tanks for basic plumbing. Nearby, a tiny but fully functional kitchen came equipped with a microwave, stove top cooker, and refrigerator.

Moving to the utility area, Jake pointed out the heavy-duty generator powering the lights and the advanced air control system circulating fresh oxygen. Briggs looked around, deeply impressed by how secure and livable the hidden stronghold actually was.

Joanna walked into the cozy sleeping quarters, and a chorus of familiar voices instantly erupted. Within seconds, she was wrapped in a massive group hug by her crew.

Willow, Ryan, Danielle, Josiah, Jolie, RJ, Allen, Caleb, Kailee, and Uncle Nate all crowded around her, laughing and talking over one another in sheer excitement. Mrs. Klein, whom the entire crew affectionately called Nana, squeezed her tightly with tears of relief in her eyes. Nearby, Julian and Raven stood smiling, safely cradling Titan in her arms while the dog wagged his tail furiously. Michelle and Warren from Pharmatech even gave Joanna a warm smile.

The heavy, anxious tension from the tsunami completely melted away, replaced by the warm sound of overlapping laughter echoing off the insulated walls. For the first time in hours, everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing their leader had made it back alive.

Joanna looked around the room at the smiling faces of her crew. “Okay, everyone, we are going to hold a logistics meeting right now, and we will have dinner immediately afterward.”

She turned toward the kitchen area to delegate the prep work. “Ryan and your family, along with Willow and Nana, we will leave you here to start cooking.”

Danielle looked up from the couch, a helpful smile spreading across her face. “I can do a large barbecue for everyone if you are okay with that?”

Joanna nodded approvingly, glad to have the meal handled. “Sounds perfect. Let’s get to it.”

As the cooking squad shuffled out talking about biscuits and ribs, Joanna turned to Caleb and Kailee.

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Chapter 176 The Underground Bunker

Finished

“You two pulled through and gave great intel on the mission,” Joanna said. “It wouldn’t have been as smooth without you. This is my official invite to the team.”

Kace grinned with fierce pride, while Caleb gave a gentle, warm smile.

“Does this mean we can bond with you?” Caleb asked. “Our loyalty is to you… always.”

Joanna nodded, pulled out the Bonded Blood Partner registry, and quickly signed them in. With a quiet wave of her hand, she took the group into her pocket dimension, transporting everyone instantly into her villa’s dining area.

The moment the reality of the luxury villa registered, Julian’s eyes snapped directly to Briggs. The aloof, dominant billionaire instantly bristled with sheer indignation, his jaw tightening as he glared at the cold, powerful military commander standing in the middle of the elegant room.

“Absolutely not,” Julian barked, his voice dropping into a sharp, aristocratic snap. “Joanna, you cannot possibly tell me this overgrown G.I. Joe is allowed inside your private villa. He is going to track mud, grease, and tactical ineptitude all over the hardwood floors!”

Briggs didn’t even flinch. He slowly crossed his massive, scarred arms, looking down at Julian with deadpan amusement. “The floors look sturdy enough for boots, CEO. Though I’m more worried about you hyperventilating and ruining the air quality.”

“I do not hyperventilate!” Julian hissed, stepping forward to assert his dominance, looking every bit the furious corporate kingpin. “I manage assets. And right now, you are a massive, unvetted liability standing in my-”

“Enough!” Joanna groaned, rubbing her temples in pure exasperation.

She looked between the two of them, holding back a sigh. There was no denying that both men were incredibly attractive-Julian with his sharp, tailored elegance and dangerous charm, and Briggs with his rugged, imposing authority and quiet strength. But Joanna was trying to survive an apocalypse, not star in a reality dating show.

“Julian, shut up. Briggs, don’t bait him,” Joanna ordered, gesturing sharply toward the dining table. “Both of you sit down before I kick you both out. We have bigger problems!”

Both men sat down, shooting venomous death glares at each other from across the table. Julian smoothed his lapels with cold precision, while Briggs rested his heavy forearms on the wood, claiming his territory.

RJ and Allen moved quickly between them, passing around cups of hot tea and fresh, steaming biscuits. The comforting aroma offered a brief, absurd contrast to the thick wave of hostility in the room.

Taking her seat at the head of the table, Joanna ignored the silent warfare and opened the discussion.

“Alright, let’s look at the facts,” Joanna said, leaning forward. “We have over 130 people coming to join us. The containers have thick insulation, but they have absolutely nothing for long-term dwelling. If we don’t get wiring, plumbing, and heat, the winter they won’t survive.”

“Winter will probably be here in a few weeks,” Jake said, tapping his fingers against his tea mug. “The question is if you want to push hard to Evercrest before then, or stay put and fortify.”

Caleb leaned forward, breaking the silence. “Guys, this winter is going to be the worst one in history. The sub-arctic temperatures are a huge threat, but the mountains in Evercrest will also suffer massive

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