Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 104

NADINE’S P.O.V

Amy and I spent the better part of our morning peeling potatoes and speaking with the other women who made the meals.

They were uncomfortable around us at first, especially me. It was clear they didn’t trust me and a few times, I thought it would be easier on everyone if I just left them alone, but Darla kept me by her side, chatting my ear off with Amy. It was the first time in a long time that I’d felt accepted by someone not because we were on the run together, but because they simply liked me.

The other women started to loosen up as well and I soon realized the downside of living in a community like this. Everyone was in everyone’s business. Everyone knew who was dating who and everything in between.

"Is it like this at the bunkers too?" a girl asked. I think she said her name was Eve.

"You’ve never been?" I asked and she shook her head.

"I tried to get in but they refused me. They said I was too young to be of any benefit to them and I couldn’t fight so I couldn’t be a guard. It was either be someone’s whore or live out on my own. I chose to take the streets. Lilian found me not long after."

"Lilian?" I asked and she nodded.

"You haven’t met her yet, but you will soon. She gave me a home here. I owe her everything."

"I’m so sorry."

She waved me off. "Tell me about the bunkers."

"Everyone just stays on their own, I guess," I shrugged.

I didn’t know much about what life was for the workers. I’d lived such a privileged life both times that I didn’t even notice. Shame crawled up my spine. I couldn’t even meet their eyes. They already hated me. How could I tell them that I was spoiled in the bunker without making them hate me more?

"I was a guard so I don’t know much about how the cooks worked," Amy cut in, saving me from embarrassment. "I worked with two of the most disgusting men you have ever met."

I shot her a relieved look and she just gave me a small smile. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

She took control of the situation, wowing everyone with her stories. She was so compelling that people stopped to listen. It wasn’t until she made mention of her son that someone spoke.

"Where is he now?" Darla asked. "Your little boy?"

Amy stilled and for a moment, I debated jumping in to save her but she sighed. "I don’t know. He may be dead."

"I’m sorry," Darla’s voice was soft, gentle. "I didn’t know."

"it’s okay. He’s in a better place."

Darla turned to me. "You lost a baby too, didn’t you? How far long were you?"

I laughed awkwardly. "Does everyone know?"

"You did say it at the campfire." She shrugged. "It’s public knowledge now."

Everyone was now watching me. I was uncomfortable with the attention, but it took everyone’s minds off Amy who looked like she was about to cry so I decided to deal with it.

"I guess so," I shrugged. "To answer your question, I don’t know. My father and the general confirmed it. I never got to get an ultrasound or see my baby."

"Did they really try to kill you?" Eve asked, her voice barely over a whisper and I nodded. "Why would they do that? You’re Tyler’s daughter. Everyone knows who your father is. He is one of the men in charge. He could’ve stopped it."

"What makes you think he wasn’t a part of it?"

I followed the sound of the voice and found a woman standing behind us. Half of her head was shaved and she was in leather boots and a leather jacket. She had a knife strapped to her boots, hidden underneath her pants.

Behind her was another woman with soft eyes and a kind smile. She was holding a baby in her hands.

"The woman at the back is Lilian," Eve whispered to me. "The one in front is Edith. She scares me."

I could only guess why.

"Hello, Edith," Darla smiled. "Did you come here to join us?"

"Not today, Darla." Edith turned to me. "Your boyfriend can be a pain in the ass."

I stilled, not sure how to respond to that statement. "What happened?"

"You should ask him." She made her way to me, stopping right in front of where I stood.

I held her eyes. If this was an intimidation tactic, then she was going to fail woefully. I’d experienced people and things far scarier than her and I had a knife in my ends. I’d tear her femoral artery in a second if need be.

She must have seen something in my eyes that she liked because her lips curled. "Your talents are wasted here."

"Talents?"

She nodded. "You have that bloodthirsty look in your eyes. You should join my group of soldiers. Jennifer will tell you all about us."

"Let the girl breathe, Edith," Lilian sighed, making her way over to us. "Ignore her, she tried to recruit everyone who doesn’t back down from her stare. I’m Lilian."

"Nadine."

"I know who you are." She smiled at me. It wasn’t forced or fake, it was genuine. "You should head back. Your boyfriend will be there soon and I don’t think he’s in a good mood. He might need a familiar face."

"What exactly happened in that meeting room?"

She just gave me a wary smile. "I have to go feed my baby. Goodbye, Nadine."

She walked away without another word, tugging Edith along with her. I watched the two of them disappear without another word and turned to Amy who was immediately on her feet.

"I’m sorry, Darla, but I-"

She cut me off. "Go, please. You’ve helped us around here enough. Hopefully we see you tomorrow."

"Hopefully." I echoed but I was already on my way to the house.

My heart was pounding violently in my chest as I tried to think of why Rowan would be upset.

Could they have refused to help us? Did they ask us to leave? Lilian had told me goodbye. Was she alluding to something or was it just a casual statement?

Not knowing was driving me crazy.

By the time I got to the house, Rowan was at the front door. He looked like he was about to storm out and Joshua was right behind him.

"Where were you?" he asked, his voice strained as he tugged me into the house. Amy walked in behind me, shutting the door behind her. "I thought something happened."

"I was with some other women. Forget about me. What happened in there? Did they say no?"

"Yes."

"Fuck." I ran my fingers through my hair. "What now?"

"Your insane boyfriend told them no one was leaving until he got the answer he came for," Joshua cut in. "He yelled at everyone."

"Rowan!" He didn’t even look remorseful. He just shrugged. "Tell me he didn’t make matters worse."

"Quite the contrary actually. They voted on it. They were deadlocked. Two for Two, but Jennifer spoke to them and they agreed. They’re going to help us."