Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 119

NADINE’S P.O.V

We didn’t speak after that promise, not even when Ezekiel and Camden took over from us to keep watch.

I could barely bring myself to close my eyes. All I could think about was what I’d agreed to. If it came down to it, would I really be willing to put myself over everyone?

Rowan didn’t get much sleep either. I had my back to him, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire night, and the moment a little light came in through the windows, he was up.

The others met us in the living room by the time the sun was beginning to rise. Everyone looked like shit. I doubted any of us got any proper sleep through the night.

"I want to ride with the others today," I told Rowan as we got ready to leave and he stilled.

"Is there a reason why?"

"Ezekiel and Camden. I don’t know if we can trust them."

"And you want to willingly put yourself in a car with them for hours?" he asked and I nodded.

It sounded insane, but it was the only way. I couldn’t get to know them by avoiding them, and I needed to make sure that everyone on this journey had the same intentions.

Rowan didn’t seem pleased by it at all, but even he knew that I wasn’t asking permission, I was simply informing him of my plans.

"Stay close to the door. If you need to run, jump out of the fucking car."

I couldn’t hide my grin.

I made my way over to the other car and tapped Joshua on the shoulder. "We’re switching today."

His brows furrowed. "What?"

"The others are waiting for you."

I didn’t wait for him to respond before hopping into the car.

He looked confused but he didn’t try to argue, he just met up with the others.

Camden was in front of the wheel, while Ezekiel and Jennifer sat behind. They were all staring at me like I’d grown a second head.

"What?" I asked, trying not to feel self conscious.

"You’re here," Jennifer said slowly. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I wanted something different."

"Your boyfriend is in the other car."

"I’m well aware of where Rowan is. We aren’t joined at the hip."

"The only time I see him without you is at training," Ezekiel cut in. "He’s like obsessed."

I laughed. "That’s one way to put it."

"He’s not going to kill us if something bad happens to you, right?"

"Let’s hope nothing bag happens."

I’d expected there to be some kind of awkwardness or resistance, but I was shocked at how comfortable the atmosphere was.

Ezekiel carried most of the conversation. He reminded me so much of Dan. They were both free spirits and he had an infectious laugh. He made up random stories and told us fun facts as we drove. He seemed like a perfectly normal person, but that only made me more confused.

"Why both of you?" I asked suddenly after a brief moment of silence. "Why did Solomon pick you out of everyone else?"

"I see, you came here to question us," Ezekiel drawled. "I should’ve known."

I didn’t try to deny it. There was no use. "Answer the question."

"Honestly? We volunteered."

That was not what I was expecting. I glanced over at Camden who just shrugged in agreement. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would volunteer for this kind of thing? Why would anyone willingly leave their solace to go on a mission that could end with them dead?

"Life gets pretty boring after a while in there. It’s safe, it’s comfortable. For someone who lived their life searching for their next adrenaline rush, it’s lonely," Ezekiel explained. "Before all this happened, I was an influencer. I used to hike mountains and dive out of planes."

"Now you go on missions that may kill you," I cut in and he laughed.

"I want to do something with my life. I don’t just want to be a spectator."

"What about you?" I asked Camden. "Why are you here?"

He snorted. "What do you think? I’m the only other person who can stand your boyfriend. He’s not the most approachable person in the world." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

I laughed because he was right.

Rowan was an acquired taste. He wasn’t a real people person.

"Did Solomon really just come up with the offer?" Jennifer asked. "He didn’t really give me a choice. He just told me to come with him."

"He asked who wanted to go on a mission with Nadine and Caine," Ezekiel explained. "It wasn’t until after we agreed that he told us what it was and I can’t say I regret it. I get a chance to kill the bastard who is behind all this then so it was worth it."

His words shocked me, but not for the reason you’d think. "You know about the creatures?"

"That Trent created them? Yes, Solomon told us. Why?"

"Why do you think?" Camden cut in. "He wanted to explain why we should try to kill him."

I glanced over at Jennifer through the rearview mirror.

Killing Trent was not something we’d discussed, not even on our own.

"Why do you look like that?" Camden asked. "He obviously has to die. He’s done horrible things."

"I know that."

"If we leave him alive, what is to stop him from creating more? He is a danger to the world. Do you expect us to keep him alive or let him go after everything he’s done?"

"I’m not saying that."

Trent was the worst of the worst. He was the scum of the earth. After everything he’d done, he deserved to die, but I’d just never thought about the possibility of either of us being the ones to end his life.

"If it came down to it, would you be able to kill him?" Camden asked. "Can you say in good conscience that you will?"

I already knew the answer. "No."

"You have pity for him?"

"No, I don’t."

"Then why not?"

I stayed silent and turned away from them.

"I don’t know," I lied.

The truth was, I knew exactly why I wouldn’t kill him, and it had nothing to do with pity.

If anyone deserved to kill Trent, it wasn’t me, it was Rowan.