Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 74

CAINE’S P.O.V

"Your girlfriend is really nice," Amy said as we walked back to the bunker. "I met her earlier in the day."

She’d joined us before the sun set. We spent the entire night keeping watch together and she was choosing to mention this now.

"Where did you see her?"

"In the nursery. I went to check on my son and she was there. Do you have any idea why?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "If you’re both looking to start a family-"

I cut her off. "I don’t talk about my personal life, Amy, you know better than that."

She just shrugged. "It was worth a shot."

I could’ve let the conversation end there. I was going to find Nadine soon anyway, but I had to submit my weapons first and get checked for any cuts or bites. That could take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and I was dying to know if they had spoken.

"How did she seem?" I asked and it took Amy a second to realize I was talking to her. "Was she okay?"

"She was. She recognized me immediately. You’ve spoken to her about me, haven’t you?"

I shrugged. "I don’t hide shit from her."

"I think it’s cute. She’s a bit isolated like you, and she looked worried about something. Is everything okay?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, everything is fine."

"She did ask me a question though. She asked if I’d have my son again if I had the chance. I thought it was a weird thing to ask. Is she-"

"Don’t."

She nodded slowly, swallowing a knot in her throat. Amy wasn’t stupid, she had her head in the clouds most days and she was a bit eccentric, but she was brilliant, she was strong and she definitely knew how to add things up.

She stuck by my side, saying nothing as we were checked over by some other guards. I relinquished my weapons, exhausted and ready to slide in bed with Nadine. I’d ask about her conversation with Amy tomorrow.

"For what it’s worth," Amy began as I walked her towards the guards quarters. "I think you’ll be a great dad."

I just hummed, not wanting to confirm her suspicions.

I waited until she’d gone into her room before finally heading towards mine. I was on the hallway when I noticed Joshua walking towards me. I saw him first, but as soon as he saw me, he rushed over. The panic in his eyes set me on edge.

"Where’s Nadine?" he asked, grabbing my shoulders and my brows furrowed.

"What do you mean? I just got here. I’ve been at patrol all day, remember?"

He cursed, releasing my shoulders with a sigh. "I’m sorry. I didn’t see her for lunch or dinner and I came to bring her some food but she didn’t answer her door. I assumed she was just hiding and left it outside but something felt off. I came by this morning and saw that she didn’t touch the food."

He’d barely finished his sentence when I pushed past him and rushed towards the room. My hands were shaking as I unlocked the door, praying to everything I knew that she was fine. The lights were off, and I didn’t bother turning it on, as soon as I saw the empty bed... I knew.

I turned to Joshua. "When last did you see her?"

"The last time I saw her was with you. No one has seen her since."

"Someone has. Come with me."

He followed behind me as I rushed back towards the guards quarters. I could feel people staring at me in confusion as I weaved through the halls. Amy was in one of the few single rooms because of her son.

I banged on her door. "Amy!"

It only took a few seconds for her to pull it open. "What the fuck is going on? My son was asleep."

"I’m sorry, I need your help. Where did Nadine go after the nursery?"

She shrugged. "That was yesterday."

"I need you to remember, please."

She ran her hands through her hair with a sigh. "She didn’t say, but she looked worried. I saw her go down the hall. I don’t know where she was going, I’m sorry. You could ask her dad for access to the cameras on that hallway."

"Fuck!"

"What’s wrong?"

I waved her off. "Don’t worry about it. Go inside."

"You can’t tell me to go inside after banging on my door like that. What the hell is going on? I can help."

"She’s missing."

"Nadine?" she asked and I nodded.

"I have to go."

"I’ll let you know if I find anything!" she called out, but I was already gone.

I knew what I had to do next.

Nadine’s dad would rather chew on his own foot than help me, even if it meant screwing over his daughter in the process. I knew people like him, and I couldn’t put her at risk like that.

"Go to her dad," I said to Joshua. "Find out where she went."

"Where are you going?"

"Don’t worry about me."

He grabbed my arm. "I’m sure she’s just somewhere in the bunker. She couldn’t have left without anyone seeing her. Don’t do anything stupid-"

"Give me advice when the woman carrying your child is missing." I shrugged off his hold. "If you want to help Nadine, just do what I ask and fuck off."

I didn’t wait for him to respond before storming off.

I’d only been to the office once, but I remembered the way. I memorized it that day so I wouldn’t accidentally stumble upon it again. I’d done everything to ensure that I didn’t see my father again and yet, I was walking straight into his space.

If there was anyone who could find Nadine... it was him.

I got to the double doors separating my father from the rest of the world and was met with two soldiers.

"Turn around, soldier," one of them said, his voice cold but I ignored him.

"Tell the General I’m here to see him."

He snorted. "The General doesn’t take instructions from mere soldiers."

"Maybe he’ll take them from his son." Their smiles fell instantly. "Call him, now."

They sent wary looks to each other, a silent conversation passing between them. I thought they’d put up more of a fight, but one of them ducked into the room. It felt like hours before he finally returned.

His expression was cold. "The General says he has no sons, but he says you should come in."

He held the door open and I brushed past him.

I heard it slam shut behind me, but I ignored it, taking in the room in front of me. At the last bunker, he lived in his office. This time however, he’d done an upgrade. The living area was easily twice the size of mine and I could only imagine that the bedroom was also as massive.

He lived in luxury and on another day, I’d have taken offense to that, but right now, I had more pressing matters at hand.

"I thought you didn’t want to be my son." The General’s voice came from the door to the bedroom. I watched him step out, his hands crossed over his chest. "You cannot pick and choose when you see fit to claim me."

"I’m not doing that."

"Then why are you here?"

I swallowed down the stint of pride. "I need your help."

He stared at me for a long moment before laughing. "With what?"

"Nadine is missing."

"She’s probably somewhere-"

"She’s not. She wouldn’t just walk off without saying something. Someone has hurt her. I’ll do anything, please."