Chapter 14 #2
“You were caught trying to take one of my brother’s wives from him. That’s not allowed. You know that. I’ve told you this before.”
“She was mine first. Olivia was my wife before the Turning. We’ve been married for two years—”
“And she chose Terry because he could protect her better than you could.”
“But I love her—”
“There’s no space for love now, boy. You’ve got to know that. You could’ve had another wife. Someone would’ve accepted you.”
The dark-haired man thrashes. “I just want Olivia.”
Darryl shakes his head. “And that’s why Terry’s asked to kick your sorry ass out of East Jersey. You won’t leave his wife alone. He has to protect her, and I’m inclined to agree. Clyde. Melvin. Give him to the lurkers.”
What?
No—
I surge forward. Maverick uses my hold on his hand to jerk me back against him.
“Don’t,” he whispers. “You can’t save him.”
“But it’s going to be dark. If the lurkers get him, he’s dead.”
And all for the crime of wanting the love he had before the world went to shit.
“I know. We still can’t save him.”
Does that mean we can’t try?
I guess so.
As I struggle to accept that—as the two men drag the kicking and screaming man out of the courtyard— Darryl finds me.
With me being the only woman present, it couldn’t have been hard, but I get the idea that it’s on purpose.
That, of everyone in East Jersey, he wanted me to witness this and, now that I have, he wants to see my reaction.
That, or he wants me on display for all of the other men he’s gathered together…
I know the shock and disgust at throwing away a survivor, of sacrificing him, is written plainly on my face.
I don’t even try to disguise it. I think my horror amuses him.
His eyes seem to brighten and, despite his bushy mustache, I swear I see his lips twitch into a satisfied grin.
He nods, proud of himself. At that moment, I’m absolutely positive it’s no coincidence that this happened tonight, the same day we arrived here.
I don’t know why, but Darryl wanted me to watch this. He wanted me to see this, the power that he has, the way that things are done in this fucking terrible place.
And I hate him for it. I hate him almost as much as I hate lurkers, and that’s saying something.
Oblivious to how I’d set him on fire with my mind if it was possible, he addresses the quiet crowd.
“Now, boys, go on. Go home to your wives, get to bed. Tomorrow’s a big day, what with fresh meat and all. We’ll start the bidding at noon.”
I don’t even get the chance to wonder what he means by “bidding” before he waves his hand and the crowd disperses.
Fresh meat… maybe they have some kind of connection with the Outside and get supplies that we don’t have in the Grave.
Bidding… I’d pay a lot for a good cheeseburger that I could be sure came from a cow.
I hope that the signal means that Mav and I can go, too. Not quite. Right as we try to sneak away, Darryl calls out, “Brooks? Hold on there. Your girl, too. Let me walk you both back to the house.”
No. No. Go back to his house?
“Maverick,” I hiss. “I thought we were leaving.”
He glances down at me, expression apologetic. “I’m so sorry.”
Not that shit again. “Mav—”
I’m on Maverick’s left. Darryl comes up beside me, sandwiching me between the two men, and I clamp my mouth shut as he brushes up against my side.
My skin crawls.
He nods at the empty stage. “Shame you had to see that,” he says, and he’s a damn liar. No way he didn’t at least arrange for that to happen because we’re outsiders. Message clear, Darryl. If he’ll do that to one of his people, he’ll do it to us, too.
“He broke the rules,” is all Maverick says.
“You understand. Good. That’ll make this easier all around.”
That’ll make what easier?”
He waits until we’re halfway back to his house before I have any idea.
“Alexandra here can spend the night with the wives I won’t be needin’.” Oh, barf. What does he do? Rotate them in and out of his bed, leaving the others in another room in the house until he requires their services? “They’ll take care of her for her big day tomorrow.”
Hang on—
“Tomorrow?” I ask softly. I want to get out of East Jersey now. I played their game. I took that tour, I ate dinner, I watched him sentence a man to die. I’m done. “What do you mean—”
Maverick speaks over me, raising his voice in an effort to drown out mine. “Does she really have to stay with the other women? I… come on, Darryl. I wanted to be able to spend one more night with her.” He lays his hand on my upper bicep, rubbing his thumb along the back. “Just in case.”
It’s like they’re speaking another language.
I don’t understand any of it. Not why Maverick is agreeing to us staying over, not why he doesn’t seem surprised by anything that’s happened since he heard that whistle, and especially not why he’s doing his best to let Darryl think there’s something going on between us.
Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have grabbed his hand, and maybe I’ve stuck to him like a shadow all day, but that’s it.
And what does just in case mean? Just in case what?
I’m not sure I want to find out.
There’s Darryl’s Santa laugh again. He rubs his belly and winks at Maverick, a secret between them.
“All right. I got ya, Brooks. I think I can arrange for you to have one more night with your girl, and I hope—if you like her as much as I think you do—you’ve got something really good to offer up tomorrow. ”
I can’t help it. I’ve been a good little girl, quiet and unassuming except for my earlier outburst, and that’s so not me. “I don’t get it,” I blurt out, and I’m the only one who doesn’t. “What is tomorrow?”
Darryl gives Maverick a sly look out of the corner of his eye.
“You mean he didn’t tell you ‘bout our rules before he brought you to us?” I guess the blank expression on my face is enough of an answer for him because he clucks his tongue.
“No wonder he tried to pass you off as a guy. But rules is rules, as I always say, and tomorrow you’ll take part of the most important one we got.
“Tomorrow, you go up on the block.”