Chapter 23
Shitshow
Theo
The sun has barely risen, and this day has already gone to shit.
“Where the fuck is everyone?” Rhys snaps as his gaze sweeps across the empty room. There should be at least twenty people in here, all warmed up and ready to learn some self-defence. But this place is a ghost town.
I rub my face and stifle a groan. I dragged my ass out of bed and away from Ollie’s warm, perfect body at the crack of dawn for this?
Shit, I could have woken her up by eating that pretty pussy of hers until she came all over my face.
But nooo, I had to set a good example for the rest of Haven and teach a bunch of people how to throw a punch.
So much for that.
Footsteps echo in the room behind us. Rhys and I turn around heads, frowning when we see it’s Anthony striding towards us, a grimace on his face.
“Sorry guys,” he says as he glances around the empty room. “I forgot to tell you yesterday, but the Council put a stop to the self-defence training.”
Rhys straightens. “What? Are you serious?”
Anthony winces and nods. “Yeah. They stopped it a few days after you guys left, regardless of what I and others on the security team said.” There’s a bitterness to his voice.
“Fucking hell.” I rake a hand through my hair and shake my head.
Self-defence lessons were one of the first things we implemented at Haven after we discovered just how unprepared the population was for a fight.
That was made even more apparent after the Scourge attack.
But instead of doubling down on training like competent leaders should, the Council just decided to… stop them?
What the fuck? I knew things had gone to shit since we left, but this? It’s so much worse than we thought. What are the councillors playing at?
Rhys and I share grim looks. This isn’t going to end well for us, not when we have both the Scourge and the Lodge hunting us down.
Sighing heavily, Rhys turns to Anthony. “Well, since we won’t be training, maybe we should review security measures.”
Anthony winces, and my stomach clenches with dread. That’s not a good sign.
“What’s wrong?” I ask with a frown.
“You’re not going to like what’s been happening since you guys left,” he says, rubbing the back of his head.
“We already figured that they’ve reduced how many are in the security team,” Rhys says, waving him off.
“It’s not just that…” Anthony’s jaw clenches. “It’s best if I show you.”
He motions for us to follow and the three of us walk out of the training room and towards his office.
It’s worse than we ever could have thought.
“You mean to tell me that not only have they stopped recruitment for the security team, but all weapons training has stopped as well?” Rhys snarls as he stares down at the piece of paper in his hands.
“Pretty much,” Anthony says, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
With the morning sunlight streaming through the window, the dark circles around his eyes and the paleness of his skin are more apparent.
As head of security in Rhys’s absence, all of this bullshit fell on him, and it’s obviously weighing heavily on him.
“I got that order a week after you left, and no matter what I said, Elsa wouldn’t be swayed.
She said there were better things to do than play with guns. ” Disgust colours his tone.
“Elsa ordered this?”
“I’m not sure. She was the only one I could talk to about it, and the other councillors didn’t seem too fussed about it, either.”
My brow furrows. None of this makes any sense. “These people do realise there are Scourge and Lodge bastards practically salivating at the thought of getting inside Haven?”
Anthony shrugs. “I think they’re relying on the wall and gate to keep us safe and are ignoring that the Scourge have already got past it once.”
“This needs to be fixed. Immediately.” Rhys shoves himself away from the desk and turns towards the door.
“There’s no point talking to the Council, Rhys,” Anthony calls after him. “I’ve already tried multiple times.”
“Who says I’m going to them?” he throws over his shoulder with a determined look on his face.
“I’m the one in charge of security protocols, not them.
That was the agreement we made when we first arrived and they asked for my help.
I’ll be damned if I put the people I care about in danger because of their incompetence. ” He stalks out of the office.
Anthony and I exchange alarmed looks before hurrying after him.
He’s already in the communications room, barking orders into a radio when we catch up with him. He looks up when we enter.
“I want everyone on the supply team that’s here in the conference room in the next twenty minutes.” With his orders given, he dismisses us and focuses back on the radios.
Anthony shakes his head as the two of us hurry out of the room. “He’s really on one today,” he mutters. “Was he this intense when you guys were on the road?”
“A little. Mostly towards Ollie.” My lips twitch as I remember the many arguments the two had had during our journey together.
Anthony hums. “I know that look. You’re gone for that woman, aren’t you?”
I don’t even try to deny it. “Completely and I’m pretty sure Alex is, too.” I’ve seen the way he looks at her. Hell, I’m pretty sure Rhys is right there with us, although he’s still fighting his way back into her good graces.
“I don’t know how you guys do it, sharing her between you. I could never do that; I’m possessive as fuck.”
“It’s easier than you think, especially with her. She’s… special.” My lips curve upward and I know I have a sappy smile on my face. “Besides, between the three of us, we’ll have a better chance of keeping her safe. God knows she needs it, considering how she constantly finds herself in trouble.”
“Three of you?” Anthony cocks a brow. “Rhys is with her, too?”
“Kind of. They’re mostly just dancing around each other at the moment. He fucked up and now he’s having to make amends.”
“Ah, yeah. That sounds like Rhys.”
“You fucks know I can hear you, right?” the man in question grouses from the comms room. “I gave you orders and I’m pretty sure they weren’t stand outside the room and gossip like little old ladies. Move your asses. Shit needs to get done.”
Anthony and I stare at one another for a second before we both burst out laughing. Rhys is still grumbling, calling us assholes as the two of us stride out of the building.
“You take left, I take right?” Anthony asks.
“Sounds good. See you in twenty minutes.”
We part ways to round up the supply teams.
I’m still chuckling to myself as I knock on the respective caravans where the team members live.
Some come easily, but others are reluctant, even complaining about the early hour.
Those are the newer guys, the ones who’ve only been out once or twice—if that—and you can tell.
Early mornings are a normal occurrence when you’re outside the walls and can sometimes be the difference between life and death.
By the time I’m done rounding everyone up, the sun has fully risen, shining brightly in the surprisingly clear sky. Haven has yet to wake up, the paths deserted as I make my way back to the main building.
Upon entering the conference room, it quickly becomes apparent that Rhys has called a bigger meeting that I first thought.
Not only are the supply teams here, but so is every single security team member, including the ones who’ve been reassigned to other jobs.
And there’s even Simon, Rachel, and Andy, who’ve all expressed interest in joining the security team, standing off to the side with matching frowns.
Anthony stands at the front of the room with Rhys, both of them whispering to one another as they wait for everyone to file in.
“What’s this about?” Simon asks quietly as he and Andy approaches me. Rachel hangs back, talking with a couple of security guys as she eyes their guns with jealousy.
I don’t know either man very well, but they both seem pretty solid.
Simon is a former security guy who’s been steady and clear-headed in tough situations, and from what Rachel and Ollie have told me, Andy is ex-military.
Although you wouldn’t think that looking at him now with his bushy beard, unruly hair and huge stature that make him look like a mountain man.
“Rhys is pissed at how the Council is running things, so he’s going above their heads and putting things back to the way they should.
Especially since we not only have the Scourge to worry about now, but the Lodge guys, too.
” I keep my voice low, but that doesn’t stop a few guys from flicking curious glances toward me.
Andy nods. “Good. I’ve been worried about how things have been handled here, but didn’t want to say anything.
Not after how one of the Council people reacted when Rhys’s sister called her out for crippling our security.
” He winces at the memory. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman turn that shade of purple before. ”
“Damn. I would have loved to have seen that,” I say, just imagining the indignant look on Elsa’s face. If she’s the driving force behind this bullshit, she deserves so much more than to be called out and embarrassed in front of people. She deserves to be removed from her position.
“It really was something,” Andy says with a low whistle.
“Is everyone here?” Rhys’s voice rings out through the room, immediately silencing the chatter.
When no one speaks out, he nods. “Good. I’ll cut to the chase; all changes the Council have made in my absence are to be immediately revoked and ignored.
I didn’t assign them as head of security, and I don’t think they’re for the good of this community. ”
Several people murmur and whisper in shock, but the noise quickly dies down as he continues.
“Everyone who was part of security and wants to come back can re-join and old rotas are being put back into place until I can update them. Training will happen as it did before. This includes weapons training and early morning training. I want word spread about that to the residents; I won’t have Haven falling to enemy hands because we’re incompetent. ”
He outlines several more security measures and changes that he’s implementing, before turning towards the supply teams.
“I want a list of everyone on supply teams, including which team they’re a part of and when and where you’re going.”
Several from the team nod, although a few look like they’ve just swallowed something sour. They must be the newer guys since I don’t recognise any of them.
Rhys asks them for more reports and orders them to join in for certain training sessions with the security team. Those sour looking assholes look down right mutinous by the end. I make a note of them to bring to Rhys after the meeting.
Finally, Rhys addresses the room. “Any questions?”
No one replies.
“You’re dismissed, then.”
There’s a flurry of movement as everyone eagerly heads to the door, no doubt desperate for breakfast. I wish I could go with them or leave to see Ollie, but I have a feeling Rhys will want to discuss more things with me and Anthony.
“I’m taking your girlfriend for breakfast,” Rachel says as she walks past me.
“You’ll have to fight Alex for that privilege.”
“With how good you guys are at sharing? Doubt I’ll need to.” She waves her fingers at me before disappearing out of the room.
Surprisingly, Simon and Andy don’t follow and wait beside me as Rhys and Anthony walk over to us.
“Good to see you two here,” Rhys says as he greets the other two men.
“Wouldn’t miss it, considering I want on the security team,” Simon says.
“Same, although I mostly came here to offer my help and experience.” Andy claps Rhys’s shoulder.
“What kind of experience do you have?” Rhys asks him with a cocked brow.
“Spent fifteen years in the British navy, ten of those as an officer.”
“Impressive. What rank?”
Andy smirks. “Commander. Until I decided I couldn’t handle the paperwork and bullshit and retired to become a goat farmer.”
“Well shit. Were you in charge of a boat?” I ask.
His eyes narrow. “Ship, not a boat, and yes, I did. It’s not as fun as you think it is.”
Rhys snorts. “Now you sound like my old man.” There’s a flash of pain on his face, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
Both his parents are dead now, with his dad dying of cancer just after he got into the military and his mum dying not long after from an undiagnosed heart attack.
It was a rough time for him, but unlike me, he had the structure of the military keeping him from going off the rails.
The same couldn’t be said for Harriet, who was an absolute menace to society until Matt came along.
I reach out and squeeze his shoulder in silent support.
Rhys clears his throat. “Consider yourself hired, Andy.” He holds his hand out and the two men shake on it. “Let’s talk more in Anthony’s office,” he says as he drops his arm and inclines his head towards the door.
Our small group files out of the conference room and into the empty corridor. Unfortunately, things have gone too well, and karma is about to come and bite us in the ass in the form of a fuming Charles.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demands as he strides towards us, his face already red.
Rhys sighs and steps towards the man. “I just held a meeting to right all the wrongs you and the other councillors have done since I left Haven.”
“What?” Charles stares at the other man with a mixture of shock and confusion. “What are you on about, Rhys?”
Rhys’s back tenses, and I can tell that he’s having to stop himself from ripping Charles a new one.
“I’m talking about the changes that have been made that make Haven vulnerable to attack.
The crippled security team, the lack of training for both security and residents, the inexperience of supply teams…
And that’s just what I’ve found as of this morning.
” The more he talks, the sharper his tone becomes.
Charles’s jaw clenches and his eyes tighten. “While I’m sure those are cause for concern, you can’t go behind the Council’s back and implement your own changes willy-nilly. There’s a process.”
“You misunderstand me, Charles.” Rhys’s voice is deceptively calm as he gets in his face and looks him in the eye.
“I’m not enacting changes; I’m simply reverting the ones you made.
And if you want Haven safe from the Scourge and their allies, I suggest you let me do my job.
” He shoves his way past the older man and strides down the corridor.
It’s times like this that I wish the world hadn’t ended so I could give him a mic to drop. Unfortunately, he’ll have to settle for the shocked, indignant look on Charles’s face as the rest of our group hustles after him.