Chapter 1 #3
We’ve had a handful of short, I’ll call them professional conversations since our group joined The Cove.
I was introduced to him as a part of the security team, so our interactions have mostly been in connection with that—questions about our security measures, his suggestions for improvements (which I’m annoyed to say were good ones)—stuff like that.
He’d quietly offered me a place at FOS after one of our meetings.
Offered, not demanded. I didn’t know what the hell to make of that, and of course wouldn’t go there in a million years, so I’d declined as politely as I’m capable of.
Which is to say, not very—but he’d only smiled and nodded, as if he couldn’t have forced me if he’d wanted to.
He hasn’t brought it up since, but every time our paths do cross, he gives me a look that tells me the offer stands and I give him one back saying my answer is the same.
Then, the matter is dropped. It’s weird as hell, honestly, but I try not to think about it too much.
I try not to think of Austin Traeger at all, really.
Because I can admit that deep down, in a dark, dangerous part of myself, I know that some of my dislike for him is because we’re too similar, that Traeger is everything I could have easily become if it hadn’t been for Jonah.
I’ve never been much for thirsting for power, but…
I could see how pain and hatred could drive me to become like him, to lose all my humanity and bring as many people with me as I could.
Except I wouldn’t try to be likable in the process and could do a hell of a lot more damage than he could ever imagine.
I shake the thoughts away, focusing on what’s going on now.
Whenever Traeger makes his rounds to the settlements, his men come in first and sweep for weapons, confiscating every single one until he’s gone.
Weapons aren’t allowed for anyone within the walls except for those on guard duty, and everything is supposed to be stored in our armory—aka the garage of one of the houses—whenever it isn’t in use, so really it’s mostly just double checking no one smuggled anything they shouldn’t have, which is a very punishable offense, and securing everything from the guards.
His own men take watches whenever they’re here.
But Traeger has his men sweep every house, just in case. He knows all too well that some people would gladly sacrifice the hostages in his compound in order to take him out. The greater good and all that.
Sure enough, three of Traeger’s men arrive within a few minutes to disarm the group from the run. I endure the frisking with gritted teeth and glare as I hand over my pistol, rifle, and knives.
“I’m going to want this back,” I say to the man now loaded down with my arsenal as I toss my favorite hunting knife on the top of the pile.
He’s tall and leanly muscled, with dark brown skin and a shaved head.
He actually smiles at me in response, showing off very nice pearly whites and dimples, and inclines his head.
I quirk a brow in surprise. This guy actually seems alright, especially compared to some of the other members of Traeger’s personal security detail that are straight assholes.
He has a genuine warmth about him that I don’t expect, and when he inclines his head, I narrow my eyes.
He looks so familiar…but I have no idea why.
I know I’ve never seen him on these visits before…
but I shrug, deciding to deal with it later. I’ll figure it out eventually.
I walk away, feeling uneasy and naked without any kind of weapon within arm’s reach.
Knowing that I can’t actually use one on Traeger or his men even if I had one doesn’t make me feel any better.
Another settlement had tried to fight back in the early days of Traeger’s reign of terror, and it had ended…
badly. Really fucking badly. He’d wiped the entire thing off the map and delivered heads on pikes to the other settlements as a friendly reminder of what would happen if they ever tried something similar.
Even still, I know there are some people who would risk retaliation if it meant killing him—if they knew where the hell to find him most of the time, that is.
No one actually knows where Traeger’s settlement, FOS, is.
People have tried to follow him, but all attempts have failed.
So, a direct assault on him and his is out of the question—and really stupid, to be quite honest. He’s got a crazy big arsenal, more hidden outposts keeping eyes on all of the roads between the settlements and the surrounding areas than anyone can possibly imagine (from what I gather, anyway), and the ability to crush anyone who tries anything to absolute dust.
And the truth of the matter is that a lot of people don’t actually mind having him in charge, even seem happy to have someone else making the decisions for them.
They either turn a blind eye to his methods or just accept them, figuring this is just the way of the world now.
They’re just grateful for the safety of the walls and the ability to finally live after so long of simply surviving, and, really, I can’t blame them for it.
Wasn’t I just longing to get back to the safety of The Cove when we were on the road?
And, as much as I hate to admit it, things aren’t all that bad under him anymore.
The heads on pikes and mutilated corpses were things that were more prevalent in the early days.
They still happen on occasion, of course, and members of other settlements are still taken as leverage, but overall, we’re mostly left to our own devices.
Traeger’s men check in periodically, aiding in supply exchanges and stepping in if there are any problems, but Traeger himself rarely visits these days.
So, it’s mostly easy to ignore everything he’s done, especially if you want to ignore it. Ignorance is bliss and all that.
Another group of Coveys—the terrible monomer we use for ourselves—come to take care of unloading the vehicles and inventorying the haul and I sigh when I meet Jonah’s eyes.
He’ll need to join the rest of the Council and see why Traeger is here.
I don’t think we’re in trouble or we probably would have been met by a small army of Traeger’s men when we arrived, but there has to be a reason why he made the trip himself this time.
Jonah had quickly become one of the leaders of the settlement after our arrival, accepting a position on the Council, and I hadn’t been surprised in the slightest. He just has that way about him.
He’s always been one of those people that make other people feel at ease and safe.
People just instinctively trust him, and he’s ridiculously smart and resourceful, and always keeps a level-head and thinks things through.
I’m more of a shoot first, ask questions later kind of person, so it’s no surprise I wasn’t asked to join.
Jonah is the reason we’d survived the initial wave of panic and violence that spread through the world in those early days of the end.
He would argue and say it was me and my special skill set, or that we’d done it together at the very least, but I know the truth: he had saved me in untold ways when I was a walking zombie of sorts myself, and he’s the only reason we’re both still standing.
If not for him, I’d be six feet under or a walking pyre of vengeance, burning everything in my path to the ground.
“Want me to come with?” I offer. I won’t be allowed inside the Council meeting, of course, but I can stand guard outside and I’m more than capable of fighting my way inside if something goes south.
“Nah, it’s alright. Go on home and wash up—you stink,” he says, wrinkling his nose. He only grins when I shove him. It’s true, and we both know it, but still.
“Dinner?” I ask.
He hits me with the smile that melts panties and boxer-briefs alike, walking backwards away from me towards the Town Hall—what used to be the community clubhouse.
“Hmmm. Filet Mignon, medium rare. Loaded baked potato. Garden salad with lite Italian dressing on the side. And a big ass beer.”
I laugh and shake my head.
“Spaghetti it is!” I call. He winks and turns to jog away, and I make my way to the house that we share a few streets over.
Despite my annoyance at having Traeger and crew here, I feel myself relaxing a bit more with every step I take down the palm-lined sidewalk, seashells and sea glass pressed into the concrete here and there in decorative patterns.
The Cove has a very beach town aesthetic despite not being on the coast. We’re only a few hours off, so I suppose that was close enough for the developer to take that vibe and run with it.
Our house is an adorable little number with sky blue siding, deeper blue hurricane shudders, and a wraparound front porch complete with rockers and ceiling fans that turn lazily in the breeze.
I mount the porch and surreptitiously glance at the board in the far right corner beneath the flowerpot.
I let out a small breath of relief. The line of soil beneath hasn’t been disturbed, so that means no one found my secret stash of weapons.
It’s dangerous having it. Beyond dangerous.
If any of Traeger’s men ever found it, I’d be dead, Jonah too most likely, no matter how much I insisted he had no idea.
He honestly doesn’t. He has no fucking clue, but they’d punish him all the same.
It’s only there for an absolute emergency, of course, but I like to be prepared for any and all alternatives.
I have another stash hidden out beyond the walls in a hallowed out tree, just in case.
l do a quick but thorough inspection of every room to take inventory. I know that Traeger’s men would have swept for weapons, but I want to make sure the bastards hadn’t taken anything else…or rifled through my shit.