Chapter 29
Taking a deep breath, she crouched and covered the hilt of her knife with the cuff of her jeans before standing and setting down her weapon.
As Veronica stepped out onto the main road, every head turned in her direction.
Instantly, she was surrounded by men and women with weapons pointed at her.
She couldn’t pretend like it wasn’t a terrifying situation, but it was one she had expected the moment she had seen the armed militia roaming the streets.
Suddenly, everything made sense. Locals were terrified to leave their homes, at least those who hadn’t joined up with the group yet.
There was no question in her mind that once the situation became desperate, the terrified people of the community would start whining their views with that of the group now and control.
She wanted nothing to do with them, but if a bargain could be struck, she wouldn’t turn it down.
Even in her heart, she knew she couldn’t walk away from the city if people were being held hostage.
She could only handle one problem at a time, though, and at that moment, she needed to talk with whoever was in charge.
“Let’s all just step back and calm down,” Veronica said. “I’m not here to cause any trouble. I’m just looking for some supplies and to talk to whoever is in charge.”
“How do we know you’re not here to try to take what’s ours?” one of the men asked. “We are just trying to survive like everyone else around here.”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. I’m here from another community, and we’re trying to set up some sort of trading route. We know it’s going to be hard on everyone, and we’re each going to need supplies that only the others can give us.”
“Sounds a little too good to be true, if you ask me.”
“I promise I’m not here to take anything without permission, and I simply want to talk to whoever is in charge so we can work something out and start moving forward. I have a lot of people back home who are going to need things, and I think the best thing we can do is work with each other.”
The group stood silent.
Veronica sighed. “If it makes any of you feel any better, I’m more than willing to surrender my gun and talk to whoever is in charge of everyone here. I’m not here to hurt anyone or cause any trouble. I simply just want to talk and try to work something out with the fine people here in the city.”
A man stepped forward from the group, looking her up and down before extending his hand for her weapon.
She handed the shotgun over to him and followed when he jerked his head.
Instantly, the crowd dispersed and went back to patrolling the area.
Two men, though, followed Veronica and the leader of the group.
None of them seemed inclined to talk to her, and when they reached the steps of a modest house on the main drag, the pair behind her stayed back on the porch.
The one in the lead knocked twice on the door before being called inside.
There, she saw a dozen men with guns at the ready surrounding a massive dining room table.
At the head of the table was a man who was obviously the leader.
She definitely didn’t like the way the group was looking at her, though the man at the end of the table barely glanced up at first. When he realized his general had brought a woman with him, his demeanor changed.
Veronica felt a little sick to her stomach as the guy grinned at her, looking rather pleased with his men’s captured prize.
Even with the knife strapped to her ankle, Veronica knew she didn’t stand a chance if it came to violence.
All she could do was hope her brother wouldn’t be fool hearted enough to try to seek vengeance against the armed group.
“I’m assuming you’re from somewhere nearby, but I can’t say that I’ve ever seen you around here before. I hear you’re not exactly from the area.”
“I’m simply from a neighboring community. I was tasked with trying to find some people to trade a few items with. I’m certainly not here looking for any trouble. We all just thought it would be better if communities could work with other communities in order to get through this whole situation.”
“I can’t say that the thought doesn’t sound interesting, but you have to understand that I’m in charge of protecting the people in my town.”
“Just like I’m tasked with the responsibility of protecting my people. Not only am I trying to protect my people, but I’m trying to ensure the future of my community as well. All I’m asking is that you open your mind to the idea of trading supplies when each of us needs something.”
The man grinned. “You say you’re from a neighboring community, but this is the first time anyone has tried to reach out to us. What town are you from?”
“Before I tell you anything more about my community, I’m going to need to know whether you’re interested in striking a deal for the things we need. I assure you we’re not a danger to you or anyone in this town.”
It would be a cold day in hell before she jeopardized her family and hometown by giving the man any information about the area.
Immediately, Veronica regretted her decision to face the group alone.
She had hoped for the best, thinking they could be reasoned with.
The longer she stood in their presence, though, the more she realized what a grave error she had made.
All she could do now was try to talk her way out of there.
They would mark the city off on their list and move on to the next one.
She had desperately hoped to escape without bloodshed, but it was starting to look like that wouldn’t be the case.
She would go down fighting, giving her life to protect the villagers and her family.
It was a small sacrifice to make to know they were safe, and hopefully, at the very least, her death would mean that the others took what was happening seriously.
Still, if she could find a way out of the situation, Veronica had to at least try.
The one trade she had left was her motorcycle.
She refused to consider the option. Her family might need it to protect their home someday.
Instead, though, she could offer to get the men’s group up and running in trade for her freedom.
“I can’t honestly say whether I’d be willing to strike a deal with you. For the most part, we have everything we’re going to need.”
“You said for the most part. What is it that you need around here? I’ll see if I can figure something out in order to get you what you want.”
He chuckled. “We seriously have everything we’re going to need to make it through this, except for maybe a few more pretty faces to look at.
I think the only deal I’m going to be interested in is how much fun I’m going to have with you before you give up the name and location of the town you’re coming from.
I’m getting all excited just thinking about you squealing like a pig. ”
“I expected to run into some people along the way who would try to treat me that way, but I have to say that you’re making a big mistake if you think I’m more valuable on my back than I am on my feet. I have plenty of skills that will help you out, but I’m no good to you in your bed.”
“I guess we’re just going to have to have a difference of opinion there. I have all the skills that I’m going to need. No, I think it’s time we try to pound out the facts of where you’re from, and I certainly am going to enjoy making you talk.”
“I’m simply trying to set up a trade route with you.”
“Why in the hell would I want to trade with you when I can just take what I want and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it?”
The leader motioned for his men to grab Veronica.
Before they could, though, a deafening explosion in the distance shook the house with such ferocity she thought for a moment it would tumble down on top of them.
Suddenly, Veronica’s presence there was no longer the most interesting thing to happen that morning.
Immediately, Veronica thought of her brother, wondering if he was safe from whatever had just occurred.
As the room erupted into chaos, a man burst through the front doors.