7. Adrian #2
“If I had plans to clue Gideon in, I wouldn’t be here now.” She put her hands on her hips. “Mace is a dick. I wouldn’t wish him on anyone.”
Finley rubbed the back of his neck wearily. “Enhanced women, healthy women, and smart women are all rare.” His eyes shifted toward the jail. “Taryn is all three.”
“You got all of that from the ten minutes you spent with her?” I asked curiously.
“Knowing the enhanced and healthy part is kind of my job.” Finley pulled Harper back into his arms. “Her intelligence became obvious when I saw how she handled the situation she was in.”
“And Lila?” Beck asked.
Harper shrugged. “Pretty girls attract attention too.”
No surprise there.
I hadn’t figured out how Lila would integrate into my plans yet. Since Taryn and Lila had developed a genuine friendship, I knew I needed a solution.
“As you know, they house unclaimed women at the small motel on the edge of Main Street. They plan to relocate the girls there later today. Finley finished his coffee and set the cup on the table.
We could see the building from here, so that was convenient.
Harper sighed. “The number of females is still low. I guess it’s lucky Gideon only accepts enhanced men now. Too many men were becoming a problem because of the low number of females.”
“Competition,” I guessed.
“Desperation,” Finley corrected. “Even now, with the number of unenhanced men already here, fights are breaking out, and I hear murmurs of rebellion.”
“I can understand that.” I nodded. “Several of those men had relationships with women here prior to the meteor shower.”
I witnessed it myself.
One couple had just gotten married before everything unfolded, and when the husband lost his shit, he vanished. When questioned, Gideon insisted that the man had decided to leave and follow his own path.
It didn’t require the same intelligence I had to see through that lie.
I’d seen the young bride on several occasions, out with the men who had claimed her. She always looked as if she were one step away from killing herself.
“Enhanced men strengthen patrols,” Harper said, kissing Finley’s shirt where it lay over his heart. “They survive better outside the walls. Fight better.” Her eyes shifted between Beck and me. “People tolerate more from useful men.”
Sounded like something she’d heard countless times and had convinced herself it was for the greater good.
It wasn’t my fight, nevertheless. As soon as I got Taryn, we were out of here.
I suppose it was wise that we didn’t arrive together as a group. Neither Ethan nor Lane were enhanced. They wouldn’t have been let through the gates.
Beck snorted softly. “I could have beaten the fuck out of most of these men before I became stronger.”
“And that’s why you terrify half the town,” Harper replied.
“Only half?” he raised an eyebrow.
Harper laughed even as Finley and I exchanged a look of disgust.
Psychopath.
A siren suddenly echoed from near the southern fence line.
All of us ran out to the balcony to see what was going on.
“I hope it’s not a herd,” Harper whispered, the terror obvious in her voice.
Beck and I exchanged a glance, both aware that a sufficiently large herd of infected could destroy the entire town.
Every patrol nearby shifted immediately.
One of Gideon’s guards sprinted down the street toward medical, while another headed toward the gate.
Finley straightened beside me. “Someone wants entrance.”
I distinctly heard the man’s voice, just as I was confident Beck did. Neither of us realized Finley was enhanced.
I didn’t like surprises.
“Are you expecting anyone else?” Harper looked at Beck and me, questioning.
“We weren’t expecting the girls, so who the hell knows?” Beck shrugged.
Both he and I knew it was Lucas, and I was thankful that he chose to keep that knowledge to himself.
Beck was smarter than he looked. Just another reason I had hope my idea would work.
Another guard ran by and stopped upon seeing Finley and Harper. “South Gate picked up a male survivor claiming prior fever exposure.”
I knew Lucas would never stay behind once he learned Taryn had left. Even though he wouldn’t admit how he felt about her, I had always known. The adage about the thin line between love and hate was true. I just hoped he didn’t bring Ethan, Lane, and the girls.
“Gideon wants medical verification before admittance.” The guard continued.
Harper sighed and turned to Finley. “Looks like we’re needed.”
“Yep.” He turned to me. “I’ll find you later. Plans need to be made if you want to claim the girls.”
“Why are you helping us?” I liked them both, but I didn’t trust easily.
Especially when it came to Taryn’s safety.
“Because of the look in both of your eyes when I mentioned her, and because that girl is going to need both of you to protect her from the other men here.” Harper pulled Rory to her feet. “We can’t always help everyone, but there’s something about y’all that I like.”
“What she said.” Finley smiled and put his arm around both females.
“How did you get Harper without having a family group?” Beck shrugged on his jacket.
Finley lost his smile. “That’s a long story that we don’t have time for right now.”
Harper looked up at him with tears in her eyes, and they both stared at each other for a moment.
Curious.
Right after that, they headed out.
“What do you think?” I asked Beck.
“About them?” I nodded, and he shrugged. “I think we’re going to have to take a chance and trust them. We need help if we want to claim Taryn.”
“True.” I narrowed my eyes in thought. “I’ve noticed Gideon seems to have a soft spot for Mace. I’ll gather as much information as I can, and you need to be ready to fight.”
He smirked. “I’m always ready to fight. And if it’s for my Fox, expect me to be particularly vicious.”
“Our Fox.” I frowned, still not crazy about the idea. “She’s going to have to belong to both of us if we have any chance of claiming her.”
“I fucking hate that idea.” Beck sighed, unsurprised by my suggestion. “As soon as I noticed the number of women turning or dying, I suspected this was how things would go.”
I had anticipated something like this, too. How Taryn would feel about it was anyone’s guess. She still hadn’t let go of her resentment towards me for not playing a bigger role in her life prior to the apocalypse.
Not that she had a choice. Taryn and I were inevitable.
“We might have different opinions on various issues, but I believe we both agree on prioritizing Taryn’s safety.” I looked him in the eye. “I’ll do what needs to be done to protect her.”
“Even if it means sharing her?” Beck rubbed a hand down his face.
“Even then.”
The agreement was made. Now to convince a certain hard-headed female.