12. Taryn
CHAPTER TWELVE
TARYN
By the time we reached the courthouse, I’d almost convinced myself that the whole thing with Wren had been my imagination.
That hope died the second I glanced over my shoulder.
She was still there and smiling widely, following me down the sidewalk as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
As we approached the courthouse, I saw the guard at the door sigh when he spotted Wren, already looking exhausted at the thought of dealing with her.
He clearly knew her well.
Same, unknown man. Same.
“Wren.”
"Ron," she countered.
“Don’t even try. You’re not getting in.” He sighed again. “Gideon gave special orders to all of us that under no circumstances are you allowed in here.”
“If my sister is going in, then so am I.” Wren stepped up beside me and gave me a reassuring look.
This woman was one lightning strike away from talking to squirrels.
The guard looked at me, confused. “That’s not Robin.”
“Listen to him.” I motioned to Ron. “He’s speaking the truth.”
Wren rolled her eyes. “You’re just pissed because Robin wouldn’t give you the time of day.”
Ron blushed. “That’s not Robin, you crazy bitch.”
That pissed me off.
She was obviously crazy, but the name-calling was over the top. “Watch it, Ron. I don’t appreciate the tone.”
Wren looked at me with affection for defending her, and I ran a hand down my face.
“I’m not your sister,” I stated for the umpteenth time. “I just don’t like his face.”
“Sure, you’re not.” She smiled.
“She stole a horse and rode it through town, yelling ‘the British are coming,’ causing a ruckus at three in the morning,” Ron told me, trying to defend his reason for name-calling.
“I borrowed the horse, and I had to do it. Paul was sick.” She rolled her eyes.
Ron pinched the bridge of his nose. “Paul Revere is dead.”
“Now he is. But at the time, I thought it would help to take a few things off his plate.” Wren let out a breath, as if Ron were being ridiculous.
I was beginning to understand why everyone around her looked exhausted.
Harper tried one last time. “Wren, why don’t you go unpack and get some rest?”
“No.”
“Wren.”
“No. My sister has a meeting with Gideon, so I’m staying right here.” She frowned at Harper, her green eyes growing cold.
I looked at her and spoke slowly, “We are not sisters.”
Wren looked over at me, and her eyes lost their stony expression, and she smiled at me with indulgence. “Of course we are.”
I stared at her, and she stared right back, completely confident that she was right.
Before I could argue further, the courthouse doors opened.
Every thought vanished the moment I saw Adrian step out.
His expression was cold enough to make the temperature drop ten degrees.
Beck followed close behind, and judging by the look on his face, somebody was about three seconds away from getting punched.
Lucas came next.
He appeared like the asshole he was, but exhaustion caused his shoulders to slump.
Mace and Gage came through the doors, both looking just as pissed.
Well.
That explained a lot.
Mace’s attention landed on me immediately. Not the least bit subtle. When he winked, my skin crawled.
Beside him, Gage folded his huge arms across his chest and looked me over like he was evaluating a horse at auction.
Mace ran his tongue over his lips, and his eyes grew hot.
Beck noticed, and his entire body seemed to tighten. “Got something to say?”
Mace smiled, but the expression never reached his eyes. “Plenty.”
“Then say it, motherfucker," Beck growled.
Adrian sighed.
Apparently, this wasn’t a new conversation.
Mace’s gaze never left mine. “I think it’s already been said.”
The smile that graced Beck’s face looked dangerous. “Say it again.”
Gage stepped forward, and the tension stretched tighter.
I looked toward Adrian, and unlike Beck, he appeared perfectly calm.
Which, if you’d studied Adrian as much as I had, would have seemed more threatening than Beck’s open aggression. His arms were folded across his chest, and his gray eyes were cold. His expression was controlled and calculated, as if he’d already decided how every possible outcome would end.
Lucas looked caught somewhere between concern and disgust.
I was still trying to stick to the helpless and unassuming trope, or I’d punch Mace in the baby makers myself.
Mace finally looked away from me and shifted his gaze to Beck. “I’ll see you in the ring, boy.”
The words settled heavily between them.
Beck stepped forward immediately. “Count on it, bitch.”
Adrian caught his shoulder before things got stupid. Which was probably a full-time job at this point. “We’re done here.”
Mace raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
The corner of Adrian’s mouth lifted. Not exactly a smile, but something way colder. “Very.”
For some reason, that response seemed to annoy Mace more than Beck’s threats had.
Then Wren chose that exact moment to insert herself into the situation.
Of course she did.
“Robin?” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
Every head turned, and the tension shattered instantly.
All the men looked confused when they realized she was speaking to me.
I knew I shouldn’t do it, but when did that ever stop me? “What?”
“Do you want to go swimming later?” She made a swimming motion with her arms.
I heard Lila laugh so hard that she snorted like a pig.
I looked towards the sky.
Maybe a meteor would fall again and hit me directly. Or lightning would strike.
Anything.
Anything at all.
Lila wiped the tears from her face as she offered the men an explanation. “She thinks Taryn is her sister.”
Mace started laughing. “She’s fucked in the head.” He looked her up and down. “It’s a damn shame, too, cause that ass deserves to be tapped.”
“Fuck it,” I whispered to myself, prepared to drop my helpless act, when Wren broke in again.
“I think you’ve grown taller.” She smiled at me with affection, completely ignoring Mace.
Before I could comment, I heard Gideon’s voice carrying from somewhere inside the building.
“Taryn.”
“We’d better get in there,” Lila told me, all laughter forgotten.
“I’m coming with you,” Wren insisted, looking concerned. “Women disappear around here.”
“No,” I said firmly, not wanting her to suffer any more abuse.
“Yes,” she said just as firmly. “Gideon’s not a nice person.”
“She’ll be fine,” Harper told her gently. “I’m sure that if she needs you, her friend will let you know.”
Lila nodded. “I absolutely will. But you don’t have to worry; she’s tough.”
“My sister needs support,” Wren insisted.
“I need a restraining order,” I mumbled.
Harper made a choking sound that might’ve been laughter.
Wren looked horrified. “You don’t mean that.”
The worst part? She sounded genuinely wounded.
How was it I could ruin a man’s career without losing a wink of sleep, yet hurt this woman’s feelings and suddenly develop a conscience?
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t believe those two words had come out of my mouth.
Immediately, her expression brightened. “I forgive you.”
The apocalypse had given me the infected, possessive men who’d suddenly decided to share me and, apparently, a long-lost sister I didn’t actually have.
What a time to be alive!
The courthouse doors opened again, and this time Gideon himself stepped out. The conversation died almost immediately.
Gideon wasn’t physically imposing like my guys, Mace, and Gage, but something about him made people instinctively pay attention. He adjusted the cuffs of his dark button-down as he descended the steps, his expression unreadable.
His gaze swept across the group once.
Clinical and assessing.
I could tell that very little escaped him.
That could be an issue for us leaving here and returning to the farmhouse.
“Taryn.”
My attention snapped to him, not because he’d raised his voice but because he hadn’t.
Every word he spoke somehow carried farther than everyone else’s shouting.
“I’m ready for you.” He stared at the guys in annoyance. “Are they holding you up?”
“No. I was just coming.” If I could have thrown Mace and Gage under the bus, I would’ve, but after our first meeting, I knew they were his men.
“I’m coming too,” Wren said, standing straight and demonstrating that even someone as insane as she was still respected the power he held here.
Gideon sighed, “No, you’re not.”
Wren blinked. “But my sister—”
“I said no.” Gideon’s voice was harsh and final. “You’re not allowed back in the courthouse until you learn some decorum.”
Wren blanched, and Harper stepped up to her side quickly. “I’ll keep her occupied.
“I don’t need occupying,” Wren grumbled, but then refused to make direct eye contact with him as she spoke.
It felt like she was afraid of him, and that pissed me off. Ben was the only man I’d ever been afraid of, and I learned, too late, that he loved me more than his own life.
“I know,” Harper said patiently. “Humor me.”
“Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” Gideon spoke in a clipped voice, staring intently at Wren. “You know what happened last time.”
She swallowed hard, then nodded.
Gideon’s attention returned to me as though the interruption had never happened. “If you’ll follow me.”
Lila shifted beside me.
“You too.” Gideon smiled slightly, but it didn’t reach his eyes as he held the courthouse door open.
I stepped past him, and as I did, I caught Mace watching us, his mouth curled in another smug smile. “See you soon, sweetheart.”
Before I could answer, Gideon’s voice cut through the air. “Mace.”
The larger man looked over. “What?”
“I believe you have a fight to prepare for.” He arched an eyebrow.
Mace smirked. “I don’t need much preparation when I’m fighting a punk-ass kid.”
A beat of silence passed. “An arrogant man believes he cannot be beaten until he is. Remember that.”
The smile slowly faded from Mace’s face, and beside him, Gage folded his arms tighter but wisely stayed quiet.
Mace snorted. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Mace obviously resented being under Gideon’s thumb. I might be able to use that to create a distraction and help us get the hell out of here.
He glanced back at me as he walked off, and I smiled. Not because I liked him, but because it would really piss him off. Bullies weren’t happy unless they thought they were getting under your skin.
I knew that because I used to be one.
It worked. His jaw tightened before Beck’s voice echoed from farther down the street. “You coming, bitch?”
Mace narrowed his eyes. “We’ll see who’s the bitch real soon, punk.”
Beck threw his head back, laughing, even as Adrian gave me a warning look.
I knew he was telling me to be cautious around Gideon, but I wasn’t worried. Ben taught me how to handle men like him before I could ride a bicycle.
“This way.” Gideon motioned us down a quiet hallway lined with old offices.
Maps covered nearly every wall. I could hear radios crackling from somewhere deeper inside the building. People moved quickly without running.
Organized chaos.
He walked into a large room and took a seat at the head of a long conference table. “Please, ladies, have a seat.”
I took the seat to his right, and Lila sat beside me.
“No guards?” I questioned.
“If I believed I needed them, you wouldn’t be sitting here.” Gideon smiled in amusement as if two girls like us couldn’t possibly be a threat.
Good. I loved being underestimated.
He folded his hands together. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.”
Was he serious?
“I wasn’t exactly given a choice.” I widened my eyes in innocence.
“There’s always a choice.” For several seconds, he simply looked at me. “You remained remarkably calm outside.”
“I’ve had worse mornings.” I shrugged.
He smirked. “Indeed.”
I kept my expression blank, but his condescending personality was really pissing me off. This guy had been safe inside these walls, while little old me was avoiding flesh-eating infected and getting my brains blown out by fucking bikers.
“Do you understand what’s going to take place later today?” Gideon asked me, still smiling.
“No.” This, of course, was a lie, but I wanted to see how he would spin it.
“Two of the most powerful family groups are interested in claiming you,” he said, as if I should be excited.
I tilted my head. “I was led to believe I’d have a choice in the matter.”
“You do.”
“But?”
There’s always a but, and I knew this would be a big one.
“But I also won’t pretend an enhanced woman can safely remain unaffiliated.”
Silence settled over the room.
“I’ve survived just fine on my own.”
Another lie, but this asshole didn’t know that.
“With this new normal and the shortage of women, men have shown they’re willing to risk anything.
” His words lingered briefly. "I've seen them fight over supplies.” He paused again. “I’ve seen them fight over fuel.” Another pause.
“But I’ve never seen the level of brutality they display when fighting over the remaining women, let alone the enhanced ones.
” He shuffled the papers in front of him.
“The safest resolution to this problem was to formalize it and give them a more controlled environment.”
I would admit, if only to myself, that those words terrified me. The rights we’d had since I was born were going to be a thing of the past in this new world. I would need to become the queen Beck called me if I wanted to survive and protect the people I loved.
“You have the absolute right to refuse both groups, but I wouldn’t advise it.” He glanced down at the papers in front of him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
That was it? Less than five minutes of hot air?
“What about me?” Lila spoke softly.
Gideon raised his head. “I’m sure I’ll have offers in the next few days.” He smiled at her in reassurance. “Enhanced women get claimed faster because they’re so rare.”
Neither of us responded to that.
We both stood, and as we stepped into the hallway, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d somehow lost a game without ever realizing we were playing one.