Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but things ... aren’t great out there, and I thought you’d want to know.”
“Is Nova back?” Marcus asks.
“Um, yes, she is ...”
Marcus furrows his brow. “Out with it, Amira. What’s going on?”
“Nova knocked out one of the Sub guards because we’re on lockdown and he wouldn’t let her in here.”
“How did you get in here, then?”
“I told them you sent for me.”
He gives her a quick, wry smile. “Pretty tight system we’ve got going, huh?”
She gestures over her shoulder. “I have to get back. I just wanted to update you. And check on Briar.”
“I’m good,” I assure her.
“Tell the guards I said to let Nova down here,” Marcus says. “And tell Stella to do whatever she has to do to get order back. I’m gonna be here a while.”
“I can handle this,” McClain offers.
Marcus shakes his head. “I’m staying. What’s the issue, anyway?”
Amira looks apologetic. “I don’t know everything that’s going on, but people are complaining about us bringing half our supplies to the switch point for the Tiders.”
“As long as they’re doing it anyway.”
“Enough people are.”
He nods. “Tell Stella I’ll be up as soon as I can.”
Amira leaves. I close my eyes and breathe in slowly, trying to stem the swimming sensation in my head.
“What is it?” Marcus asks, still so close I can feel the warmth of his body.
“I’m okay. Just a little dizzy.”
“Can you bring another exam table in here for her to lie down on?” McClain asks. “We can raise it up higher than Ellison’s.”
Instead of answering, Marcus gently scoops me into his arms. My heart races, his warmth reminding me of falling asleep with him every night. I used to get sweaty when he spooned me, his massive body engulfing mine. Now I lie alone in my cot at night, hollowed out inside.
“Let your arm hang,” he says, holding me close.
He’s a brick wall of muscle, but something soft swims in his dark-chocolate-and-caramel eyes. Emotions clog in my throat because even though he hurt me, I still know he’d die for me without hesitation.
We fell for each other hard and fast, and he became the best part of this fucked-up paradise prison. I don’t know what to do with these feelings I have now. I’m angry, but also still sure of him.
“Her pulse is improving,” McClain says, snapping Marcus and me out of our daze.
“Good,” Marcus murmurs.
Nova bursts through the door, her tear-streaked face going straight to her wife.
“Briar’s giving her blood,” McClain explains.
“She’ll live?” Nova asks, a note of pleading in her tone.
“I think so.”
Nova’s eyes lock onto mine. “Thank you, Briar.”
“Of course. I’d give her anything she needed.”
She looks at Marcus, the tension between them still palpable.
“Thank you for saving her,” she says tightly.
He just nods.
I had no idea when I killed Virginia that I was tipping the first domino in a series of actions that would follow.
If I hadn’t killed her, Theron wouldn’t be here. Ellison wouldn’t have been kidnapped. We’d still have all our supplies.
It was me or her, though. I had no choice.
I curl into Marcus’s chest, letting my mind and body rest. None of us knows which domino will fall next, but I have a feeling it won’t be anything good for us.
10
“Trust that the men leading New America are doing everything in their power to build a country even better than the one we had before. A strong sense of right and wrong guides every decision we make. Family first. Women and children are our treasures, and we will protect them at any cost.” – Excerpt from a video message from New America President Soren Whitman to the New America population
Marcus
That fucking honey-custard smell. I wanted to bury my face in Briar’s hair as I held her earlier, the scent of ylang-ylang, the tropical flower she puts in her shampoo, making me physically ache for her.
My arms were tired after holding her for two and a half hours, but it was well worth it to be close to her again. It’s been hell having her physically close but miles away emotionally.
Ellison pulled through. I left Briar sleeping on a cot to recharge after the transfusion, and I went to check on things in camp.
As expected, it was a shit show. I got mobbed by people yelling and complaining about sharing our supplies with the Tiders. After what I’d just been through with Ellison and Briar, I didn’t have much patience for it, but I did my best.
It’s the night of our weekly social gathering, and I think people need it more than ever. I tightened up security at our camp perimeter, but I don’t think Pax and Theron will try anything tonight.
Jun strums a soft, haunting song on his ukulele as the sun slips below the horizon, everyone sitting in small, quiet groups. I stare at the flickering flames of the bonfire, the day’s events still fresh in my mind.