“You saved me. You did something no one else did.”
“But . . .”
“There are no buts. I’ll have a word with Ty and Sol when I get back. Not one of these losers came to my aid.”
“Ty was injured, too. I haven’t seen Sol at all... I hope he’s alright,” I sighed.
“These women keep asking me whose property I am. But, even if they are batshit crazy, we still have shelter, and food and water. We can stay until we’re fully healed and head out.” Victor scrutinized my face then his eyebrows lifted when he saw my facial expression. “You didn’t promise anything, did you?”
“I had to.” I exhaled.
“What did you do?”
“I may or may not have agreed to help them find the missing women that were taken by another clan.” I licked my lips.
“What the fuck, Frid?” He stepped away, raking his hair.
“I had to. Do you think that anyone would just help us for nothing?” I raised my voice, noticing how his eyes squinted.
Our truce did not last even five minutes. His anger stirred an immediate response in me, and instead of feeling bad about our situation, I got irritated in return.
“Alright. What’s the catch? They have plenty of people here. Why can’t they get their women by themselves?”
“They don’t know where they are.”
“How is that possible?”
“They don’t go far into the wastelands.”
“They don’t? That’s very smart of them.” Victor’s voice was laced with poison.
“Stop being a prick!”
“I’m just pointing out how stupid it is that you make decisions for both of us while I’m stuck here with no idea of what’s happening.”
“You’re not allowed to help,” I said and braced for an explosion.
“What the fuck, Frid?” he shouted, his eyes roamed my face.
“They don’t trust you.”
“But they trust you?”
“Yes. Because I’m a woman.” I raised my chin, watching him with indignation.
“What?” He squinted his eyes.
“We need to make the best of our situation. That reminds me.” I reached up to my collar, unbuttoning my flying suit.
“What in the actual f?—”
His eyes turned huge, and his mouth fell open as if every thought had disappeared from his mind.
“Don’t get your hopes up.” I lifted the edge of my undershirt.
Victor still had nothing to say as I used my knife to cut a strip of fabric long enough. “Here.” I extended my arm, offering him the piece of my undergarment.
“And what am I supposed to do with that?” he finally said.
