AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I walked into Nowhere like I belonged there. Maybe I did? What if this was where I was meant to be? Either way, it was where I wasgoingto be, and I’d make it work.
I walked up to Kaden’s house and stood there, staring at the front door, wondering what exactly I’d say. How to say it. I wasn’t ready to agree to his terms, but I needed him. There was no denying that.
The door opened while I was still staring at it, Kaden filling the space.
“You plan on coming in?” he asked.
I answered with a step in his direction, each one feeling heavier than the next.
He walked into his living room, and I followed, staring at the couch. Did I sit? What would that say? Probably that I was here to tell him I was staying on his team. That might not be the right thing to do. Sending the wrong signal might make this go harder. I should stay standing. But sitting might send a more cooperative signal. Or maybe it would broadcast weakness, like I was desperate? I was. That didn’t mean I wanted him to know it.
I walked farther into the room, running a hand along the mantel. He took a seat, resting his hand along the back of the couch as he watched me fidget and then as I forced myself to be still.
I turned, taking in the man I was about to try to strike a deal with. He lifted an eyebrow as I sized him up. One look told you he was ruthless. If I hadn’t had a reservation, he probably would’ve let them throw me in the river. If he hadn’t found something to possibly gain from my existence, he might’ve let me die more than once. I couldn’t even think about the conflict with Gram.
Yet, there were hints of a buried humanity, kindness, even. Was that a rationalization on my part to make it easier to do what I had to? I’d never dealt in delusions before, and hopefully I wasn’t doing so now. No, I had to believe there was good in this man or it wouldn’t work.
“Did you make a decision, or did you come by to say hello, but with a silent film sort of flair?”
“Are you trying to irritate me?” I asked. He had to know why I’d come. He wasn’t an idiot.
“Maybe I’m curious to see what happens when you eventually say screw it and to hell with the rules.” He smirked, the kind that made my stomach do a little flip-flop, as it was probably designed to do. He’d been managing and maneuvering people for ages, and it showed.
I made a show of looking at the fire so I could calm my heart and get on with this.
“I’ve made a decision, but I’m not taking either of the options you’ve laid out,” I said. “I realize I’m not fully capable of navigating this world on my own, but I’m not willing to accept the existence you want to lay out before me. I don’t want to be on your team. I want more autonomy.” After my talk with Gram, having some distance might be the only way I might make it out of this alive. I didn’t know what she was hiding, but if it was anything like this last secret, things might get ugly when it finally broke.
“Then what do you want?” he asked, looking slightly intrigued.
“Topside, they’d call me an independent contractor. We work together, a partnership of sorts. I’m going to move out of the outpost too, as soon as I find a place.” I’d need somewhere secure I could hole up in if things went bad.
“Where do you plan on living? There are some obstacles to consider if you want to stay Topside."
“I’ll be moving to Nowhere.” Topside wasn’t a possibility, not with the potential issue with Chaos. The outpost wouldn’t be secure if he turned on me after finding out about Gram. The only option left was Nowhere.
“Sounds a little risky for someone who likes to play it safe. There are many things about this place you don’t understand. I’m not sure you’re quite ready to be here,” he said, quietly, almost looking like a mentor.
“I’ll survive.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell this mentor I had no other options.
“I’m not doubting you. You’re a survivor,” he said.
It might be one of the nicest things he’d ever said to me.
“Why are you being nice?” I said, almost aggressively, as if his compliment had been nothing but a tactic.
“It happens occasionally. It slips out when I’m not paying attention.” He smirked again.
I was starting to hate those smirks. They were more lethal than his words.
“I will be fine, you know.” I wasn’t sure whom I was convincing, him or me.
“I know. I’ve met your family, remember?”
I didn’t want to laugh but couldn’t help myself. I would’ve laughed harder if I didn’t think about Gram. He might’ve met her too, but he didn’t know she was my grandmother yet.
“You want not so nice? How about this? I still don’t trust you. How am I supposed to have you as a quasi-part of my team?”
“I could say the same. How do I work with you? But you have a lot more on me than I have on you. If you talked, if people knew what happened with Chaos, I’d be dead in a week. What do I have on you? Nothing. I’m surprised you’d be concerned at all.” It was all so utterly true that I got a chill. He had the ability to have me hunted down by every single person in Nowhere. Would he one day decide to do that? I hoped not.
