Something to Die For by Kaye Blue

Forty

Lucas

It had been a month,and autumn had fully fallen.

I hadn’t seen Angel very often but took those glimpses of her when I saw her across the compound and held them close.

Something had changed. Security was tighter, and everyone seemed on edge.

“What do you think’s going on?” Hunter said.

“Supplies. People are starting to get antsy,” I said.

“Yeah. We haven’t found anything good in over a week,” Langley said.

“And they have been running through shit like there’s a limitless supply,” I said.

“Yeah, I expect that’s gonna change soon,” Hunter said.

Though we hadn’t found as much stuff, the number of people had been steadily increasing.

In the past month, we brought in twenty more, which meant that resources were stretched. This place was at the breaking point, and I wasn’t sure how much longer it would hold out. I wasn’t intent on staying until they figured that out.

“We have to make move,” I said to Hunter that night.

“Yeah,” he responded.

“Let’s talk about it later, but be ready. Both of you,” I said, glancing over at Langley.

He nodded, and I felt certain he was with us.

I didn’t know what had brought him here, or what kept him going, but whatever it was, he was as desperate as me to get out of here, and I would use it to my advantage.

He’d proven himself competent and trustworthy, and I hoped that that would help me too.

It was late, but I slipped out of the barracks, or more accurately, walked out.

They’d stopped locking the door, and as the days had passed, we’d gotten a little bit of free rein.

I made my way to storage building at the far end of the compound where I had met Angel before.

It had become our place.

I tried not to go too often, tried to stay discreet, but at least once a week we met there, and those were the times that kept me going.

Like always, she was waiting, and like always, I held her, kissed her, lost myself in her arms for as long as I dared.

Which wasn’t nearly long enough.

I pulled away, and she looked at me, her eyes soft, dreamy, as she kissed me.

“I gotta get out of here,” I said.

It had become a common refrain, and she nodded, but I held her chin, held her chin.

“Now. We’re working on a plan. So be ready,” I said.

Her expression got a little more serious, and she nodded.

“I will,” she said.

“And?” I asked, looking at her, a smile playing on her face.

“And nothing. Just take care of yourself, Lucas,” she said.

“I will,” I promised.

And I kissed her, pulled away, knowing I had only been gone for fifteen minutes, fearing fifteen minutes had been too long to risk.

She lingered for a moment and then left, and I watched as she walked away.

“I love you,” I whispered when she was too far away to hear me.

* * *

Angel

I usually floated awayfrom my visits with Lucas, but tonight was different.

We had both known things were strained, getting stressed, but things were at a breaking point.

And I hadn’t been honest with Lucas about why.

Adler had had me move from the women’s barracks to his personal residence.

I’d tried to protest, or at least raise an objection, but he hadn’t given it a second thought. Said something about needing me at hand. Bullshit, but that wasn’t all that had my stomach in knots.

Supplies were dwindling.

I had sensed the tension, but no one said anything. Least of all me.

I doubted any of them knew just how dire things were. Adler didn’t seem concerned, and I didn’t push the point.

He was content to play king of his little kingdom, and as I’d done since I arrived, I’d play along.

After I returned, the office was empty, for which I was grateful. I quickly looked around the desk area, making sure that it was up to his standards, and then froze when I heard him approach.

“You were gone for a while,” Adler said.

Another casual statement that was anything but.

“I’m sorry, did you need me for something?” I asked, trying to sound calm, though not beseeching.

He approached, and I noticed two glasses in his hand.

“Oh, I’m okay,” I said as he extended one to me.

He kept his hand out, his eyes not exactly hard, but telling me he wouldn’t accept a refusal.

I took the glass, the heavy weight, the brown liquid inside, all reminding me of a life long ago. This world was no place for crystal, but it was just another part of the illusion.

Part of Adler pretending that everything would eventually go back to normal. Or worse, him only reinforcing his status as king of this terrible, dying kingdom.

He took a sip then looked at me expectantly.

I put the glass to my lips, let the liquid press against my mouth, though I barely swallowed any.

I grimaced, and he chuckled.

“Not a big drinker?” he said.

“No. Never developed a taste,” I responded.

“Good, but I hope you can make an exception today. We need to celebrate.”

I took another drink, a real one, needing something to do with my hands, and hoping to calm my nerves.

The liquid burned fire down my throat, but I welcomed the pain and the distraction.

“What are we celebrating?” I finally asked.

Adler stepped closer, meeting my eyes.

He was a couple inches shorter than me, but strong, and more than his physical presence, that calm calculation in his eyes made me worry.

“You know I’ve come to value and respect you,” he said.

My stomach dropped, my body wanting to reject the liquid I had just swallowed.

Instead, I forced more down, emptying the glass.

“Thank you,” I said as he looked at me, his expression demanding I say something.

“Angel, you don’t appear as grateful as someone in your position should be,” Adler said, his face smiling, his eyes almost sinister.

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” I answered.

He smiled brighter, his eyes crinkling, but the hardness in his pupils not fading.

“I think you do understand,” he said.

“I—”

He shook his head, cutting me off.

“Angel, I appreciate that you have certain sensibilities, and it’s part of the reason I respect you. But there’s no need to be coy,” Adler said.

Dread, thick as sludge, pulsed through my veins.

I could fight, I could run, but I would only get so far.

Still, that seemed better than the alternative.

“That man you came here with, Lucas Crowe. How is he?”

He said the words nonchalantly, but I knew they were anything but.

Adler never did anything, said anything, without a reason.

“I assume he’s fine,” I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as he did.

Probably failing, though I knew nothing I said would matter.

Those thoughts I’d been having, bashing his head in with this heavy crystal glass, fighting him for all I was worth. They froze in their tracks.

“That’s good. He does very dangerous work for this community. Anything at all could happen. I mean he might leave one day and never come back. It’d be a tragedy. Losing anyone is a tragedy,” Adler said.

My heart pounded harder, the ice in my gut really making me wonder if I would vomit up that expensive liquor.

“Hopefully, nothing like that will happen,” I said.

My voice sounded small, timid, and that pleased him.

Some vague part of me was pissed off by that, but the rest of me was focused on him, focused on what was to come.

“Well, yes, it’s up to all of us to see that doesn’t happen,” Adler said.

He put his glass down then reached over and took the one I held.

I gave it up without a fight, kept my eyes locked on his.

Let them slam closed when he tightened his fingers around my wrist.