I sucked in a breath and raised my knee up sharply. Ashton grunted when I made contact with his groin. He doubled over.
His hands fell away and I had the chance to run. I took a step but stopped. I turned back, making a fist.
I threw my hand as hard as I could into his face. Time slowed down. It seemed his eyes widened in shock for a second before his head whipped to the side from the force of my blow.
I ran out of the alley and back to the sidewalk. My feet wouldn’t move fast enough.
“You’re going to regret that!” Ashton called out.
I glanced back to make sure he wasn’t chasing me. When I spun back around, I slammed into someone. I sucked in a breath so sharply I coughed to regain proper breathing.
“Joss,” Robby said looking at me with concern coating his face. “What are you doing out here?”
“I was just—”
“Jenna told me you were going to talk to Rex?” Robby interrupted. “Why would you do that?”
My hand was shaking as I brought it to my mouth. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know how to tell them about what had just almost happened.
“What’s wrong?” Robby asked. His spine straightened and his eyes darted around. “Something happened. Tell me, Joss.”
“Please, get me home,” I said swallowing down my sobs, so he didn’t see them.
Robby looked angry, even though he didn’t know why. He placed his hand around my shoulders and led me back to the hotel.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I missed Caleb and figured I’d just quick tell Rex myself that you weren’t feeling well.”
“It’s fine. I’m not mad at you,” Robby said.
“You seem mad,” I muttered.
Robby shook his head. “I’m not mad at you. I just want to know what happened.”
“Took you long enough,” Jenna said without looking up.
The awkward silence must have been enough to force her to look away from the old magazine she was holding. “Oh, crap! Are you okay?”
I told them everything. Every last detail, even though it made my stomach turn.
“I’m going to kill him,” Robby said. His brow was wrinkled like a shirt that had been sitting in a laundry basket for days. “Which one is he again?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want you to kill him. I am worried about what he’s going to tell Rex.” My frown stretched my jaw muscles painfully. “I shouldn’t have punched him.”
“Yeah, you should have!” Jenna said enthusiastically. “I’m surprised you had it in you. If you asked me, he deserved much worse.”
“You won’t say that if they kick us out of here,” I said.
Jenna pressed her lips together. She turned to Robby. “Do you think they’d do that?”
“No, they won’t do that,” Robby said but the slight frown on his face revealed he wasn’t entirely certain. I wasn’t sure if Jenna was able to decipher the subtle differences in Robby’s expression. “Rex will understand.”
Robby paced by the window until Caleb arrived. He had been worried when Jenna hadn’t been in the room.
Robby was going to explain what happened but I didn’t want to hear it again. Jenna told him she’d fill him in on everything, which only brought me a small amount of relief.
“I really screwed things up, didn’t I?” I asked.
Robby wrapped his arms around me. “You didn’t. This isn’t your fault. This is Ashton’s fault.”
“What if he tells them I attacked him,” I said. “It’s my word against his and Rex has known Ashton a lot longer than he’s known us. And really, we’ve been nothing but trouble for him since we arrived.”
“Maybe he doesn’t look at it that way,” Robby said.
I snorted. “Right.”
“We’ll explain,” Robby said.
I shook my head. “He’s not going to care. I mean, really, what do we offer this place? Ashton helps out far more than I do.”
“We’ll just have to see how it plays out unless you have a better idea?” Robby asked.
All I could give him was a frown. “I wish I knew. The only thing I know is how important you are to me. I can’t handle this life without you.”
“Of course you could,” Robby said with a bright smile. “Maybe you wouldn’t want to but you could.”
“No,” I said shaking my head. “I really couldn’t. Hell, I can’t even go into town on my own.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Robby said lightly brushing my cheek with the side of his thumb. “I’ll talk to Rex and smooth things over if necessary.”
A quick sigh escaped from between my lips. “I don’t know what makes you think that will work. God only knows what that jerk is going to tell him.”
“Rex won’t believe you attacked him for no reason,” Robby insisted. “He’s the one that should get thrown out of town or locked up, not us.”
I nodded. “Surely, I wasn’t the first girl he tried to do that to.”
“Nor will you likely be the last,” Robby said. “Come on, let’s eat. You’ll feel better after you eat something. I know I did.”
“You’re feeling better?”
“I am,” Robby said. “Still a bit of a lingering headache but nothing I can’t manage.”
I smiled. “I’m happy to hear that because I didn’t get a chance to get you any medicine.”
“That was sweet of you to even think of doing that,” Robby said.
“Doesn’t matter.” I shrugged. “I didn’t get it. Instead, I caused us problems.”
“Stop that,” Robby said squeezing me tighter. “You didn’t do anything.”
I pressed my lips together and swallowed back my tears. “If I hadn’t gone out—”
“Joss,” Robby took my hand into his and stepped back to look into my eyes. “It’s taking everything inside me not to go out there and blacken Ashton’s other eye. I love you,” he said shaking my hand. “I love you so much. I would do anything for you. Please, trust that I will keep us safe.”
“I know you’ll do what you can,” I said letting out a breath. “It’s just that… well, I wish things were different.”
“One day, they will be,” Robby said. He tugged me along, leading me to the table. “Sit. What would you like me to make you?”
A smile curled my lips. “Anything. I don’t care.”
I didn’t eat much. Nor had I slept well. My eyes had already been open before there was even a knock at the door.
14
Adam
Leah turned and went into the bedroom. She left the door open just an inch.
I pulled in a breath and forced myself to go to the door. My dad was busy with some party thing with Eva. The guards had stopped by earlier to tell us about the person snooping around. The only thing that could be outside was someone coming to take Leah away.
I hoped that she cracked a window and was ready to make a run for it. They’d probably be waiting at the windows.
Dammit.
I opened the door and threw on my most charming smile. The young woman on the other side cocked her head and peered at me through narrowed slits.
I recognized her. I could almost recall her name. It was on the tip of my tongue. She’d been smoking in the bathroom when I’d been with Leo. Smoking was against the laws of the resort, yet the girl had gotten away with it. Although, perhaps she was punished in some way I wasn’t privy to.
Why was she at our cabin?
“Can I come in?” she said glancing over her shoulder.
“Umm….” I didn’t know how to respond. Why was she at our cabin?
“Look,” she whispered. “I saw what happened and I just want to talk.”
The girl held up both hands as if that would somehow prove that she wasn’t up to anything.
“Please,” she said with wide eyes. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
I gestured and she dipped her head as a thank you. She crossed her arms as she looked around the cabin.
“Wow,�
� she said. “You two get all this space?”
“What exactly are you doing here?” I said stiffly.
She rolled her eyes. “I saw what happened to your girlfriend and I want to make sure she’s okay. Those guards can get really hostile. Unfortunately, I know that firsthand.”
“I know you, right?” I asked.
“I’ve seen you around. We all know your Martin’s son, of course,” she said. “It was big news when you returned.”
“But I’ve seen you. Smoking in the bathroom,” I said.
Her head slowly bobbed and her lips curled into a smile. “That’s right. You were with Leeeeeeeo. I bet you’re happy you aren’t working with the guard anymore, huh?”
“Lots of gossip in this place, I see.”
“Indeed.” The girl looked around. “So, where is she?”
“I’ll get her,” I said.
Leah stepped out of the bedroom. She’d changed into dry clothes.
“I’m so sorry about what happened,” the girl said. “I should have done something and I feel terrible that I didn’t. It’s going to sound like an excuse but I have to tread carefully around here.”
“Don’t we all?” Leah asked with a smile. She stayed back as if she was worried the girl might turn into a deadly monster.
The girl laughed. “Yeah, really, we do. I’m Leslie, by the way.”
“Leah,” she said jerking a thumb in my direction. “This is Adam.”
“Yeah, I know. We all know,” Leslie said.
“I’m famous,” I said holding out my arms to the side.
They both rolled their eyes at nearly the same time. Leslie turned her back to me as though she were pretending I wasn’t there.
“Anyway, I just feel terrible,” Leslie said.
“Don’t give it another thought,” Leah said with a sympathetic smile. “It wouldn’t have made sense to get yourself in trouble.”
“They were kind of rough,” Leslie said. “You really should be more careful around any guard. I shouldn’t say this but they are very… dangerous. Corrupt. Evil.”
Leslie hugged herself as if she felt a sudden chill. She sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes darted around. It was as though she wished she could take back her words.
“We’re already aware of that,” Leah said.
“That guard, Leo, is quite possibly the worst of them all,” Leslie said. “Maybe it’s not so bad for you all here but for those of us that work at this place, he’s a real jerk.”
I nodded. I’d seen how he had treated Leslie and there was no doubt in my mind he’d been a real jerk to others too.
“He’d do anything that stupid chick he’s sleeping with tells him. And she thinks all of us that work here are below her,” Leslie said frowning. “Like we’re all here just to serve her. Things were better before she arrived. I really shouldn’t be saying this. The only reason I know I can is because she wouldn’t have had you roughed up if you were her friend.”
“She’s not our friend,” I said sharply.
I should have watched my words. There was always a chance that Leslie was on Eva’s side. A spy or something. If I hadn’t seen Leo harass her with my own eyes, I would have been more careful.
“What did you do to get on her bad side?” Leslie asked still looking at Leah.
“All I did was exist. That was more than enough to annoy her,” I said.
“What about you?” Leslie asked jerking her chin toward Leah.
“All I did was arrive with him,” Leah said with a smirk directed at me.
I snorted but sadly, it was true. Leah hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Lucky you did arrive with him, though, or you might have been shot or put to work here. Not sure which is worse,” Leslie said. “It sucks there isn’t anything else out there.”
“There is that other town. The one that’s stealing from us,” I said.
“You’re kidding, right?” Leslie asked looking over her shoulder at me. “That place isn’t going to be around long. The idiots here have no idea how to share and work together.”
Leslie sighed and looked at her feet. She suddenly appeared smaller, as though she’d deflated.
“I’m sorry,” she said waving her hand. “I shouldn’t have come here.”
“No,” Leah said grabbing her hand. “I’m glad you did.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Leslie said. “I just feel so alone here.”
Leah smiled and squeezed her hand. “You’re not alone. You have us, right, Adam?”
“Yeah, of course,” I replied.
“Quite reassuring,” Leslie said. She released a quick exhale. “That woman is selfish. Demanding. And she thinks she knows better than everyone else. I hear that she wants to get rid of the ‘old geezers,’ her words, not mine. If that happens, the workers will strike. This is just a huge mess. Anyway, I need to go before someone realizes I’m gone.”
Leah bit her lip. “Are you sure? You could stay for a bit, eat with us.”
“I can’t,” Leslie said. “The last thing I want is to get in trouble again. Sorry, again, I wasn’t able to help.”
“It’s not your fault,” Leah said. “I would feel terrible if you would have done something and gotten hurt too. I’ve had much worse than this in my life.”
“I know what you mean,” Leslie said.
Leah walked with her to the door. “I’m going to keep my head down even more from now on.”
“That doesn’t always work,” Leslie said. “Anyway, see you around.”
“See ya,” Leah said before carefully opening the door.
Leslie peeked out and darted off without another word. Leah held her hand on the door for a long moment.
She slowly turned to me. “I hate this place.”
“I’m sorry I brought you here.” My eyes shifted toward the window. I couldn’t look at her.
Leah shook her head. She didn’t want to hear it. I knew she didn’t blame me.
The rest of the night was typical. There were no more knocks on our door. Everything was quiet but we were distracted.
I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things that could have gone wrong. Sleep didn’t come easy.
I tossed and turned as if we were back to sleeping out in the middle of nowhere. Even though my clothes were dry, I could remember how the soaked fabric itched my skin.
When morning came, it felt as though I hadn’t slept at all. I was exhausted.
It felt like I was in a dream as I walked to the door. Leah was still asleep. I just wanted the person on the other side to stop pounding so I could go back to bed.
I pulled open the door and met my dad’s eyes. My mouth opened but snapped shut. There was something in his eyes that closed my lips.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You and Leah need to come with me,” my dad said.
I shook my head. “What for?”
“Mandatory meeting,” he said. “I have to bring you myself.”
“Are we in trouble?” I asked. My lips felt like they were coated in glue, making it hard to form the words.
My dad grimaced. “Go get dressed.”
15
Stevie
Ella bounced and squealed. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“I wish we could all go,” Becki said.
“We’ll all get there eventually,” I said but the words tasted bitter.
“I’m kind of scared to leave,” Lucy said shaking her head. “I don’t think I’m going to participate. My mom needs to stay here to keep everyone fed. I can’t leave without her.”
My head bobbed. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“I guess I wouldn’t want to go without Noah,” Ella said crossing her arms as she puffed out her bottom lip.
“Here we go,” Gage said as he entered the room, holding a bunch of cut bamboo skewers.
I stayed in my chair, watching as everyone gathered around him. A smile grew on Winter’s face as she held up
the shortest skewer.
“I get to go!” Winter said shaking her hand as if she’d touched something too hot. “Oh, my God. I get to go!”
Becki was holding a short stick and carefully comparing it to the others around her. Her hands dropped to her sides.
“I guess I got the other one,” Becki said.
“Congratulations,” the other said sounding somewhat disappointed.
Becki was less excited than Winter. Her eyes met mine as she swallowed hard.
“I want to go but I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to go back out there,” Becki said. “It sounds like such a long journey.”
“It’ll be fine,” Winter said taking her hands. “We’ll be there in no time and we’ll be safe and it’ll be great.”
“We’ll take good care of you,” Clara said.
Henry shot her a glance. His brow wrinkled like the skin of a piece of old fruit. “Clara’s right. You’ll be taken care of.”
“When do we go?” Becki asked hugging herself.
“First thing in the morning,” Henry said. “Pack your things.”
“We don’t have a lot of things to pack,” Winter said.
I clapped my hands together and stood. “We’ll give you some food and water.” I turned to Henry. “How many days do you think you’ll be out there?”
“Hmm.” Henry blew out a puff of air between his lips. “Anywhere from five days to a week. I think we’re a bit further east than usual but we like to travel fast. Hope you girls are ready to move your feet.”
“So ready,” Winter said.
Becki offered a tight-lipped smile.
“We have more than enough in our packs to make it to the base but it never hurts to have more,” Henry said.
Time flew.
It wasn’t long before I was back in the living room and it was a brand new day. This day, however, had a much different feel.
There was a mix of sadness, excitement, worry, and joy circulating through the air. Everyone was saying their goodbyes. Kieran ignored Winter but wished Becki well. Kieran wouldn’t ever get over what Winter was doing with her husband and I honestly couldn’t say I blamed her. What I was concerned about was what Kieran may or may not have done to her husband.
The Reset Series | Book 5 | Torrent Page 7