Page 96 of Darkness I Become
Asha rolled her eyes as Claire made some retort that was far politer than she’d have been.
“Go home, Wastelander,” Asha said to him, sneering. He was just another little man who thought he owned the place by virtue of existing in it. After Angel, he didn’t scare her in the least.
I eat men like you for breakfast, little farm boy.
Eventually, Kimmy arrived, took one look at the scene in front of her, and her eyes turned to steel.
“Get off my land,” she demanded. “Now.”
Zach huffed and held up his hands. “Fine. I’m going.”
He left, and as Asha stared after him, the wheels in her head began to turn. She thought back to her radio problem. Maybeshecouldn’t get her hands on one of the Valley’s radios, but perhaps someone who had the inside track…
Someone stupid. Easily manipulated. Young, even. Inexperienced.
“I’ll follow him to the gate,” Asha said suddenly. “Make sure he leaves.”
The other two accepted her explanation without suspicion, and she ran out of the barn after Zach. She followed him almost to the gate of the property to ensure they wouldn’t be overheard. She had to make her next move very carefully.
“Hey!” Asha called after Zach. “Wait up.”
Zach turned in surprise, but his expression instantly became wary.
“What do you want, outsider?” he asked curtly, crossing his arms.
“I just want to talk,” Asha replied, keeping her tone casual. “Look, I know it’s been a big adjustment, letting Claire and me live here.”
“Let?” he sneered. “We haven’tletyou do anything yet.”
She shrugged, forcing her temper down. This was too important.
“Regardless, I’m sorry we’re in your space,” she continued. “But you seem like a pretty important guy around here, and…”
Asha paused for effect, glancing at the ground in imitation of nerves. As if she’d ever be nervous talking to this worm. Regardless, Zach paused, leaning forward slightly toward her, and she knew this was going to work. If she could just find out what he wanted…
“Maybe we could help each other out,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes ever so slightly, wondering if she was laying it on a bit thick as she leaned toward him. “You know a lot of important people, and…well, I’m sure there’s lots of ways I could give you a hand, if you want.”
Zach had been staring at her intently, and he suddenly cleared his throat.
“You offering to suck my dick, outsider?” he said, and Asha almost laughed. No one could say he didn’t get right to the point, but if this was how he normally talked to girls, it was no wonder he was a virgin. And she could already tell that he definitely was.
Instead, Asha managed a demure, kittenish giggle that she’d never done in her life. Cade would’ve been incredulous that she could even produce such a sound. She regretted the thought of him, if only because he’d hate that she was doing this. But he was the reason she was in this mess, so he didn’t have a right to object, even in her head.
“Maybe we could discuss it sometime soon,” she replied, gently brushing over Zach’s jacket with her hand. “Tell me where to meet you.”
The stupid boy followed her hand with his eyes, and she could practically see all the blood in his body rushing to one particular place.
“Meet me at the gate to my family farm,” Zach said shortly, though she could sense his excitement underneath his clipped tone. “Tomorrow. Noon.”
“I’ll be there,” Asha said with a wink. “See you then.”
She turned back toward the barn, feeling elated. Finally, fucking a guy would be toheradvantage. It wouldn’t beherexploitation, humiliation, or a betrayal so deep that it still reverberated inside her scarred soul. She wouldn’t be the victim ever again. She wouldn’t be used up and thrown away.
The only way to survive the darkness is to become its mistress, darling,he’d said to her what felt like a lifetime ago.Now, the darkness of this world would bend toherwill, obeyhercommand, helphersurvive.
Still, it felt, for the first time in a long time, like freedom.
Chapter 32
