Page 52 of Come Fill Me

No way. He figured Jacob was drooling over Liz, oblivious to Kele’s hurt and Zeke’s mounting anger. “I’ll have a talk with him as soon as you and I are finished. Settle this before it gets out of hand.”

“Talking will do no good. Your brother wants what he wants as you do. You’ll regret her staying here.”

How wrong she was. He’d die if Liz left. What Zeke felt for her was so unique, so precious it stole his breath, leaving himbarely able to function. A frightening feeling…a marvelous one he refused to live without. “I’ll make certain no harm comes to our people. I’d never put any of you at risk.”

“You already have,” she said and left his side.

Chapter Nine

On her back, Liz regarded the ceiling of Jacob’s bedroom, unwatched by anyone. Only in here did she have any real freedom within the compound. During the evening meal of black beans, sweet potato crisp, and native fry bread, she’d remained surrounded yet alone, watched by the women and the elderly men who sat at other tables in the large dining area.

No one told her where Zeke, Jacob, and the rest of the young men might be. She didn’t ask, figuring they were discussing her. Why she was still here, when she’d be leaving, with Zeke dancing around his answers to them as he had with her.

After the meal, an older woman had escorted Liz back to Jacob’s room. Kele was waiting at the end of the long hall, a silent sentinel whose mask of indifference didn’t quite hide her intense loathing.

Liz pushed the memory from her mind and slid her arm to cover her eyes, blocking the persistent glow from the walls and ceiling. Earlier, she’d learned that the lamps weren’t the actual source of the illumination in here. They were all for show, to give one a sense of normalcy while living underground. When she’d turned the switches off so she could sink into darkness and relax, the glow persisted. She’d discovered then that there weren’t any bulbs in the lamps, just hunks of limestone. She’d touched the rocks to see what would happen. They dimmed, and the rest of the place lit up, mocking her, keeping her awake and alert, worried about too many things.

Her father was still Carreon’s prisoner, no doubt helping that maniac in the hope that his acquiescence would somehow bring her back.

Oh, Papa.

She longed to cup his wrinkled face in her hands and watch over him as he and her mother had once done with her. Awhimper rose to Liz’s throat, fueled by sorrow and frustration. She pushed it back, knowing part of what she felt was a fraud. Although she had no choice except to return and do whatever Carreon demanded, these last days here still called to her.

The simple act of watching the children play had eased Liz’s loneliness as few things had. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d smiled as much. And the babies. Oh, the sweet dear babies with their chubby fists tugging her hair and their feet pressing into her thighs. When they’d finally lost their fear of her, their trust had been a gift, their weight and scents healing a part of Liz she’d once believed was beyond repair.

Hope followed, and she found herself imagining one of those infants belonging to her and Zeke. Ridiculous, she knew, not to mention dangerous considering the world they lived in, the unending carnage between their people. But there it was, insatiable yearning for what the average woman considered her right.

Liz pictured herself heavy with Zeke’s child, his hand on her belly, feeling their son or daughter kick, the child wanting out, demanding to have its own way, no different from its father. She thought of Zeke’s tension draining away, replaced by the wonder of new life that he and she had created. Not as a substitute for Gabrielle. She’d always be in his heart, his little girl no one could ever replace. But a fresh start…a chance that Carreon might very well destroy with his next attack.

What would losing another child do to Zeke?

The thought was so awful Liz rolled to the side and pulled her legs to her chest in a fetal position. She clawed the blanket, wishing it were Carreon’s throat. He had to die. There was no other choice. There’d never be any peace until he did.

And the means were within her.

Her body went still. Her mind raced. Of course. Why hadn’t she thought of it before now? As Carreon’s ex-lover, she hadthe opportunity to get close enough to catch him off guard…to convince him of her loyalty, lying to him as he’d done so effortlessly with her. She’d tell him Zeke was a monster, raping her night after night, threatening to murder her if she didn’t heal his men. She’d make Carreon believe that she missed him, regretting having ever left his side. He was a narcissist, so he’d believe her and would resume their affair. She’d be with him at his most vulnerable times. And then…then…

Frowning, Liz tried to envision her attack. While he was still inside of her, exhausted from his orgasm, she could claw his eyes, blinding him. The surprise of her attack, the pain of it would distract him for a few seconds. During that precious time, she’d punch his throat, breaking his hyoid bone.

He wouldn’t be able to cry out for help. To finish the job, she’d dig her fingers into his neck, strangling him.

Unless he fought her before she got that far. He was much stronger. His outrage at what she’d done would only add to that. Surprise couldn’t be her only weapon. They had to be equal before she began the battle, and the only way to accomplish that was for her to be armed. Yes. Liz sucked her bottom lip as she thought about it. Before she returned to Carreon, she could take one of the weapons here, if she could find out where Zeke stored them. Since her arrival, she hadn’t seen anyone carrying a gun. Could be they didn’t want to alarm the children. Could be she’d never get close to the damned things.

Okay, so maybe she’d have to steal a weapon from one of Carreon’s men, hide it, and when she had the chance, empty its chamber into her ex-lover’s head.

Or get off only one shot before his men ran inside, alerted by the commotion they’d heard and murdered her.

Not the ideal solution, but it also wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. With her gone, her father would refuse to heal Carreon, if that were even possible, given the bullet she’d putin his brainstem. Upon Carreon’s death, none of his lieutenants would take his place. His men were cruel bastards but not even close to the tyrant he was. They were bullies but also sheep, needing a master.

Without someone telling them what to do, they’d scatter like frightened rats. Peace would finally come to her people and Zeke’s. He’d grow to love a woman from his clan and build another family and life. Her father would be free.

As troubled as she’d been a moment earlier, Liz was as resolute now. There was no other solution except to give her life for theirs. She’d trick Carreon into trusting her, and then she’d murder him—not the other way around as Zeke had claimed. His visions weren’t always right; they couldn’t be. She’d succeed. She’d save him, her father, and their respective people. All she had to do was to get out of here and return to—

Sudden footfalls sounded in the hall, stopping outside the door. Zeke? Liz pushed to a sitting position, her body weak with desire, her soul aching with regret at the little time they had left.

The door swung open.

Jacob. He wore only jeans, his chest and feet bare, his hair hanging over his broad shoulders, accentuating his masculinity, providing an unmistakable image of the warrior he was.

---