Page 108

Call Me Daddy

I spot the towering warehouses in the distance and know we’re getting close.

I stop us outside of the fence to give orders.

“Okay, listen up! Bern, Archel, Dray, and Evan are with me, the rest of you stay out here. Do not attack anyone, or I will kill you myself,” I say seriously, scanning my eyes over the gathered group.

“Watch out for rogue Berserkers or scavs!” With that final instruction, I sling my bag over my shoulder.

I hear some grumbles, but they climb off their bikes, and stretch before settling in.

“Let’s go,” I call, and Bern, Dray, Archel, and Evan all head my way as I slip through the fence, and try to remember the way in without asking Evan for directions.

My father gave me a map last time I was here, but it must have been lost somewhere at The Ring when Ivar took me.

This place is like a maze, no wonder no one has ever found Paradise.

It’s in the middle of nowhere, so unless you were really looking for it, you wouldn’t notice it.

By pure luck alone I stumble upon the hidden entrance to the bunker.

But now we have another problem—how the fuck do we get in?

“I’m betting they have cameras,” I murmur.

“You should flash them, that’ll get their attention,” Archel teases.

I arch an eyebrow. “Why don’t you?”

He cups his junk protectively and sighs dramatically. “Alas, I can’t, my woman would kill me.”

“She’s definitely made up, no one could put up with him,” I tell Dray loudly, just as a siren comes from the bunker doors and I hear the mechanisms of it moving. “Huh, well that was easy.”

I keep my hands away from my weapons, not wanting them to shoot first and ask questions later.

But it’s especially hard when guards pour out from the partially opened door and immediately point their guns at us.

Reluctantly, I hold up my hands. “I’m here to see my father!

” I shout to be heard over their yelling.

“Don’t move!” a few of them shout, and I roll my eyes.

“Do we look like we’re moving? No. Now lower your fucking weapons, I’m starting to get annoyed.”

“Stand down!” comes a stern order from inside the bunker. I smirk as I watch my father hurry outside, pushing through the men to get to me. He stops just before them, staring at me in confusion.

“Taza—Worth, what are you doing here?” He frowns, looking at the men behind me before his eyes once again focus on me. I feel nothing…my real father is dead, and this man is still just a stranger.

“I need your help.” It pains me to say it, but I swallow my fucking pride. I would do anything for my men.

“Why would we help you, savage?” A man pushes through the crowd to stand shoulder to shoulder with my father.

He’s more muscle than skin, his face is all hard lines, and he has short grey hair, and clothing pressed within an inch of its life with the nametag “Captain” proudly embroidered on the pocket.

“Because if you don’t help me, I have an army of pissed off savages outside your gates just waiting for a fight.

It would be a shame if we had to take what I need by force.

And I will if I have to, that’s not a threat, just the truth.

You’re in my way of getting to my men, so I suggest you let us in and give me what I fucking need before I lose my temper.

And for the last fucking time, lower your guns before I get really annoyed. ”

Dray and Archel snigger, and I hear Evan sigh as he steps up next to me. “She speaks the truth, Captain.”

“You’re with them now, the savages?” the captain scoffs.

Evan stands straighter. “She saved my life. If that makes me a savage lover, I guess that’s what I am.

” He shrugs and I grin over at him before replacing it with a glare, aiming it at my father and his men.

I take a step closer and their weapons, which they were starting to lower, rise up and focus back on me.

“I have lost people I love, I have faced down a fucking mad king, and I have been tortured, raped, and almost killed. Yet I’m still standing, I’m the fucking Queen of the Berserkers, and those savages as you call them?

We rule the fucking Wastes. I suggest you choose your next words very carefully, because I’m losing my patience. ”

“Worth, that won’t be necessary, will it, Captain?” my father asks .

I look into the captain’s eyes and see nothing but spite, hate, and death there.

This man is one to watch, he doesn’t give a fuck about Paradise, he only likes the power.

I step closer to him, ignoring the guns that follow my movement.

“I’ve killed men like you for less, so I suggest you show some fucking respect.

I know you, and I know your type. I can see it in your eyes.

You call us savages, but I’m betting you have crossed lines that we never would just to keep your power.

Push me, Captain, I dare you. I’ll teach you why they call me the Champion. ”

He scowls, his face reddening, and I grin. “Oh, that hurt, didn’t it? You don’t like women, especially strong ones. I wonder…” I take another step closer, almost touching him now. “If I started looking into it, how many women have you hurt inside these walls that were made to protect them?”

“Too many,” Archel says darkly. I don’t look away from the captain, sensing he’s about to explode.

“I know that for a fact. I’ve seen the aftermath of what his men do to women.

I won’t kill you here and now, that honour rests with my woman for what you all did to her.

” I blink in surprise and glance over at Archel to see his face cold and so full of fury that even I wouldn’t mess with him.

What did they do to his woman? I debate killing the captain, but I can read between the lines.

Whatever he did to her, Archel is right, she deserves to be the one doing the killing. So, I step back and wink at the man.

“Don’t worry, I’m not your death, she will be.

” His eyes widen then, flashing with fear, and I know he hurt that woman.

Archel’s woman. Shit. Blood is going to rain from the fucking sky.

I wouldn’t mess with the assassin and especially not someone he so clearly loves.

He will gut this place for revenge, and I’m betting his woman will be at his side, because he would only love a strong fighter.

I turn, giving the captain my back and nod at Archel.

“After we’re done, get your woman, get your revenge.”

A genuine smile forms on his face. “You’ll like her, Worth. She’s a stubborn bitch, hell of a fighter too.”

“What’s her name?” I inquire, purposely ignoring the angry captain, his unsure men, and my father, showing them how little respect and worry I put into them. Instead, I trust Dray to watch my back. He’s staring at the captain with death in his eyes.

“Piper,” Archel answers, and Evan’s head swivels his way, his eyes widening in shock.

“What the fuck did you just say?” he yells, frozen to his spot.

I look between them. That name seems familiar… oh shit .

Well, this should be fun.

“What’s it to you, Doc?” Archel teases .

“ Piper , my fucking Pip? You know where she is?” Evan screams, pulling out his dagger and advancing on Archel.

Sighing, I slip between them, pressing my hands on each of their chests. “No killing, not yet. Plus, there’s enough love to go around.” I grin then and I hear Dray laugh.

“You know her?” Archel queries, his voice deadly. “You let her get hurt? Attacked?”

“Attacked? They told me she was dead! I didn’t believe them...” His voice trails off, and his face goes pale as he realises what Archel said. “They-they hurt her?”

Archel watches Evan in sympathy, some of his anger dissipating. “They did more than that. When I found her, she was nearly dead, yet she still tried to fight me off. I saved her, took her somewhere safe where they would never find her.”

“Is she—” Evan starts and then swallows, tears gathering in his eyes.

“She’s alive, stronger than ever. She can shoot a mean bow. When I left, she was on her way to leading her own Clan. She protected them from an eater attack. Has nightmares, though, real bad ones.”

Evan growls, grinding his teeth. “She always did, she would only ever sleep if I was there. Fuck!” he screams, clutching his head.

“She alive, she’s alive, Pip—” Hearing the panic in his voice, I reach out and grip his shoulders, forcing him to look at me.

When he finally meets my gaze, I see a broken man.

His eyes are distraught and filled with tears, his face wild.

“Do not do anything stupid. We’ll get what we need, and then and only then do we get revenge,” I growl.

Evan looks over my shoulder. “You’re sure it was people from here who attacked her?”

I feel Archel’s front hit my back. “Yes, I saw their bodies as they were being eaten. They were guards.”

Fuck.

I look over at my father, who’s frowning and trying to listen to the conversation.

“I need to see her. Worth, I have to—”

“No,” Archel snaps, his tone sombre.

“What did you fucking say?” Evan rumbles lowly. I sigh at the look in his eyes, he’s hoping for a fight.

“I won’t compromise her safety. That place is her home, her fucking sanctuary. How do I know you didn’t hurt her too? I will kill you and all of them before I let anyone near her again,” Archel warns coolly, his tone so calm that even I question if I want to be in the middle of them.

I look to Dray for some help, but he just grins maniacally at me as he tosses his blade up and down, before catching it and throwing it again.

“Fuck, okay. We don’t have time for this. Wait…” I narrow my eyes on Archel. “Is that why you agreed to come so quickly?”

He winks at me. “Don’t worry, queenie, I wasn’t going to kill them…just hurt them, kidnap them, and offer them to her as a gift.”

“How romantic,” I retort with a snort.