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I spend the night curled in Dray’s arms, half asleep and relaxed, while the other half of me that can never fully switch off thinks about everything that is to come in the next few days.

When the pre-dawn light filters through the small airplane windows, I sneak out of Dray’s arms and head down to the outhouse, doing my business before strolling over to the Dive.

The shack looks worse in the daylight with bullet holes and blood covering the wood, but it makes me feel at home.

Anything too clean out here, I wouldn’t trust it.

Strange but true. There’s a back door facing the sleeping scavs and roadies that’s propped open, so I slip through the half broken screen door and it shuts behind me, the silence echoing around me. Is everyone still asleep?

The back door leads to a corridor where broken frames hang from the walls, and writing decorates both sides like every scav and roadie has carved their road name here, and maybe they have.

Running my fingers across the etchings, I follow the dim hallway.

There is a door to the left and I open it, peering in to see restrooms, but the smell has my nose wrinkling and I shut the door as I carry on down the hall.

There is one picture still in its frame and it stops me as I trace the image with my eyes.

There’s a large, black bearded man with a bandanna covering his head and shades over his eyes.

He has a leather cut in place with a white shirt underneath and blue jeans tucked into big boots.

Next to him is a tiny female with bright blue hair and she is grinning.

She looks so happy while he looks stern, but the way he is holding her is loving, and the bar is behind them looking better than it does now.

The sky is blue and shining in the picture.

I spot his hand hovering over her stomach and suck in a breath.

Her hand covers his with a ring shining there.

On the bottom of the corner in neat, scrawling handwriting is just two names, Tag and Lera, with a little heart drawn after.

For some reason, it makes me unbearably sad.

I’ve seen this world, I know it’s filled with death, but seeing the beauty that was once here in this place where now only destruction stands saddens me.

At least they had each other. I trace their faces when shuffling and muttering reaches me from somewhere farther down the corridor, so I cast the picture one last glance before carrying on walking, searching for the reason for the sound.

The hallway has one more door to the right before it opens up into what I’m guessing is the front of the bar.

I peek into the room, noting the tables, poles, and bar curving around the whole room.

Wooden stairs are tucked into one corner, leading upstairs.

The walls are wooden and covered in posters, dart boards, a broken TV, and other games.

A pool table stands at the back with a scav asleep on top, and a naked girl curled up on his chest, which makes me smirk.

More men and women are passed out around the room, so I leave them be and turn to the other door which opens and leads into a kitchen.

The place is surprisingly tidy, with a silver grill, cooker, microwave, and other appliances, as well as a stainless steel counter in the middle of the room.

Spoons, ladles, and cutlery hang from hooks in the ceiling.

A skinny woman is bustling around, muttering to herself about men being pigs.

Her hair is short and swept to the side, a greyish colour tinged with blonde.

She turns to me and I freeze, she is beautiful, truly beautiful, but that’s not what stops me…

it’s the face. It’s the woman from the picture.

“Hello there. Sorry, I didn’t know anyone was awake. Are you hungry?” she asks, moving over to the stove, but I stop her by stepping into the room.

“Lera?” I inquire.

She grins then, stopping and wiping her hands on an apron tied around her skinny waist. “Saw the picture, did you?”

I nod and she sighs. “Least no fuckers broke it again, I had to stop him from chopping someone’s balls off last time they did.” She waves it away, coming towards me with her hand outstretched. “Nice to meet you…”

“Tazanna, but everyone calls me Worth.” I don’t know why I tell her my real name. “I’m sorry, I’m confused. Is this your bar?” I query, looking around at the kitchen again and she laughs .

“How about a drink and I’ll explain, huh?

No one else will be up for a while, they partied hard last night.

No one told me why, but I can tell by the looks of it that something bad is coming, isn’t it?

” I don’t answer and she sighs. “I thought as much. Please sit.” She nods at the counter and I hop up as she moves a pan onto the cooker and watches it boil.

She grabs two black mugs embossed with wings and places them on the counter, grabbing what looks like leaves and dunking them into the mugs as she talks.

“Tag, my husband, bought this place for me when we were younger. He was part of a club, a motorcycle gang, and once the world went to shit, we just stayed here. Reeves turned up and, well, the rest is history.”

“And you let them put you in the kitchen? Want me to kill them?” I growl and she laughs.

“I like cooking. He bought this place for me to cook, so it was my life before and now after, it’s where I’m happy.

Not everyone wants to be a she-warrior.” She winks then.

“Truly, I love it down here, helping them, providing for them.” She shrugs.

“It’s always been who I am from a young age.

I raised my four little brothers when my parents passed before they were taken away by social services, and then the scorch came and, well, I just stuck to what I know.

I was lucky Tag found Reeves, and we invited his men to stay in offer that they protect our bar, our home. ”

She must catch my wince and laughs. “I know it’s a bit rough, but honestly, it was before all this, bit like my husband. Guess I like the bad boys.”

I laugh, I can’t help it. “Uh-huh, that why you are carrying a knife in your boot?”

Her mouth flops open before she roars with such deep sounding laughter that my eyes fly wide. “See that, did you? Oh my, Tag would love you.”

“Likes dangerous women, does he?” I tease and she leans closer.

“Sort of, but he likes the kind that knows when to fight and when to submit.” She shivers then, her eyes heating.

“Did you know the sub actually has all the power?” She winks at me then before grabbing the mugs and passing me one, while keeping one for herself as she leans back against the counter opposite me.

I sip the concoction, my eyes closing for a second at the earthy, reassuring taste.

“Sands below, this is good,” I mutter.

She smiles at that. “Thank you. I loved a good brew before the world went to shit, so I’ve been searching for years to re-create it.”

“Tag is one of Reeves’ men?” I ask, balancing the mug on my knee and she nods, sipping at her drink.

“His right-hand man, or his enforcer, whichever you prefer.” She waves her hand then. “Means a lot of worry on my part, but that man can take care of himself, don’t tell him I told you that though. His ego is big enough.”

Just then boots round the corner. “Sweetness, where did you go? I was going to kiss—” The voice cuts off and I look over my shoulder to see an older version of the man in the picture standing there.

His eyes narrow on me and go to his wife before he rushes into the room. “Who the fuck are you?” he booms.

Lera places a hand on his chest. “Hush, dear, she’s a friend.” She pats his chest and turns away from him, leaving the big man staring at her like a love-struck puppy, even though he throws me a narrow-eyed look.

He wraps his arms around her and dips her into a passionate kiss.

I don’t bother looking away, if they didn’t want an audience then they shouldn’t have done it in front of me.

Instead, I sip my tea and wait for them to come up for air.

Lera laughs and pulls away, her face flaming, but happiness shines brightly in her eyes.

“Psh, you really getting territorial over her? Want me to bend over and let you fuck me to prove the point?” she teases and pulls away.

“As usual, you are an overzealous fool.” But she says it with a gentle smile, making the insult like an endearment.

“I remember your college years.” He narrows his eyes.

“Oh my God, you have a girlfriend once and you never live it down. She isn’t interested,” she scoffs and I laugh.

“I don’t know, you’re a hot piece of ass,” I taunt and he snarls, moving closer as Lera’s mouth drops open.

“There was a time I would have hit that. Sorry, big guy, don’t worry, I have six of my own very protective males…

” I trail off then feeling Dray enter. “And here’s one now.

Tip, I would stop looking at me like that, he’s a little bit crazy and might kill you,” I offer, sipping the tea as Dray slips in front of me, his spine straight and vibrating with the need for blood.

I drape my arms around him and lay my head on his shoulder, stopping him from killing them. There is no doubt he is stroking the blades across his chest. “Be nice,” I warn.

“When am I ever nice?” he grumbles.

“Now or I will stab you with every one of these blades,” I threaten and he shivers, leaning farther back into me, and I know it’s from lust not fear.

“Please do, soulmate,” he groans, tilting his head back.

“Psycho,” I mutter, and look at the couple to see them openly watching me. Tag has relaxed now. “Tag, Lera, this is Dray.”

He doesn’t say anything, just watches them as Tag nods and Lera smiles. “Want tea?” she offers sweetly, but I see the bit of fear she tries to hide. Not that I can blame her, he is an intimidating sight, sometimes I just forget.