NADINE'S P.O.V
Caine's voice sent a shot of relief down my spine.
I had never felt so relieved to hear his voice before. I opened my mouth to scream out his name but the girl only held her knife tighter against my throat.
"Scream and I'll gut you like a fucking fish," she warned. "Where is he?"
"I don't know," I admitted. I wasn't sure were exactly in the house he was as of this moment. "Look, we don't want to hurt you."
"I don't believe you. Everyone wants something. You were watching me in the supermarket."
"We were trying to shop for ourselves," I explained. "We can work together. We can get out of this together."
I heard Caine call out for me, his voice was softer now, almost as if he didn't want to risk anyone overhearing. I could hear the tone of worry creeping into his voice and I knew without a doubt that he was getting closer.
"If he finds us like this, he will kill you. Let me go and we can work together. I know you're scared but neither of us will kill you. We can help. You're young, I know you don't know how to do this-"
She snorted. "I'm twenty five, bitch. I've been doing this since the outbreak started and I have protected myself and my brother. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you and run."
"We'll help you find safety. I have been in a bunker since the monsters first arrived. I just got separated from the others. We will help you find safety and I will make sure you are allowed in."
Her hand wavered just a little. "You will?"
I nodded as best as I could with the knife still at my throat. I could feel a burn where she held the knife, I knew she had already nicked me but I didn't want to make it worse.
It was wrong to lie, I knew that, but I didn't care right now seeing as my life was on the line. All I needed was for her to let go of me, I could figure out the mechanics of getting away from her later.
"Fine," she dropped her knife just as the kitchen door opened.
Caine walked in, his hand on his hip where his own dagger lay. He took in the scene in front of him with wary and hard eyes.
"Hey," I managed out, my throat dry and my voice shaky. "Look who I found."
For a long moment, Caine didn't say a word, he just ran his eyes over my body as if trying to search for any obvious signs of injury. I opened my mouth to speak but he held up a hand to stop me and gestured for me to come closer.
I felt my legs move before I even realized what was happening and as soon as I was within reach, his fingers wrapped around my neck, tugging me to him.
"Everything is fine," I assured him. "They didn't realize we were here and broke in."
"What happened, princess, and I want the truth this time."
"Caine-" I began but he stopped me when his thumb ran over a particularly sore spot on my throat.
"She cut you right here," he whispered before looking up to face the girl. "If you want to threaten someone, don't leave a mark."
"Caine, please don't-"
He ignored me completely, softly pushing me until I was hidden behind him. I peeked over his shoulder at the girl, getting a perfect view of her face right now. She did look her age actually, it was just the obvious malnutrition that had me thinking she was younger. She had the same deep brown eyes as her brother.
"I could kill you both and leave your bodies out for the monsters to have."
The girl didn't even look fazed. "You could, but it would be too close for comfort because they will hear us scream and we will all die."
"I know more than enough ways to kill you where you can't scream," the corner of his lips curled up in a scary smile. "Try again."
For a fraction of a second, I saw something akin to fear in her eyes. It was almost as if she had just registered the fact that Caine was a threat. I was no more than a means to an end, I had shown sympathy when I first met her. She knew I would hesitate to kill but Caine- he would kill her and step over her dead body without the bat of an eyelash.
"We don't want any trouble," she said finally. "I'm Irene and that's Max. Your girlfriend said she could help us."
"I'm not-" I began but Caine stopped me.
"What exactly did she say?"
"She said we could find a bunker for safety. I don't want any trouble, I just want my brother safe, please."
Caine glanced over at me as if silently asking if I was insane before turning to them. "I can't assure you safety, not when you broke in and held a knife to her fucking throat."
I watched as Irene slowly dropped the knife in her hands to the ground. With the edge of her boots, she pushed it over to Caine.
"Please," her voice cracked. "I will do anything. I don't care if you take him and not me. I just need him safe."
For a long moment, Caine said nothing, he just stared at her and her knife on the ground. I thought he would refuse but he must have seen something in her because he took a step back.
"Take your weapon. I have no interest in protecting someone who is unarmed."
"Thank you-"
"Don't thank me yet. Find another house to sleep in. You're not staying here."
"But-"
"You survived this long, didn't you? Survive one more night."
Irene's cheeks burned a bright red with indignation but she didn't protest. She just nodded and grabbed her brother's hand, the both of them exiting the way they came.
Once they were gone, Caine slammed the door shut and barricaded it.
I hadn't realized how fast my heart was beating until they left and the room was drenched in silence.
"Fuck," I whispered. "That was terrifying. She is so small and yet-"
"Are you crazy?" Caine turned to me, effectively shutting me up. "Didn't you think to call for me the moment you saw them? You could have been killed."
"I didn't realize-"
"You never seem to realize," he stepped up to me.
I wasn't scared of Caine and yet, I found myself backing up until my spine hit the wall. "Caine, stop."
"No. You have no sense of self-preservation and I am fucking sick of it."
He was standing so close that with every breath I took, my chest brushed his. I could smell him, could feel him all around me.
"Caine," I began slowly but he didn't move. "Rowan-"
That seemed to snap something in him because he swallowed and took a step back. "Go upstairs. I'll be there soon to clean up your throat."
"But-"
"Just, go."