The sounds of machine guns going off followed by the occasional explosion that shook my window panes. I slapped at my phone that was buzzing like an annoying fly. There was no reason for me to get up when my small little compound wasn't under attack.

Even if there was an attack, I wouldn't be hearing gunfire. My team of engineers already created a laser cannon and while the cooldown and charging time was long. There were still nine captains that could handle anything. Not to mention my three majors with overwhelming combat ability. Plus we had high ground and watch towers. Ain't none of that shit that happened to the military base going to work on us.

"Here, it's Amala." Izzy slapped her phone into my chest.

I lazily grabbed the phone and brought it to my ear. "This is sleep speaking."

"I'm at your gate but your men won't allow us to enter."

I sat up and looked at the phone to see the time. Rubbing my jaw, I made the decision to get up. I threw the cover off, kicked my legs off the beds into slippers. Adding a stretch and a yawn, I was slightly more awake.

"When you say us, you mean you and Scarlett or more than you? Because I don't have room for more than ten people." I opened the dresser and grabbed a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt.

"Me, Scarlett, Tyler and his family, Mary, Riley, Louis and his family, and Martha and her two daughters." Amala introduced the old crew.

"Oh, you brought the whole crew but do you guys have money to afford housing here?" I pulled on my clothes while walking through the house.

"How much are you talking about?" Tyler's voice came over the phone.

"Look at the app." I scratched my stomach and opened the door.

On my way down, jeeps were running back and forth from the main Military building to each tower. There were six all around with the three sixty laser Canon. The men carried four heavy batteries into the tower and I'm sure they were thankful for the elevator.

"Why are your prices so high?" Complaints came from the other side.

I hung up on them and continued my morning walk down to the gate. The sound of gunfire became quiet but the chatter at the gate wasn't.

The guards stood up straight and saluted me, their fist that held rosary slammed into their chest.

I waved for them to continue and looked out the gate at the more than forty people with thick bags. I scratched my head and turned to Amala and her crew.

"What is with the foot traffic? Don't you guys know this is a farmers only crowd?" I waved my hand at the bright field of golden wheat and corn stalks.

"You couldn't hear the gunfire? We were attack late into the night and it lasted until just now." Scarlett explained.

Shrugging, I turned to look at the smoke billowing from the city. "I don't see why you all came running here. If they go down, don't you think we will too?"

Mary snorted, "who are you trying to trick? We all know that the reason the attack happened is because you stop protecting the city. Even the damn walkers know that which is why they hurried up and siege the city."

"Well the fighting is over. Why don't you head on back?" I tried to shoo them away.

"If those walkers attack once, they are going to keep attacking. Nobody wants to live under the threat of death!" Someone from the crowd shouted.

Scratching my head, "you guys still don't understand. If the city falls, then what makes you think we won't be next? Besides, the walkers won't kill you. They will just enslave you and make you work for their needs. Depending on how smart the big boss is behind them, your life might not even change."

"Dont you need workers and stuff? Why aren't you allowing us free labor in?" Someone else shouted.

"I don't need workers and stuff. I need qualified candidates who match the requirements listed on the app. We also only have ten houses and are not going to overcrowd my men with a bunch of freeloaders and cowards." I shot back.

"Just like the rich to be selfish and not care about the lives of little people! If you had any humanity left, you would have let us in!" Some righteous dumbass said.

"You don't have to beg to come in. You can return back to your homes where someone cares about you." I glanced at the clock and turned around.

Amala and Tyler both shouted, "wait!"

They looked at each other before Tyler spoke out.

"I just bought a two bedroom. Can my family and I come in?" Tyler held his wife and daughter's arm.

I waved them in. Very quickly, the houses were sold off. Just to make sure they didn't go wandering around the wrong areas, I led them to the civilian area.

"Why is the area split up like this? It is a terrible design." Scarlett's long neck was on a swivel.

"If you don't like it, you can go back to your old house." I gestured at the first house which was a single bedroom. "First stop."

Martha and her two daughters walk down the paved sidewalk up to their door. The key was on a baggy attached to the door. There were no house squatters or thieves here because this is a private military compound for my research group to find out the secrets to life.

"Why is it so quiet? Feels like I'm walking through a desert town." Scarlett once again enlightened us with her ability as a reporter.

"Because most of these houses belong to researchers who are currently working. This is after all a private compound meant to safeguard their families. Not to be a shelter for useless reporters who ask too many questions." I dropped off the last group of people in front of a three bedroom house.

I turned to Amala, Mary, and Scarlett with a look of resignation. The walk back to my house was slightly quiet but still filled with that awkward energy.

"Wow, you built yourself a mansion while you left the house Arthur inherited as a normal two story four bedroom." Scarlett mumbled.

"Scarlett.." I grabbed the doorknob and turned to her. "You are not one of the old crew. Don't make me punch you in the throat and send you back out there."

Scarlett mimicked zipping up her lips but I knew it was folly. The girl was a noisy one. It was clear from the fact she felt the need to report on everything around her like she had a sole duty to make any leadership transparency.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell of breakfast had my tummy growling. I walked past the living room down a corridor leading to the first floor guest rooms. I had to open the doors to check if it was occupied because I had unannounced guests.

"Here is one." I pushed open the door and moved on to the next.

"So what kind of research are you doing that you need to build a base up here on the mountain? I mean, I don't even think Arthur knows about or agrees given his penchant for control." Scarlett couldn't hold it in.

I turned to Amala with a smile. "Your girlfriend is going back outside? How about you?"

Amala looked taken aback. Like she wasn't paying attention to us. "I'm sorry what happened?" Her eyes kept drifting to her phone.

Feeling curious, I walked over and took a look. Only to see that the background was dark but not like I can't see dark. Just that it was nighttime and the wall was lit up by lights. There were flashes of gunfire, sounds of explosions, and the camera hand was ducking down at the impact of bullets near him.

He did this several times before we were able to catch a glance at who was attacking. It wasn't walkers like I would have suspected but a group of guys in military uniforms. They have humvees and those big trucks. A helicopter spun as it kept losing altitude. The model didn't look like the one the engineers made.

"Huh… didn't expect the military of all people to attack the base. Looks like whoever it was had old intel. Probably watched your girlfriend videos and thought we still had the same weaponry." I couldn't help glancing at the walking spy.

Scarlett's face turns a shade of red. "You can't blame that on me. My videos only tell people what they need to know to pick a good group to follow."

"While showing our capabilities to make people with an actual brain know what we have or don't have." I retorted.

Amala held up her hand. "Is this my room? I love to get some sleep. You two can continue arguing somewhere else."

I moved aside from the doorway and gestured for her to go in. "Don't make any of those videos here or you won't just be kicked out but buried as well."

"But the people have the right to know about where they lived and how the people in charge are using their hard work!" Scarlett took an aggressive step forward.

"This isn't the old world. They have not provided any form of resources for this compound but this compound has provided the resources they are using. If you record anything outside this house, I'll make you wish you were as smart as you think you are." I stared here eye to eye without any expression she might misconstrue my meaning.

"Bah, that's just something corporate drones say when they have things to hide! Transparency is the way to win people's hearts. You should be happy that I spread out your amazing points or how else do you think you got all those lofty researchers to come?" Scarlett crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

This is that time in life where I had a thought about what a soul really tasted like. I always had the craving to just bite into that soft neck.

Scarlett ran into the room and slammed the door. She even fell against it and fumbled with the doorknob but it wasn't built with a lock.

Chuckling, I walked away. However, my joy vanished at seeing Todd and his lackeys in my living room. The other girls were fine. Even being not my type, they were still female and thus more bearable. Double standards, I know but which would you rather have? Annoying females who can at least look enjoyable. Or annoying males with no plus side?

My feet pivot and I went into the kitchen on a war mission.

"Babe, wash your hands and come taste this?" Izzy stirred up some broth that smelled delicious.

My nose didn't need to be told twice, I washed my hands. Izzy held a spoon with a hand under it. I didn't need any guidance on how to take advantage of food. My mouth opened and I snapped down on the spoon, not using as much strength. A multitude of flavors lit up my mouth and the strongest one was a very spicy slice of meat.

My throat constricted in an instant. My stomach sent its protest to my tongue. I released the spoon and grabbed a napkin to spit out the strand of meat. It wasn't even enough to count as finger size but my body rejected it fully.

Izzy smirked as she went back to stirring the pot.

"What the fuck?" I glared at her as I threw away the napkin.

"That was my bad. I hadn't had much sleep because Mary and Amala had to call me just to make you let them in." Izzy turned back to stirring and humming. Tapping her feet in a way that made her ass bounce just right.

My arguments were drowned out by my dick bloating my head. My hand snaked around her waist as I pulled her in. "I was thinking of the community. These guys are running now when the situation was handled and hardly made it past the gates. I didn't want such chaos in the community where our guards and researchers' families were located. Definitely since school is about to be finished."

Izzy lifted up on the big pot and moved it to a different stove top. "I hear you but Mary and Amala are friends, right? Or friends to at least one of us? So shouldn't you have contacted me to see if I wanted a say in it? I may have agreed with you or may not but at least I felt that my input could be of some value."

"Start the salon and your input will be of value. Well, your money will be." I rested my chin on her head.

"So only money makes you move?"

"Obviously, they are in the house. So your words mattered to me or else, I would have left them outside where I want those two imbeciles."

"What did they do for you to hate them this much?" Izzy turned around after turning the stove off.

"I just don't like them."

"That isn't enough of a reason."

"It is to me and since I conceded to your friends twice. These two who aren't your friends should be tossed out, this is my stance." I leaned back.

"But if you don't have a valid reason for this dislike then it doesn't make sense. Besides, Skylar is dating Todd and has a child with him. If he leaves, she is likely to go with him since they are new. They will be forced to sleep in that dorm until they get a job and can afford better."

"How is that my problem? And a valid concern is what do you suspect these two morons to do? Live off me or you?" I moved my feet as someone tried to enter. "No offense but I can tolerate females but guys? That is a different beast and if he got her knocked up, he should be out there trying to make a living now that he has the opportunity. Instead, he has yet to make any kind of goal"

"He also just got here from a.."

"So what if he just came out of the jungle? Didn't I focus on our security first? What about other men who come here? Don't they figure out their shit first?" I stepped back.

Skylar pushed into the kitchen and Izzy shot me a look.

"We can leave if you don't want us here." Skylar stuck out her chin while looking stubborn.

"Great, go pack up and I'll send you down to the newcomers' intake." I grabbed my keys off the hook behind the door.

Izzy slapped my arms "he isn't saying he wants you gone. Just Todd and I kind of agree. He isn't the best boyfriend material for you."

Skylar shrugged. "It doesn't matter whether you approve of him but that I do."

"Say no more. Go pack your shit. Chop chop." I clapped to emphasize my demand.

"Kaden!" Izzy barked.

"What? She is stupid and I'm fine with it. As her friend, you tried to save her but she is foolish to the degree that she would have been dead without the men who died for her to be here." I said defensively.

Skylar looked at me like she wanted to argue or something.

"Come on, I'll help you pack." I opened the door and tapped my feet.

"Why is she packing?" Todd said as he crossed his arm.

"I'm kicking you out." I said without looking at him.

"I don't think we are going anywhere."

I turned to find a revolver pointed at my forehead. A smile grew on my lips. His screams filled the air as I snapped his wrist. I grabbed his throat and lifted him up. His buddy walked through a doorway with a shotgun at his waist. He looked between us and squeezed the trigger. Shaking my head, I pulled Todd into the path of the spray.

The dropped revolver jumped onto my hand and I put a round into retard two. Then I turned to Izzy with a 'I told you so' face.

"Shut it." Izzy snarled.

It took Skylar a couple seconds to start screaming but my guards rushed in. I waved them at the bodies and Skylar. "Bury them and get rid of the girl."

Izzy turned to me and I rephrased myself.

"Send the girl to the intake tent. Oh she has a baby, make sure to grab that." I threw a glance at Izzy but she turned her back to me.

I stepped past them and ran into the other two girls who actually weren't bad for black hair girls. Not that women with black hair are bad per say. Just a little weird.

"Oh my!" One of them covered her mouth.

The other shook her head. "I knew these two weren't up to any good. They were somehow the only ones to come back alive when wolves attacked. Only stupid bitch would believe these two scrawny bitches could make it back when they ain't got half a brain between them."

Oh, damn. Let it all out.

"I agree. I always thought something was off with Todd. He was a coward in school and even more so now." Anna added fuel to the bonfire.

"Can't you guys shut up and you're not kicking Skylar out with her baby!" Izzy pushed Skylar away.

My guards come back with plastic wrap and handle the bodies like pros. I was a little scared at their proficiency but the gang tattoos said it all. They watched Hella gang related movies during their spare time.

I scratched my head as people started gathering. "It's okay. Just two kids overreaching."

The guard with waves in his hair finished wrapping Todd up and turned to me. "Oh, Arthur at the gate."

Damn, if it's one thing it's another.

I walked to the garage and slipped into a sports car. I elbowed the garage door as I pulled on my seat belt. The car sounded so beautiful when I revved it up. Like a good kid, I backed up slowly and then sped out of the driveway. It took me less than five minutes to reach the gate which wasn't as thrilling when in a car like this.

The gate raised and I drove under it. Arthur stood at the side looking out over the Golden heads of wheat and corn stalks.

"Get in." I opened the passenger side door and looked at this guy in his heavy winter coat.

Arthur gave me an odd look but he climbed in. "Why did you pull back your domain?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Are we really going to play this game?" Arthur turned in his seat.

"It all depends on you."

The car shot forward and I took us down the mountain, passed the crowd of people returning back to the city. You could instantly spot the difference between the sunny side and where snow fell. I slowed down just so I wouldn't lose control.

"Are you telling me you don't know about the incoming snow?" Arthur waved his hand at the white road ahead of us.

"Oh, I know about that. I'm just curious why you think I had anything to do with natural weather."

"Is this about Riley?"

"I should be asking you if this is about Amanda."

Arthur's jaw clenched but he blew out a breath. "I admit, I felt betrayed when she went with you. But don't you think this is too much?"

"Not at all. You wanted to play games with the so-called taxes, I have helped you out."

"Are you sleeping with Amanda?"

"If I was, what would that have to do with you?"

The gate opened and I cut through.

"Don't you have enough women at your beck and call? Why must you go against me?"

"Do you know why I built the town on the mountain?"

I swerved around a slow moving truck and booked it towards the north gate.

"Why? I was always curious why you gave up so easily and moved out there with half our numbers."

"It's because I was tired of fighting off your lousy attempts to take over. Your lousy attempts to be better than me. I was trying to create a society that could self govern itself. It's halfway there but you couldn't wait to one up me." I swerved past a couple that stumbled drunkenly into the street.

"So you slept with Amanda to get even with me?"

"Only you are trying to get even with someone."

"But it's a fact that you slept with Amanda after I became Mayor." His face had that weird villain smile. "I thought we were brothers but then you go and do something like this. I'm glad I saw this side of you early."

I was speechless.. utterly speechless. This guy.. damn..

I could only stop the car and stare at him.

"This is my city now and I hope you can see that now so things don't have to get even more unfriendly." Arthur opened the door and stepped out. "I hope you don't go against me again but I'm looking forward to teaching you a lesson."

He slammed the door and walked off with swagger.

I could only scratch my head. I admit I acted petty but he ruined his own relationship. He sent his girl into my arms right after. As for bros? Is he on drugs? You don't tax your bros just because you like what they got with their hard work.

I don't think he realized how fuck up I can get.

My glove department popped open and took out my emer phone. Laughing, I sent a phrase that would level any community. 'Pull out.' There was no reply but I knew my people would shortly clear out our stores and exit the city through a tunnel. From there, pettiness will begin in full stride.

On the way back, I watched a man carrying his daughter on his shoulder. There was a smile on their face and I kind of wanted that moment of happiness that dad was experiencing.

As I drove past, I spotted the same thing just with different combinations of parents or just kids by themselves lining up for the best thing next to no actual candy, the baker.

I exited the city and took the long winding road back. I didn't see the crowd so they must have made it back. Oh, I spoke too soon. They were lined up outside the gate. I slowed down and spotted the reason for the line.

I put the car in park and rolled down the window. Izzy looked at me and sighs. She frowned and opened the door before lowering herself in. I rolled the window back up and gave her my full attention.

"Aren't you doing exactly as you claim I did? Is this not a double standard?"

Izzy ran her hand over the door, her eyes avoiding me as she looked out the windshield.

"What if I don't love you anymore?"

My mouth opened but it was suddenly dry. Was my luck with women bad or maybe my personality?

I closed my mouth and licked my lips. "Okay, so you don't love me anymore. What do you plan on doing then?"

She didn't answer me and it gave me hope.

"Do you want to move out? Maybe go back to the city and live by yourself? I can give your mom a shop down there to replace the one she is going to lose when you leave."

"Why are you such an ass? I understand that this event and your powers shaped you into a survivor but sometimes I feel like you are losing touch with humanity. You don't even blink when killing. Don't even consider the feelings for those that are affected."

I raised an eyebrow and put my arm behind her headrest. "Is this about Skylar and her boyfriend who help people kill off her family?"

"How do you know?"

"Have you asked them what happened before they arrived? Have you not listened to that girl's words after Todd died or did you not hear the gunfire that brought these people running to the monster that is your husband." I pointed at the crowd.

Izzy wiped a tear from her face. "I just think that you are being too ruthless in your everyday life. What if I'm pregnant but you can't even show love to your child?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "I think I would love him more than you. I was just watching people playing with their kids and feeling envious."

Izzy grabbed my hand. "I just want to say that if you can't separate that bloodlust from our life then I will leave. I don't want to raise a psycho nor do I want to be like an evil villain wife."

I rolled my eyes and leaned in for a kiss. She stared at me but I eventually got one.

"Fine. I won't bring it home." I promised.

"Good." She licked her lips and looked ready to jump my bones.

"What is this line you have set up?" I waved my hand at the crowd.

"I ordered an apartment to be built and they are recording people to plan out the move and their jobs beforehand. If they want to come to you that badly, then they must feel you are a better leader than Arthur." Izzy watched the guards take names.

"We might be going to war with him. I think he lost his mind or maybe he never had it. Blames me for seducing his wife away." I started up the car and drove through the gate and back towards the house.

"What do you mean you seduce his wife away?" Izzy frowned.

"I don't really know myself. He is the reason she left him but in his mind. I'm the reason."

"Have you slept with amanda?"

"If I say no would you believe me?"

Izzy gave me a look that said she didn't. "What if I ask you not to sleep with another woman?"

"You already know the answer. What other women?" I hit the garage button and pulled in.

Izzy stared at me for the longest. Like she was trying to find the lie in my words.

"I think I'm ready to start that salon now."

I nodded. "You know where Amanda is."

"Okay, pull down your pants. I always wanted to fuck in an expensive car." Izzy tugged down her pants.

Say no more.