As I lay down, grabbing a book from the small pile that I kept close by, I could hear that the situation outside had calmed. Hoping that Negan was alright, that my rare prayer had been answered. My hand fell to my still flat stomach and I gave another, just in case, that should I be pregnant, I'd be allowed to have a safe, healthy delivery. And not the nightmare I'd experienced before.
I read my book, my hand on my belly, and waited. Negan would come, he would feel the urge to make sure I was alright, that my stress wasn't rising like a rocket. Sure enough, I heard his voice outside in the lounge a few minutes later. My heartbeat returned to a steady and calmer rhythm. Thank God, I thought, giving gratitude where it was due.
I waited, patiently, for him to open our door and walk in. The minutes seemed to go by very slowly, until the door finally opened. Instead of Negan coming in first, it was a teenage boy, wearing a dark hat.
"Go on in, son," Negan's voice was saying, as he followed behind. "Now," he continued when the boy's gaze fell to our bed with me lying propped up on the pillows. "Unlike my 'wives' out there, this one you don't get to oggle." The teenager had looked over and I noticed that one of his eyes was bandaged. I was curious, but waited for Negan to explain. "Hey, darlin', he said, kissing me before sitting down on the sofa across from a chair he had the boy take. "This here is Rick's boy. He just killed some of my men and wanted to kill me. He's a badass." His grin made me shake my damn head.
"So you invited him for refreshments?" I asked, raising one eyebrow. "Honestly, Negan, you had the audacity to say I'm not acting logical." I rolled my eyes and asked to join them.
"No," Negan said, one hand raised. "You're on bedrest, doctor's orders." I snorted. "Well, it would be if I asked the doctor to order it." He grinned at me and I rolled my eyes again. "You can hear us just fine from the bed, Dessa."
I humphed. "Fine." I sat the book down and waited for them to start chatting.
From what I could gather, Carl had been given quite the show already. After attacking the men, and attempting to kill the man I loved, Negan had given him the tour. Showing his benevolence, his bounty, and his wrath. Well, fuck, I thought was he recruiting children now? When Negan asked the boy to remove his eye bandage I'd heard enough.
"Negan!" I stopped him. "Really?" I asked, glaring from my bed. "He's a child, please stop tormenting him." I didn't even notice that my hand had found my stomach again. He did, and he sat back studying me for a moment. "Please." I knew that I looked emotional, because I was. Torturing children was a bridge too far.
"Dessa's right, Carl." He replied, having come down from his egotistical bullshit. "If you don't wanna show me, you don't have to." He smiled at me. "I still wanna see, but I won't badger you."
My glare held. I barely noticed that the young man had begun unwrapping his bandage. Honestly, when I did realize it, I considered the thought that I was in love with Svengali. Even without my help he could convince the unwilling to do things that others couldn't. Jesus. I turned away, curling in on myself as the man I loved sat and discussed things with his new enemy's child that I no longer cared to know.
"Dessa," I felt the bed dip and heard the squeal of where he broke it. "Baby, I'm gonna take Carl back home." I didn't turn or open my eyes. I couldn't look at him right now. Not after the bullshit he'd pulled. Killing a person who attacked you was one thing, but tormenting the person, playing with them like a cat would a mouse, that wasn't something she cared to see. "Honey, please." I shook my head and felt his hand move to where mine was still cupping my nonexistent bump. I felt his kiss on my forehead. "I'll be back later today, I swear, Odessa, I'll be back."
And for once, I wondered if I wanted him to.