In a world ruled by fear, survival comes with a price.
When her brother's attempt to overthrow the Saviors fails, Tessa finds herself under Negan's watchful eye-protected, controlled, and dangerously close to the man she should hate. As violence, po...
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Negan smirked as he leaned toward Rick. "Sucks, don't it? That moment you realize you don't know shit about shit. This is your kid, right? Oh yeah—this is definitely your kid." His gaze slid toward Carl, lingering there just long enough to enjoy the way Rick's face twisted.
"Just stop this!" Rick shouted, his voice cracking. "Please—just stop!"
Negan laughed, sharp and amused. "Hey, don't make me kill the little future serial killer. Don't make this easy on me! But see, I gotta pick somebody. Everyone's at the table, waiting for me to order—and me? I just can't decide."
Tessa's pulse thundered in her ears. Her thoughts spiraled, dragging every loss she had already survived up from the depths. Hershel. Her husband. The baby. Lori. Beth. Noah. Shane. Too many names. Too much death. It pressed in on her chest until breathing felt impossible.
She didn't plan to speak.
The words slipped out of her before she could stop them, quiet and unsteady, barely more than a breath. "Take me."
Rick froze.
His head snapped toward her, eyes wide with shock and horror. "Tessa—no. No, don't—"
Negan's brows lifted slowly, interest flickering across his face. "Well now... what do we have here?" He glanced between them, a crooked smile forming. "That your girlfriend, Rick? Because damn, she's awful eager to volunteer."
"She's—she's my sister," Rick said quickly, voice breaking. "She's just scared. Don't touch her. Don't hurt her—please."
Negan chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Well I'll be damned." He looked back at Tessa. "Little sister's got some guts on her. Offering herself up like that. Real noble. Real sweet." His smile thinned, turning colder. "But here's the thing, sweetheart—I don't kill women. Not my style."
Tessa's stomach dropped.
Negan straightened, swinging Lucille lazily over his shoulder. "Anyways! I got a better idea."
He stepped into the circle, eyes sweeping over them all. "Eenie... meenie... miney... mo," he sang, dragging out every word with cruel delight. "Catch... a tiger... by... his toe. If... he hollers... let him go..."
Tessa squeezed her eyes shut as tears spilled over. She clutched Abraham's arm with both hands, desperate for something solid, something familiar.
"My mother told me... to pick the very best one... and you... are..."
Negan stopped in front of Abraham, grinning wide.
Tessa's breath caught painfully in her chest.
"It."
Her eyes flew open, horror crashing through her. "No—oh God, please—no," she whispered.
Negan pointed Lucille directly at Abraham. "Sorry, sweetheart. But it is what it is. Anybody moves. Anybody speaks. I cut the boy's other eye out and feed it to his father. Then we'll start."
Abraham gently loosened her grip, freeing his arm from her trembling hands. He lifted his hand, steady, flashing the peace sign they always shared before parting.
"You can breathe. You can blink. You can cry," Negan said casually. "Hell, you're all gonna be doing that."
