Freedom -Negan-

Chapter 21

"Let her go, boys. Learn to show some fucking respect to the ladies and maybe you two wouldn't be so close with your right hands at night." The two men released me, but I never took my eyes away from Negan. "Now get the fuck out." They hesitated for a second, but followed orders and left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Now, what the hell can I do for my pis-"

"Saved me?" I interrupted him, not waiting to hear his bullshit. "That's what you told your people? In what world did you save me? If I hadn't killed all of your men, I would still be strung up in that fucking barn like god damn cattle! And you would have no clue." I took a few steps forward so that I could grip the back of the chair in front of me. I squeezed my eyes to fight the tears. "I saved us. Me. So, how dare you. How fucking dare you use my story to make you seem like the hero." I pressed my palms into the back of the chair, focusing on the pain in my right hand. Pain kept me from breaking down. I wasn't going to break in front of Negan.

"Are you finished?" Negan's deep voice was so smooth it would be relaxing any other time, but at the moment it pissed me off. I slowly lifted my head up. He took a drink from his glass as his eyes met mine. I would have had no idea my words had any effect on him if it weren't for those eyes being dark as night. "How about you sit down?" He pointed his glass towards the chair I was gripping onto.

"No."

"I think you confused that with a request. Sit your ass down." He growled that last part. I glared at him, but slowly made my way around the chair and sat down. I brought my left boot onto my right knee. His bat was resting next to him on the couch, but I was pretty sure I could reach my knife in my boot before he could use it against me.

"Now we can use our grown-up voices and talk like fucking adults. None of this screaming bullshit anymore." He set his glass on the table in between us. "I was wondering how long it would you to get down here. You were quicker than expected." I shook my head, not fully understanding. "C'mon, you're a sharp shooter, Pistol! How do you think you got here untouched? You think you're fucking Batman or something? Peter radioed me when you went off the damn ropes and I told them to let you come." I pressed my lips together and looked down at my hands.

"Don't look so fucking defeated, sweetheart. You gave my men outside the door a run for their money and you weren't even trying. They underestimated you." I shook my head at his words. "And that was the point." I looked up at him. "I will admit that your story was not mine to tell, but I couldn't have everyone knowing that you killed 14 of my men. I'd rather them believe I had it done, because then it's justified."

"So, you're saying that me killing them wasn't justified." I shot out.

"Slow down, Pistol. If you would stop interrupting me, you would know that I despise rapists. A man who rapes a woman is the lowest form of shit you can be, but my people take the killing of our own better if they believe it was executed at my word, rather than a stranger, so I told your story with a few little tweaks here and there, but you won't be a target anymore." He raised his eyebrows like he was expecting it to all click and I was supposed to be thanking him.

"I'm just the pathetic woman who was saved by the great Negan. That right?" I tried to hide the disgust in my voice, but he took notice.

"Exactly. Better to be saved and pitied. You said you only planned on staying short term, so I'm trying to make it easier on you. I will say that the higher ups know the truth." I knew this was all a mind game to him. Give me some bullshit answer to appease me so I wouldn't stir up any trouble while I was here.

"What about Jimmy? You told them that he was dead, but that's not remotely true. They'll see him around." I wanted to kill the bastard myself at this point. That's what I should have done in the first place if my pride hadn't gotten in the way.