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The way his lips felt on hers lingered in the back of her mind all morning.
Negan noticed it. The way she was now almost skittish around him. He kept his eye on her, but decided it's best to not push the topic. For now, at least.
Grace studied her fingernails, looking for signs of nutritional deficiencies which were evident. She glanced up at Negan who was moving walker bodies out from under the car. The remains of last nights massacre. The downpour of rain cleared up all the blood from the windshields.
Negan straightened up with an exhale and dusted his hands off. Grace looked up at the wide-grin standing in front of her. His eyes glistened as if he just remembered something and he lifted a finger. "I have a present for you."
He pulled open the passenger side door and unlocked the glove box, pulling something out of it which Grace couldn't make out. He shut the door and took a few steps over to her.
"You are gonna love this." Negan handed her a yellow, scrunched envelope. He leaned against the side of the car. She studied the envelope and noticed her own name written on the front. Grace glanced up at Negan, bewildered, before slowly peeling open the paper. She gulped as Negan watched her intently, his eyes narrowing.
Grace. It's me. Toni.
You're alive. You're fucking alive. I don't know what to say.
I saw you last night when I was out with my camp. I tried so hard to get you. God... so hard, Grace. Believe me. The guys wouldn't let me... said it'd cause too much of a shit show... blow their cover... I don't fucking know.
I'm with these people at a place called The Sanctuary. I wanna take you here. I'm going to take you here. It's not perfect but it's safe. We have food, supplies, a system. Wherever you are is not safe, Grace. This guy, Negan, the leader of The Sanctuary... he knows what he's doing. He's a douche but he knows what he's doing. You're gonna like it here.
I don't know what's going to happen but things aren't looking good. I want you on our side before shit hits the fan. If you're reading this that means I've figured out how to get to you.
Be safe. I'm coming. I love you.
Forever yours, Toni.
P.S. SURVIVING THE END OF THE WORLD IS SO FUCKING ROCK AND ROLL!
Toni's voice danced in her head as she read the last line, eliciting a bitter-sweet chuckle as warm liquid cascaded down her cheeks. The pain was hammering in her heart so intensely she thought she was going to explode. She sniffled, wiping her face with the back of her hand before placing the envelope in her back pocket.
"Simon found that in Toni's pocket after our ol' pal Rick decided to go on a goddamn murder spree."
Grace scoffed. "You are so fucking insensitive."
"Hey, c'mon. I can be very sensitive." He said cockily, pushing himself off from the car. "As a matter of fact, I am sensitive as fuck to the fact that you just called me insensitive!"
She folded her arms over her stomach. Every word from his mouth felt like bait. She wasn't biting.
Grace huffed under her breath. "Even Toni knew you were a douche."
Negan grinned. "Ouch!" He let out a small laugh then titled his head towards the passenger door. "Ready to hit the road, darlin'?"
"No."
Negan twisted his jaw into a chuckle, seemingly admiring her attitude. "Woah. Okay. Shit." He narrowed his eyes teasingly, leaning forward momentarily and lowering his voice. "I knew you wanted to spend more time with me."
"Is Toni the reason you picked me out of that line-up?" She blurted out.
Negan lifted his jaw. "You really wanna talk about this shit now?"
"Yeah I do. I wanna know."
"It's not important."
"To me it is."
A gust of wind filled the silence as they both stared at each other. Negan wanting to ignore this topic and Grace adamantly wanting an answer.
"Grace." Negan sighed and took a step toward her. "He was a good kid and he wanted to protect you. And he was smart as shit for realizing you were kickin' it with the wrong crowd. I told him I'd help make sure his best gal was safe and hell," his lips turned up into that familiar boastful smirk again, "I kept my word."
Grace pursed her lips and nodded meekly, kicking the dirt at her feet.
"You alright, darlin'?"
She inhaled deeply in efforts to help her brain think. There was a pregnant pause before she responded.
"If I stay at The Sanctuary, will you let Daryl go?"
Negan's mouth fell open into a chuckle and slanted his posture. "Why the hell would I do that?"
"Look, you'd still have collateral over Rick. You don't need Daryl. He's never going to join you and you're not gonna fucking kill him." Her eyes pierced his. "You're fucking torturing him, Negan, and for what?!"
Negan's soft brown-eyes studied hers. He licked his bottom lip before speaking.
"We both know he's not gonna walk without you taddlin' along." He almost whispered, a smirk plastered on his face.
She took a moment to compose herself. "Tell him you let me go. You were taking me back to Rick and that's why we've been gone for an entire day."
"Really? You honestly think he's gonna believe that shit?"
"Figure it out, Negan. You wanna make things right with me? This is where you start."
He squinted then let out a small chuckle.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Oh fuckin' kay, darlin'." Negan beamed, his eyes flickering between her eyes and lips.
