𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 | 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 On hold

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒

  𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, the weight of recent losses pressing down on everyone. Some stared at the floor, others couldn't tear their eyes away from Negan. Jaylynn, unfazed, kicked her boots up on the table and exhaled a long drag of smoke, her eyes gleaming with fury.

"So... any idea who the hell butchered our people?" Her voice dripped with venom, sending a ripple of tension through the room. Everyone knew she was out for blood. And while that should terrify them, there was a twisted comfort in knowing she'd gladly spill it for them.

Negan's jaw ticked. "Sent Simon to have a chat with Hilltop. They took their guy back, the one you snagged, so yeah, they're involved. But it wasn't just them. Hilltop ain't packing heat like that anymore." He rolled his eyes, irritation lacing his words.

Jaylynn took another slow drag of her cigarette, the ember flaring like the fury in her eyes. "You oughta blow them to bits for what they did, babe," she said, her voice a low, dangerous growl as she addressed Negan.

Negan's jaw tightened, his gaze hardening. "Sunshine, you know we need 'em. They give us food." His voice was edged with frustration. Of course, he wanted to wipe them off the map, to make them pay in blood, but he couldn't ignore the bigger picture.

Jaylynn's lips curled into a dark smirk. "So does the Kingdom."

Jaylynn took another drag, letting the smoke curl between her lips before she spoke. "You're too soft on them, Negan. Blow Hilltop to bits, make 'em choke on the dust. They deserve worse."

Negan's eyes narrowed, jaw flexing. "Soft? I ain't soft, Jay. We need 'em alive—they're keeping us fed. You wanna starve?"

She leaned forward, flicking ash off the cigarette, her smirk sharp. "I'd rather starve than let them walk over us. You used to be ruthless, babe."

His hand gripped Lucille's handle a little tighter, his patience wearing thin. "I haven't lost my edge, Sunshine. I'm just not dumb enough to burn bridges we still need standing."

Jaylynn's eyes glinted with a mix of challenge and affection. "Bridges like the Kingdom? They feed us too. What's stoppin' you from leveling Hilltop and making them an example? Kingdom can step up."

Negan scoffed, stepping closer, his voice dropping dangerously low. "You think I haven't thought about it? I'd burn every one of those bastards if I could. But this ain't about vengeance—it's survival. You get that, right?"

She tilted her head, unbothered by his intensity. "Survival? Or are you just scared to make the call, babe? You've gone soft... for the long game."

Negan's lips curled into a tight grin, his eyes gleaming with the familiar threat. "Careful, Jay. You keep pushing, and you'll see just how far from soft I am."

Jaylynn chuckled, the sound low and dangerous as she took another drag. "There's the Negan I married."

Negan let out a low growl, his eyes dragging over her with a familiar intensity, momentarily forgetting they weren't alone. Gravin, Regina, Simon, and Laura exchanged uneasy glances, but neither of them dared say a word.

Jaylynn leaned forward, her voice sharp. "Alright, fine. Don't blow 'em to bits, but the least you can do is get some goddamn revenge. They killed our people, Negan."

His eyes darkened, the weight of her words sinking in. "You think I'm gonna let that slide? Trust me, Sunshine, they're gonna feel it." He stepped closer, his voice a low rasp meant only for her. "But it's gonna be on my terms, not just 'cause you want blood."