Veil Of The Undying

Chapter 17

Ronan

Ava has no shame at all. When she thought I could keep her safe, she was all over me. After I rejected her, she's clinging to Marcus, one of the men we picked up.

I don't have a problem with her doing that, hell, she can be with both of them if she wants.

What concerns me is the constant need to keep an eye on them. I know people like Ava; she's probably already trying to convince Marcus to take our supplies and leave us behind. I need to make sure Aria keeps an eye on them, too.

Aria, on the other hand, is slowly starting to bond with Liam. Although they're brothers, I approve of Liam but not Marcus-he's just a male version of Ava.

We've been on the road for almost five days, only stopping for bathroom breaks and to refill the gas tank. We camp at night, making sure at least two people stay awake for watch. It's usually me and Marcus, or Aria and Liam.

That's why they've started to get along. I don't trust Ava to keep watch, so I never give her that responsibility.

I've been teaching Aria how to kill feeders with a knife and how to shoot with my gun. She still trembles at the sound of gunfire, but she's improving. My initial doubts about her are fading. With the right guidance, she has the potential to survive. And she will.

On rare nights, Aria and I keep watch together, we don't interact much. She fears me, and with good reason-she knows I'm the man who killed his parents. She has no reason to befriend me.

We can't keep wandering indefinitely. We need to find a place to settle. But I can't trust our supplies with this group, nor can I leave Aria alone with them. My only solution is to take the men with me and hope Aria can handle Ava.

"We need to find a place to call home. Marcus, Liam, and I will go search for it. Aria and Ava will stay here and keep watch over our supplies. You'll have guns and a flare. If you see any trouble, shoot the flare upwards," I instruct them.

"Why am I stuck with her? I can help you," Ava protests.

"Because I said so. If you have a problem with it, you're welcome to leave," I snap, my patience wearing thin.

"That's not how you speak to a lady," Marcus interjects, stepping between us.

"You can follow her if you want," I retort.

"You're an idiot. There are more of us; we could take your supplies and leave you stranded," Marcus threatens.

That makes me laugh. "Is that what Ava's been filling your head with? Go ahead, try it," I say, raising my hands in mock surrender.

Marcus looks ready to strike, but Liam intervenes before things escalate. "Actually, if you even think about robbing them, I'll side with them. It'll be three against two. Go ahead, brother, disappoint me again," Liam challenges.

The animosity between them is palpable.

"Damn you, Liam! I'm doing this for you!" Marcus exclaims.

"For me?! Don't you dare use me as an excuse. Trying to rob the man who's helped us and a defenseless girl in my name? You're despicable, Marcus. I'm done with you. Go your own way. As long as you're alive and well, that's all I need to know. If you're so eager to steal from others, you'll manage," Liam declares.

Turning to me, he adds, "If you'll take me, I'll go with you. I want you to know I had no part in their plans." His words make Ava go pale-she knows Marcus is nothing without what we have.

"No, Ronan, you've got it wrong. I didn't tell him to do anything. I even tried to stop him. You knew me before him; you have to trust me," Ava pleads, her tears a weapon.

"What?! You told me he was straight out of prison, that he raped you, and that you needed me to protect you. Tell Liam everything. He'll help you," Marcus presses.

I burst out laughing. Ava has no shame. Just before I can respond, Aria speaks up.

"Ronan never touched you, and the other men didn't rape you. You allowed them to touch you. I understand why you did it-you had to survive-but Ronan saved me and even helped you out of that house. You're disgusting for trying to paint him as the villain," Aria says, her anger genuine. It's a new, endearing side of her.

"No, not at the house. He tried to rape me at the supermarket!" Ava's claim is jaw-dropping.

"You mean when you were on your knees trying to suck my dick? Also, Marcus, all the men she's been with had STDs. You should probably get tested, but I doubt the hospitals are open. And Ava, I would never touch you, even if you stripped naked in front of me. You repulse me," I say, meeting her eyes with disdain.

Marcus looks pale-he hasn't been using protection, it seems. How can an adult be so reckless and have unprotected sex with a stranger?

I've been in prison since I was 19, so I'm not up-to-date with the outside world. I might be a bit old-fashioned, but I need an emotional connection before I get involved with someone. Yet people now seem to just throw themselves at anything that moves.