This Is How I Disappear (Negan/OFC)

Chapter 48

——— Negan's POV ———

When we drive within radio range of the bridge, I call out to my guys. I tell them to stay the fuck there and to keep out of fuckin' sight. I want to know if someone crosses back over to our side of the goddamn river. But I also don't want Eldritch fuckin' knowing that I'm scoping shit out. I want him to think that I'm some dumbass he can get one over on. Underestimate me so he'll make a fuckin' mistake that I can take advantage of.

We pull up to Alexandria a few minutes later. After we park the car, Rick starts to lead us to his house so we can fuckin' discuss all this Eldritch shit. But Aaron comes running up to us before we get there.

Aaron looks us over and his face fuckin' drops. "He still has her." It's not a question. He sees that Chuck's not with me. He knew she was taken. Rick fuckin' filled him in on the situation after I radioed it to him. And he looks fuckin' crushed that she's still out there.

I rub my hand down my chin. "Eldritch said he'd keep her until he gets what he wants," I explain, trying not to fuckin' break down myself.

Aaron looks at me with fuckin' red rimmed eyes. "Is she okay, at least?"

I push my hand into my jacket pocket and take out the picture Eldritch gave me. Aaron takes it and stares at it for a moment before covering his mouth with his other hand.

He lets out a tiny sob. "She looks so scared," he chokes out before looking up to the sky and wiping his face with his other hand. He clears his throat, calming himself down, and looks back to me with determination. "We're gonna get her away from him."

"Yes we are," I respond with just as much fuckin' certainty. I will get her home safe and fuckin' sound if it's the last goddamn thing I ever do.

Me, Dwight, and Arat go into Rick's dining room to discuss shit with him, Daryl, Michonne, and Aaron. I start off by telling them the shit that went down at the meeting. Which I fuckin' hate, by the way. I pretty much have to say that Eldritch slapped me in the face with his dick and I just sat back and took it.

But they all get it, which kinda makes everything worse. They all fuckin' know that I can't let anything happen to Chuck and my baby. Which means my weakness is out there with a big fuckin' neon arrow pointing right to it for everyone to see.

Fuck. I was too open with Chuck. I should've done fuckin' everything different.

"So if Eldritch is livin' on the other side 'a the river, why's he comin' over here?" Daryl asks.

"He has to have a base on this side," Michonne answers. "Leading as many dead as he did to The Sanctuary, there's no way he crossed the river."

"I'm thinking the same fuckin' thing," I reply. "My guys on the bridge said a truck crossed it before the meet. Coulda been Eldritch heading there. He could've already had guys living in that fort like an outpost while he stays at fuckin' home over here." I shrug a little. "Don't forget that he's been sending smaller herds at us for a while now which, logistically, would be fuckin' hard as shit to do from further away. It would take too much fuckin' time and planning." I run my hand down my beard. "He was probably just putting his fuckin' feelers out with that shit. Seeing how we'd all do in a fight. See what kinda fuckin' firepower we got."

"Yeah," Rick agrees. "Makes sense."

"If those fuckwit brothers hadn't fuckin' defected and told that Eldritch fuck about my inner workings, I bet he wouldn't have made a fuckin' play," I growl out, getting more pissed when I think about it.

If those fuckers hadn't spilled their shit to Eldritch, he would have never known about Chuck...

Aaron jumps in. "He would've attacked us all at some point. He would've found the weak points eventually."