Repossession (The Keepers Trilogy) by Rachael Wade Read Free Book Online Page A

darlin’?”
    “I’ll tell you what they’re doing with the Collected if you tell me about the Underground. Some information about the inside, in exchange for some information about the outside. Can we do that?”
    “Maybe.”
    “No maybe. Yes or no. Do you want to know what’s going on behind those prison camp doors or not?”
    Her brows rose and she leaned back, studying him. “I’m listenin’.”
    “I need locations for as many Black Holes from here to California you’ve got. Locations, mileage, occupancy, a map, whatever you have. Also need to know if they’ve got supplies and weapons, and what I have to do to get my hands on them.”
    “That’s some costly info yer lookin’ for right there.”
    “So is the information you want.”
    “Darlin’, there’s a good chance I know more about yer bosses than you do. Don’t go gettin’ haughty, now.”
    Whether Jet wanted me to or not, I spoke up. “We’re just trying to get out west in one piece. He was a Collector and a prison guard. He worked on patrol, knows how things work in the streets. There’s not a chance you’ve seen what he’s seen, so if you’re smart, you’ll tell him what he wants to know.”
    Lillian turned her slate-gray eyes on me. “I don’t respond well to threats, ya hear me?”
    “Paranoia and stupid games get us nowhere. He dug a fuckin’ chip out of his hip, and we both look like roadkill. You think if we were interested in tattling on you, or screwing you somehow, we’d be standing here talking trading fuckin’ shoelaces and hot oatmeal? We’re just trying to survive, like everyone else.”
    “What’s yer name? You didn’t sign in last night.” She slid the notepad toward me and handed me a pen, her suspicious eyes flickering over me from head to toe. “Here.”
    “Skylla,” I mumbled, not bothering to hide my irritation as I snapped the pen from her grip. “But people call me Sky. Last name, Warden.”
    Jet coughed back what sounded like a laugh. “So, Lil, what can you tell me?”
    She reached behind the bar and pulled out another map, folded into fours. Earmarks and red flags lit the thing up. “This’ll point ya to the Holes yer lookin’ for. No word from California yet, though. Dunno how many or where. Enemy’s infiltrated these,” she opened the map and pointed to a few X’s in Texas and one in Arizona, “so they’re prolly wiped out by now or unsafe to visit. But the others are worth a shot. You also wanna stick to the old railroad that runs from here to here, if ya can.” She ran her finger along a red dotted line. “Rebels have a workin’ car that runs along the track at night. Can save ya alotta travelin’ time, and they have supplies and ammo on board.”
    “What do they need?”
    “Canned goods, same as us. They’ll take her, too.” She jutted her chin out, gesturing to me.
    Jet’s hand tightened on the bar, balling into a fist. “No fucking way. Not an option.”
    “Don’t get cross with me, darlin’. Yer askin’, I’m tellin’ ya.”
    “What about clean water and antibiotics? You got any here I can take with me?”
    Lillian looked stunned, as if he’d just slapped her. “Bold sunuva bitch, ain’t chya?”
    “Just like cutting through all the bullshit, like my friend here.” He winked at me and stuffed the map she’d given him into his back pocket. My lips twitched in a grin and I turned and left them to it, heading back to our mattress. I did some final checks to make sure we didn’t leave anything behind—not that we had much to begin with—then met Jet at the bottom of the main stairwell a few minutes later.
    “You all set?” he asked, tossing me a pair of sunglasses.
    “Wow, nice.” I felt the frame, rubbing my finger over the lenses to wipe away a smudge. “Not bad, Phoenix.”
    “Twinkies.” He slid his pair on and adjusted the gun across his chest. “Told you. Breakfast of champions. No luck with antibiotics, but plenty of water.”
    “Good.” I slid