The men were unconscious for the time being. Turning off the single light, Draven made his way up out of the basement, locking the door behind him.
Luanna sat at the kitchen table, holding a drink of honey and lemon. The lemons weren’t fresh, but they’d salvaged those cheap-ass bottles from the supermarket. They had raided one a few weeks ago and gotten as much food and medical supplies as they could.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you want to leave, you can. You’re not taking Ashley with you.”
“You still think this is safe? They were your men as well. How can you even think of keeping her here?” Luanna got to her feet, glaring at him.
“Have you been touched?”
“What?”
“It’s a pretty simple fucking question. Have you been touched?”
“No.”
“Raped?”
“No.”
“Hit?”
“No.”
“Abused in any way?” His voice grew louder as he demanded answers.
“No!” She screamed the last one.
“So you want to leave the safety of this house for the outside world? Luke, do me a favor, tell Luanna how often occurrences like last night happen?”
“That was the first one, sir.”
“The first one. I run a tight ship here, Luanna. Tonight was a mistake on my part. I will never let it happen again. I’m sorry if you feel I’m not taking care of you or Ashley. I care about everyone’s safety.”
“If Ashley wanted to leave, would you let her go?” Luanna asked.
Draven paused. He didn’t like that question or the way it made him feel.
Staring at her, he wondered if she had asked him that on purpose to make him feel so fucking crazy. There was no way he could let Ashley go, not now, not ever. The world was not what it used to be. Women couldn’t just walk down the street, especially fertile women. Men would hurt her. They’d tear her apart for the need to breed her. She’d be nothing more than a vessel.
She’d never smile again or laugh.
She’d be completely broken.
The thought of her broken filled him with deep sorrow.
“You’d be signing her death slip,” he said.
“But you’d let her go?”
“If Ashley couldn’t stand to be with me, and I was one hundred percent sure that she wasn’t pregnant with my child, I’d let her go.” Was that the first lie he’d ever told? No, he’d been a master manipulator.
“She doesn’t want to leave,” Luanna said. “You have nothing to fear.”
“What?”