Then she had a thought. “Hey, talk to Julie. She has access to birth control.”
Ariel blinked. “Really?”
“Yep. I had her give me a shot that will last three months at a time.”
“Huh. Good idea. I certainly don’t want to get pregnant.”
“Me neither. Not now,” Layla agreed.
“What about your men? Did you tell them?”
“Yes. And they were supportive. They made it perfectly clear that I have full autonomy over my body in this compound. I get the feeling anyone who doesn’t agree with that most important tenant would find themselves out before the sun went down.”
Ariel nodded. “You’re right. Thank God we found our way here. I don’t think we could have survived much longer out there on our own. Plus, I think I would have died if we’d been captured and forced into some sort of sex slavery.”
Layla had never allowed herself to consider that possibility, but it had always loomed in the back of her mind. Any number of entities could have caught them and either sold them or used them. They were blessed. Or just lucky.
Something Julie said kept coming back to Layla a few times a day. No need to make rash decisions, but also life is short. Grab onto happiness when it comes to you.
Ariel pushed her bowl away. “So, these super supportive men you’re not having sex with… What do they think about you leaving the compound?”
Layla groaned. “Oh, they hate it, but it’s nearly comical the way they tiptoe around me with their lips pursed, trying hard not to say a word and risk ordering me not to go.”
“Gotta agree with them on this one.”
Layla rolled her eyes. “I’m telling you I’ll be fine. It’s not like this group of people hasn’t made this trek a gazillion times. They do it regularly. I’m just along for the ride so I can get a clearer picture of the facilities.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Two days. Give or take. Sometimes they have to delay their return. Depends on when the militants are flying over.”
Ariel pursed her lips in the same fashion Layla had seen all of her men do ever since she’d told them her plans last night.
Layla pushed back from the table, gathering her dishes and silverware to return them to the kitchen. “I’ll be fine,” she repeated yet again.
“You keep saying that. Make it be true.”
An hour later, Layla was stuffing a change of clothing in a backpack while her four men hovered, paced, and growled. She tried to ignore them.
“I thought this was a free will society,” she pointed out as she zipped up her pack.
Jay stepped in front of her and narrowed his gaze. “Don’t start twisting words. Free will extends only until someone in the community starts exercising reckless behavior.”
She sighed, her shoulders falling. “I’m not doing anything reckless. Don’t exaggerate.”
“I don’t think you’ve spent enough time roaming around this country to understand how dangerous it is for a woman out there, especially a young, gorgeous one like yourself.”
She grinned. “Thank you for the compliment. I’m sure you trust the people I’ll be traveling with, right?”
Jay shuffled closer to her. “It’s not about trusting or not trusting anyone, baby. We also trust you implicitly, but shit happens out there that’s out of anyone’s control, and we don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“You mean captured. There is no halfway. I get captured by one of several entities that make up the collective enemy, or I make it back here. No one is going to hurt me. They wouldn’t dare harm even one hair on my head.”
Ledger growled next. “We don’t ever want you in a situation where you wish they’d hurt you instead of whatever they are doing. We’ve heard stories, princess. Stories that would make your toes curl. Some of The Wanderers have been in the hands of the enemy and escaped. We know what happens when the wrong people get ahold of you.”
“Well, they won’t.” Layla heaved her pack onto her back and rose onto her tiptoes to kiss Jay on the lips. She turned to Ledger and kissed his reluctant lips next, followed by Nile and Gatlin.
“Is Stuart driving this mission?” Gatlin asked.