There's also an enormous greenhouse, which is where most of the activity is. People are milling about, carrying baskets of fruits and vegetables. A group of girls walk together, giggling and whispering to one another as they make their way towards one of the smaller buildings. All of them are kids or women that I can see.
“Where are we?”
“This is where the survivors go if they don’t have a safe home to return to.”
My gaze snaps to him, then quickly turns back to my surroundings, taking everything in with a whole new perspective.
“Really? How many are here?”
“One hundred and thirty-two survivors,” he answers, and the fact that he knows the exact number does weird shit to my heart. Shit I didn’t consent to.
“How many people do you have room for?”
He shrugs casually, parking outside the largest of the buildings. “However many I need it to. I own hundreds of acres, so if I need to build another dorm, I do.”
I blink. “You really are stupid rich, aren’t you?”
“Sure, but it goes back into my organization.”
Mouth open in awe, I scan the area, overcome with how… peaceful it appears.
“Are these the only safe houses you have?”
“No, they’re all around the country. Eventually, Z is going to expand to other countries, and I’ll start building there, too, and offer a safe place for survivors.”
“How do you keep it hidden from Claire?”
“I’ve gone through great lengths to make it impossible to trace any of my assets. Everything is under an alias and doesn’t tie back to me in any way. There’s also an incredible amount of security, and it’s a no-fly zone for aircraft. This is the safest place anyone could be, I’ve made sure of that.”
I shake my head, at a loss for words. I remember him saying before that he offers a home to those who didn’t have one, but seeing it just cements how incredible Zade truly is. Aside from his psychotic tendencies, he’s doing something that no one has done before.
“Come on, baby. There are a couple of people I want you to meet.”
I frown, unsure of who that could be, but follow him out of the car anyway. As we’re walking down a path, we see Ruby heading toward us, a group of children running behind her, giggling as they try to keep up. When she spots us, she screams in excitement, quickening her footsteps.
“Oh my goodness, Addie baby, you look so beautiful!” she coos loudly. She immediately embraces me in a warm hug when she’s close enough, and for a moment, I’m too stunned to react. Eventually, I wrap my arms around her, and embarrassingly enough, I feel a little like crying.
She pulls away, crooning over me some more.
“Are you coming here to stay, sweetie?”
“Oh no, he was just showing me the place,” I answer.
“Well, you’ll have to come visit more often. These little kiddos are good for the soul.”
I smile, peering down at the three little girls and one boy standing in a circle and babbling to each other. I think I believe her. They’re adorable, and I can see how a place like this would be comforting.
“I think I will,” I say softly.
Ruby lets us pass after that, and Zade directs me inside the greenhouse.
I pause, losing my breath as I take it all in.
Mist clings to the air, coating the plant life with dew, while bright pops of color break up the never ending green.
It can only be described as a contained jungle, sans the wild animals. Though I almost retract that statement when two little boys go zipping past me, laughing wildly with huge turnips in their little fists. A woman chases after them, pleading with them to stop running.
Zade grabs my hand and leads me to where two young women dig at the soil, planting seeds.