3 Chapter 3: Deal

The door swings open, the cool breeze escapes the room and hits my face causing me to shiver. I don't remember the last time I've felt air conditioning.

My line of sight lifts from the floor and meets with a tall salt and pepper bearded man, wearing a leather coat with a barbed wire bat at his side.

"We found her and her boyfriend when we were out scouting"

"Boyfriend?" the man's eyes flash to me and then back to Dwight. "So where is the motherfucker?" he smiles showing all of his perfectly white teeth.

"We had to lock him up, he's already lyin' to us"

The man thumps the bat on the wall, "Well that's a huge no-no" he grabs me pulling me near him. "Are you a good girl at least?" he whispers, making me tremble with fear. I tuck my hair behind my ear and my gaze returns to the floor.

"I'll take it from here, Dwight"

He nods walking off, his footsteps echoing as he disappears into the distance.

"Don't be shy, doll face, make yourself at home" he closes the door behind me, turning the lock. I stay standing, as he sits on the black luxe couch at the center of the beautifully masculine room. The decor was stylish and coordinated in an oddly comforting way.

He pours two glasses of scotch then holds one out to me, "want some, it'll calm your nerves" I turn my nose up at it, "When can I see my husband?" I ask timidly. He ignores my question, taking the opportunity to ask me one of his own. "So, what's your name?"

"Carmen, Carmen Grant" I utter through my grinding teeth.

"Unique! I like that" he then downs his drink. He's surprisingly cordial considering I'm a stranger. I approach him taking the scotch he offered, sitting down in front of him. He chuckles, "Finally starting to warm up to me".

I say nothing and takes a swig of the alcohol.

"You know, I've been waiting a long time for the day I would run across someone like you"

"Like me?" my head spins trying to figure out what he is referring to.

"Yeah, it gets lonely constantly being surrounded by these ass-hats!"

I scoff at him, "You don't even know anything about me".

His eyebrows raise at my sudden sense of confidence, "Then tell me, what is there to know?". I cross my arms over my chest, "For starters, I'm happily married and have been for three years, I love my husband and nothing will ever change that not even resources and security" I take another sip of scotch.

He stands and hovers over me, petting my head. "We're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we sweetheart" he runs his rough fingers through my hair, keeping me frozen in place. "I'm Negan, and I'm the king of this palace" he pauses for a moment, "When I want something I fuckin' get it".

Instantaneously as he goes to sit back down, there is a knock at the door. "This better be urgent!"

"Sir, we have a problem with the new prisoner"

Negan looks to me with widened eyes, "I'll be there in a few"

The man quickly walks away.

"Our little friend is already causing trouble" he picks up the bat and heads towards the door.

"Please, he's probably just worried about me" I plead to him, tears dripping from my eyes. "What's his name?" he walks back to me extending his hand, "Nathaniel" my voice cracks as I look up to him. He smiles as i take his hands still unsure of his intentions. "Then let's go see Nathaniel!"

He leads me down the common path, through the halls, and down the stairs, except for this time we take a left leading to what looks like jail cells. We approach a crowd of people surrounding one cell in particular. As we get closer I can hear Nate, "let me see my wife, or he fucking dies".

"Hey, asshole put the knife down if you want to live to see another day," Negan pushes through the crowd and I follow closely behind.

My heart beats through my chest, as my eyes set sights on the terrifying scene of Nate holding a pocket knife up to a man's neck, and using him as a shield. "Carmen" he calls out to me, his tone softening. Before I could speak Negan interrupts "You're a lucky man, Nate, your beautiful wife has been very cooperative so far and I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship before it's even started, so I'm going to let you live." Nate's eyes stay focused on me. "What makes you think I'm gonna trust you?"

"Baby, just listen to him, it's the only way," I say as I inch closer to him. He takes one more good look into my distressed eyes, then he let's go of the hostage. I jump into his arms, as the man crawls returning to the side of his comrades. I rest my forehead against his, we both close our eyes and lean in for a kiss, "Thank you" I say in barely more than a whisper.

Negan steps into the cell, "I don't mean to break up the love fest but this little stunt can't go unpunished" his voice is low and husky. I look over my shoulder at him, my arms still intermingled with Nate's, "Please go easy on him" Nate moves me out the way now standing face to face with him. "Do whatever you want with me, but don't hurt her"

Negan chuckles waving the crowd away, "Since I like our precious Carmen here, I'll offer you a deal you can't resist"