Chapter 67: Taran

"Good." I sigh my relief as I breeze through the apartment door, with Grayson behind me. Diogo isn't waiting to tear a strip off me as I was halfway expecting. "He's not home yet."
Grayson clears his throat and nods toward the table, or more specifically the chair at the table with Diogo's jacket folded across the top, his Commander insignia facing up.
"Well, I didn't do anything wrong, so he shouldn't be upset with me," I argue with no one in particular.
"He said two hours, Mrs. Fuentes."
I turn around and glare at my bodyguard. I'm getting the distinct feeling that he doesn't care if Diogo punishes me for my relatively minor transgression. "He suggested two hours and I'm barely over."
"By an hour."
I narrow my eyes at him. "You were counting."
He shrugs and points to the door going up to the roof. There's no sign of my husband in the apartment so I'm also thinking he's on the roof. Still I point to the main door and raise an eyebrow. Grayson snorts and shakes his head before leaving. I like to think I'm making inroads into the big guy's affections.
I run up the steps to the rooftop, eager to see my husband, despite his possible annoyance at my being late. When I push the door open, I see him standing next to the ledge, surveying his city. I join him, stepping up to his side and gazing out across Sanctuary. Diogo is looking toward the Southeast, toward the ruins of our old city. Only about half of Tucson was saved and rolled into New Tucson. The wall cuts off the other half of Old Tucson on the Southeastern part of the city. I've only been in the ruins a couple of times, when I was required to meet with refugees coming in from that direction. I try to stay away though, as easy as it is to hide among the dilapidated crumbling buildings it's also dangerous. Lots of places for Primitives and Outsiders to hide too.
"Hi." My voice is quiet, I feel almost shy around Diogo when he's not asserting his dominance. He's larger than life, both physically and mentally. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm a little in awe of my intimidating husband.
"You're late."
I can tell by the tone of his voice that he isn't really angry. He knew where I was, had a bodyguard tailing my every move. I was perfectly safe every moment I was out of the apartment. I ignore his accusation and say, "I'm hungry."
He looks down at me, his dark eyes sparkling in the early evening sunlight. "I knew you would be."
"Then feed me," I say cheekily, wrapping my arm around his and leaning into him.
The look he gives me is intense, as always, devouring me in one glance. He takes in every inch of me, his eyes lingering on my neck where Bishop removed the bandage. I reach up self-consciously and tug at the collar of my shirt. He takes my hand in his and pulls it away, then pushes the collar back and leans down to look at the wound.
"It's healing well," he observes.
"Bishop said I don't need a bandage anymore." I'm hoping the good news will deflect his obsessive need to keep me safe.
"I should've been there."
I sigh heavily and lean my head on his arm. "You don't need to watch over me constantly, Diogo. Bishop took excellent care of me, made sure I was completely comfortable and then fed me tea and cookies until I was ready to leave. Grayson stood guard over the clinic with I was inside. There was no reason for you to be there."
"No?" he asks, pulling my arm out in front of us and pushing up my sleeve. The tiny bruise left behind where the Doctor had pulled my blood glows like an accusing beacon.
I try to tug my arm away, but Diogo holds tight, running his thumb over the needle prick. "You went against my express orders, didn't you? He's experimenting on you to find out why you didn't turn."
I yank my arm more forcefully, pulling it from his grip. "You make it sound so sinister! All he did was take a little blood and give me an exam, which I might add, was long overdue. There are no decent doctors like him in the slums."
"Don't change the topic," Diogo says coolly. "We aren't talking about the lack of resources in your precious slums right now. We're discussing your blatant disobedience."
"Oh, come on." I step back and cross my arms over my chest in a defensive position. "You knew as soon as I said I was going to Bishop's office that we'd be looking into my possible immunity to the Death Kiss. Let's not pretend you're stupid."
He stares at me until I drop my eyes. Okay, maybe I didn't need to suggest he was being stupid. But still!
"I knew," he admits. "But knowing what you were up to and being able to do anything about it are different things."
"You could've told Grayson to stop me from leaving the apartment," I point out.
"And you would've done what if I'd tried to stop you?"
"Set a fire." I instantly admit my nefarious plan.
He grunts a laugh and replies, "I like my belongings."
"What belongings?' I ask poking him in the ribs. "This place is as empty as an abandoned town."
"You, baby, I like you. Don't go setting fires. I don't want you to get hurt."
How am I supposed to resist this man? A fierce Warlord one minute, and a simple husband the next, begging me not to do anything that might bring me harm. We haven't been married long, but already I know he's different from most men. He has a core of steel that dictates his actions. He believes that he doesn't understand morality, but he's wrong. The way he treats me is testament to his ability to care. I just need to get him to extend that beyond our insulated relationship.
"Diogo," I say his name in my most reasonable tone of voice. "You know that Bishop needs to run his experiments. If there's any possibility" I trail off, not wanting to dare suggest such a thing.
"If there's any possibility of creating a vaccine," Diogo finishes for me.
"I know that the likelihood of creating a vaccine using my immunity to the Death Kiss is astronomical, but if there's even the glimmer of a chance we have to take it."
"I know," Diogo says quietly, his dark eyes searching mine.
"You do?" I'd expected more of an argument. His quiet agreement is taking the wind out of my sails.
"As much as I despise the idea of you being poked and experimented on, ultimately if a vaccine can be created, you'll be safer. The zombie that bit you was trying to tear your throat out. You would've died regardless of your immunity. They run on adrenaline. They're stronger, faster and driven by pure instinct. You won't be safe from the Primitives unless we eradicate them entirely."