Culling

Part II • Chapter I

What? What would happen? He didn't seem inclined to finish his threat, as he had gone back to drinking his tea.

I glanced back and forth between the two of them, but Mr McCoy was back to glaring at his plate and poking his sandwich. His lips were tight as if he was holding himself back from saying something.

The conversation was clearly over, and orders have been given. After a few moments of tense silence President Hendricks told me to leave, and I was only too happy to comply.

It was only after I had left the administration building that I realized that I was still gripping the cloth napkin.

☜♡☞

As I entered our shared quarters it was to the sight of Owen, Sean and Kota deep in conversation on the couches, and the others in sporadic locations throughout the room.

North was pacing near the door, and so was the first to see me enter. "Baby!"

Everyone looked up as he grabbed me by the shoulders and hugged me to him. My face was pressed up against his chest, but I did manage to squeak out a muffled, "Hello."

Whether he could hear it or not, I did not know.

One thing I had noticed in the last week was that my guys were openly affectionate with me while in private locations and in front of each other. Certain guys were not so much in public though. They had said they didn't want it out that they had found compatibility in me, but that it would be coming.

Other than that, no one had made any move to kiss me or anything. I wasn't sure if that disappointed me or not because I severely lacked experience in that area. Besides, it has only been a week.

Touching them, however, was something that I found that I enjoyed. Which was odd because touch had normally been a scary thing for me before this. During the last week, I had gotten used to having my hand being held, sitting in laps and hugs.

"You are going to suffocate her." Kota said from behind me, and North grunted and slightly loosened his grip in response.

"Miss Sorenson?" Owen asked, although I couldn't see where he was standing. I attempted to turn around to see the others, but North continued to hold me to him. "Mr Taylor, let her sit down so we can talk."

"Fine." North grunted as he hugged me to his chest and walked to the couch, my feet dangled in the air. He sat on the couch and turned me so my back was to his chest and I was sitting on his lap, his chin hovered on my head and his arms surrounded me. "Look, she's sitting. Now we can talk."

Owen stood in front of me while the others took up places sitting either on the floor or on the seats in the area. In the end, we were all sitting in a circle of sorts with Kota to the right of me and Luke to the left.

"Tell us everything." Owen looked at me with his steel gaze, his voice commanding, but encouraging.

I gave them a rundown on the animosity between President Hendricks and Mr McCoy, both of their thoughts about me, and the President's request and threat.

Sean was sitting next to Owen, who had been standing the entire time I spoke. He frowned when I was finished. "I trust McCoy even less than I do Hendricks. McCoy has never been Hendricks biggest political supporter, so why would Hendricks pull McCoy in on this? Why involve him with Sang at all? On the opposite side, why would McCoy even help Hendricks?"

Owen was frowning and crossed his arms. "I wonder. Perhaps this is just a case of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend, idiom?" He said contemplatively. "Everyone knows Mr McCoy's reputation, it is not like he keeps his depravities under wraps. The biggest question is what President Hendricks has to gain from working with Mr McCoy?"