Corded (Corded Saga #1)(25)

 

"They look it. Where do you get all these?"

 

She blushed. "I actually designed these. I work in the textiles sector."

 

"You can choose what to do?"

 

"Sure. You should come with me. It's mostly some of the older women and me, but Kimmie is there too." She turned giving me privacy to change.

 

"Really? What do the other girls do?" I slipped on the new shirt and pants. The pants were a little long, but otherwise they fit perfectly.

 

"All sorts of things. We can work anywhere we want."

 

"Oh, that's nice. I pretty much did a little bit of everything on the farm."

 

"I can't imagine what that's like." She walked out of the room.

 

I followed. "We always had to worry about raids, but otherwise it was nice enough, especially when my sister was around."

 

"You have a sister?" Her eyes widened.

 

"Yeah. Quinn. That's why I'm here."

 

"What do you mean?" She grabbed her toothbrush from the rack.

 

I did the same, and I used the time brushing to help me come up with a good way to describe my situation.

 

I lowered my voice to close to a whisper. "She was kidnapped by traders and sold to Central. I need to get her back." The words flowed out naturally. Addison was trustworthy. I knew it instinctively.

 

Addison rinsed out her mouth. "Yes. Who knows what they'll do to her to try to make her a breeder." She shuddered.

 

"Did you grow up in the city?"

 

"Yeah. My mom was in Reine. She escaped before they could sell her to Central. We hid out for a while, but the Reine found her and took her back."

 

"What happened to you?" I asked.

 

"I was supposed to go to Central to wait until I was old enough to be of use, but instead Johanna found me. She convinced the current leader here to let me stay."

 

"Really? What happened to him?"

 

"Mason took over." She didn't say anything more about the power shift, and I assumed that was intentional. I'd have to find out more later.

 

"Mason will get your sister, and then she can join too." Addison smiled, and I didn't like having to keep the truth from her. Quinn had Bailey, which meant we had to leave. Unless. Johanna had been allowed to keep Addison, maybe we could keep Bailey too?

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

I brushed out my hair and found a new pair of shoes. They were also comfortable and nothing like the heels I'd worn the night before.

 

"It really is night and day. They don't care what we wear to work or around here. We have to dress up at night, but that's not so bad."

 

"Do you have to go home with someone every night?" I hated asking, but I needed to know.

 

"Not every night. Nothing's forced, it's expected though. Although we all take breaks."

 

"By the Circle?"

 

"Mostly. Every man hopes to get his spot one day."

 

"Why are five spots permanent?"

 

"They're the most elite. It's Mason, Jarrett, Giles, Allen, and Greer."

 

"Jarrett seems nice."

 

Addison smiled. "He is. He's the closest thing to a friend Mason has."

 

"Wouldn't Mason have lots of friends? He is the leader."

 

"You don't get to his position by being anyone's friend." She shivered. "Mason's not a bad man, but he's ruthless. You don't even want to get on his bad side."

 

"I'll try not to."

 

"I saw the way he watched you last night." She gave me a knowing look. "I'd worry more about getting on his good side."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"It's what the girls said last night. He's not the easiest man to be with. And he's also in charge. We all do what he says, but so far he hasn't taken too much interest in any of us. I wouldn't want to spend multiple nights with him. Once every month or so is enough."

 

"He was watching me because I'm new. That's all." I tried to keep my expression neutral even though panic was starting to set in.

 

"Maybe …  Giles was asking about you last night though."

 

"Were you with him?"

 

"Uh huh. I think I'm his favorite, but don't tell Mora, she has a thing for him."

 

"Does anyone just stay with one man?" I asked as casually as possible.

 

"That would be pretty hard. There aren't enough girls to make that fair."

 

"I guess not." It was all too foreign for me. Sleeping with one man seemed scary enough.