Free Addicted (Outlaws Book 2) by Elle Kennedy Page B

Something in administration?
    “He’s lucky Connor Mackenzie took him in. Citizens are weak. They can’t survive out here on their own.”
    The observation summoned a wry smile. Spoken by a kid who didn’t know the difference between an uppercut and a jab.
    “Come on, let’s take a water break,” Lennox suggested.
    They grabbed two water bottles from the large cooler near the curb. One of Lennox’s favorite things about Foxworth? Ice-cold water. Along with protection and immunity, Reese’s hush-hush deals with West City’s officials also involved unrestricted electricity from the city’s power grid. The Enforcers who visited Foxworth required certain comforts, after all, which meant the food and water in town was refrigerated.
    As Lennox welcomed the icy stream that slid down his throat, Randy spoke up again. “Hey, I’ve always wondered – why does Connor go by his full name? Whenever someone talks about him, they say Connor Mackenzie.”
    “Not so much anymore, actually. But there used to be another Connor in the area, so the last name made it easier to figure out which Connor you were referring to.” Lennox remembered the other Connor being a scary mountain man, but the guy had left the area a couple of years ago.
    “I don’t know my last name,” Randy admitted.
    “Not everyone does.” Lennox only knew his because his parents were born before the war, during a time when surnames still mattered.
    Anyone born postwar didn’t have much use for surnames. And while the citizens of West City were given ID badges, most outlaws didn’t have proper identification. Some possessed birth records, but those were usually just papers handwritten by their parents, listing the child’s name and date of birth.
    “Do you know yours?” Randy asked curiously.
    Lennox nodded. “Murphy. My dad said it’s an Irish name.”
    The kid donned a blank look. “Irish?”
    “Yeah. Meaning it originated in Ireland.”
    The explanation didn’t bring comprehension. Randy simply looked more confused, causing Lennox to narrow his eyes. “You don’t know geography? How the world used to be before the Colonies were formed?”
    Randy shook his head.
    “You serious? Reese doesn’t teach you guys that shit?” It surprised him, especially since there was a still-standing library about three miles from Foxworth, full of prewar texts that the younger residents could benefit from.
    “Reese says the past doesn’t matter,” Randy explained. “The other adults think so too. They always tell us they’re preparing us for the future.”
    Lennox supposed he understood that. Truthfully there wasn’t much to be gained from dwelling on the past. Knowledge, yes, but history and geography didn’t exactly aid in one’s survival. His and Jamie’s parents had thought it was important, though. At their old camp, all the kids had attended daily classes, where they learned not just the skills that were advantageous to outlaw life, but topics that helped them understand the world that existed before them.
    “Hit me like you mean it, baby…”
    Lennox turned his head toward Jamie’s mocking voice. He stifled a laugh when he glimpsed Kade’s frazzled expression. The former city boy wound his arm back and lunged for Jamie, but she was too spry for him. She feigned left, then jabbed her elbow in the center of his throat before dancing away.
    “I fucking hate you,” Kade grumbled.
    “No, you don’t. You love me. Everyone does.” Raising her hands in surrender, she marched up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. “All right, I’m taking a break now. It’s been a pleasure kicking your ass.”
    She sauntered off, leaving a gale of melodic laughter in her wake.
    Randy’s eyes glazed over as he unabashedly ogled Jamie’s tight ass, which swayed seductively beneath her black leggings. “Think she’d be into me?” the kid asked.
    Lennox could barely contain his laughter. “How old are you again?”
    “Sixteen.”
    “Yeah… that