In a dystopian, war-torn America, two states have fallen under the control of the Psychotics, a ruthless multi-cultural gang that surrounds Sanctuary City—a sprawling metropolis formed from multiple cities and half of Wisconsin, all enclosed by a fortified wall built two years before the collapse of America. Sanctuary City is protected by a strong military force that keeps the Psychotics at bay, providing a fragile haven in a world gone mad. During a brutal invasion of Illinois, Rome, a hardened tactical soldier from the elite Deadpool squad, discovers a woman barely alive, bleeding out in a dark closet. Defying direct orders from his commander to leave her, he chooses to rescue her, risking his own life in the process.

Within the fortified walls of Sanctuary City, where a strong military force keeps the Psychotics out, but where money holds no value, and everything is obtained through a sinister bartering system—where women often pay the highest price—Winnie faces a daunting struggle for survival.

Rome, torn between his duty to protect her and his desire to keep his distance, wrestles with his own conflicting emotions. He is haunted by the decision that brought Winnie into his life, questioning whether saving her was an act of mercy or a mistake that jeopardizes them both. Each moment he spends with her only intensifies the inner battle, as he feels a growing connection to the woman he has to protect yet fears he cannot afford to care for. His rigid exterior begins to crack under the weight of his own vulnerability, and he is forced to confront the scars of his past that he thought he had buried long ago.

As their situation grows increasingly desperate, Rome's bartering supplies begin to run low, and he faces the harsh reality that he may have to resort to violence to acquire the resources they need to survive. This decision is fraught with risk; if he gets caught, they could both find themselves targeted by powerful figures who control the black market within Sanctuary City. The stakes are high, and every move he makes could be their last. With danger looming both outside the fortified walls and within the twisted politics of Sanctuary City, Rome struggles to reconcile his need to push Winnie away with an undeniable urge to draw her closer, risking everything to shield her from the brutal realities of their world while confronting the grim possibility of a deadly fallout.

Winnie, grateful to the stoic soldier who saved her, soon realizes she has become his unwanted burden. As she recovers, she notices a stark change in Rome's behavior. He becomes cold and distant, and his disdain for her presence is clear. To make matters worse, she is bluntly informed that she is now effectively his slave—unable to go anywhere without his permission and bound by his every command. Trapped by his side in Sanctuary City, Winnie finds herself at Rome's mercy, her future uncertain and precarious.

As Rome tries to shield her from the city's grim politics and dangerous economy, Winnie must make a choice: Can she navigate the perils of Sanctuary City on her own, or will she be forced to rely on Rome—the enigmatic soldier with slanted blue eyes, a stoic face, and a guarded heart—even as she fights against her growing feelings for him?

In a world where survival demands sacrifice, both Winnie and Rome must find their way through danger and desire, each battling their own demons within the fortified walls of Sanctuary City in the fight to stay alive.