“She lives for this shit, and I’m not feeling myself. Everybody is safer if I’m driving today instead of hunting.”
“Respect for acknowledging that,” Feral said.
Hail gave him a nod.
“Here’s the deal, like I said, we’re going back in on foot. We’re leaving one driver with each vehicle. Drivers, you will remain armed and alert, vehicles running. This will not take long. If you must, shoot first, ask questions later. Keep your ear pieces in, I’ll call you in when we need you. Everybody else is going in.”
“Tate and Slade?” Rance asked.
“Got it,” they both said, knowing he meant they’d be his drivers.
“I got a fucked up feeling, too,” Savage said. “We were just talking about it on the way here.”
“Ideas?” Frenzy asked.
“I got one,” Feral said, looking around to be sure that none of the five members of the Gamieyon Pride were near. In noticing Steve looking directly at him, he decided ‘fuck it’ and stared at him while he spoke. “I can’t be the only one that noticed that there was not a bit of hesitation, no sorrow, no regret, no heartache as the other four of your Pride we brought with us carried the bodies of their friends and dropped them into that safe room to be buried.”
Frenzy’s gaze traveled over to the four males of the Gamieyon Pride, sitting in the back of the Pride’s Suburban. “You’re right. Something’s off. These are people they’ve lived among all their lives. No emotional reactions. No outrage. Completely detached, like taking out the garbage for your female. The only one that seemed to care was Steve.”
“They’re in shock,” Steve said.
“Seemed willing enough to be a part of it when we asked if they wanted to come,” Frenzy said.
Rance nodded. “You're right. I didn’t think anything of it. Figured they were just numb from all they’ve been through.”
“And they might be. But then again, maybe they just really don’t give a fuck. And it seems to me that whoever helped plan this slaughter, would have to really not give a fuck,” Frenzy said.
Rance nodded and turned to Steve. “If you’re not up for this, stay here. But they’re coming with us.”
“I’m up for whatever is necessary — I’m going in with you. But if you’re right, why are you taking them in with us on foot? Isn’t that a chance that doesn’t need to be taken? We’ll just deal with it here.”
Frenzy smiled. “Too easy to play it off as something it’s not if you’re asked directly. I’d like to see how they react when we take whoever is hiding just out of sight into custody. And to see if there’s any surprise or recognition on the faces of whoever I hope we find doing recon in that field when they see these four standing with us,” Frenzy said.
“What are you planning to do to them if they're guilty?” Steve asked.
“You worried they’re going to be?” Feral asked.
“I hope not. I hope you’re wrong about them. I hope you locate whoever you think is watching us coming and going. But I also hope you’re wrong about my people. There aren’t many of us left. And let me be perfectly clear. If they, or anybody else that might still be alive out there, helped kill our Alpha, contributed to the attack and slaughter of our people and destruction of everything we all worked for; you’ll have to get in line, because I’ve got vengeance to deliver.”
“Believe it or not, Steve, I’m okay with that. But after we question them and decide we’ve learned all we can from them,” Frenzy said. “You want to let them know to get their asses out of the car, or should I?”
“I can,” Steve said. He walked away from the group and approached the Pride’s Suburban they were sitting in. He leaned against the door, his arm across the open window seal, his head and face partially through the opening. “Hey, we’re needed. We’re going back in and they want us to go.”
“Why? We’ve done everything we can,” Hugh said.
“So if there’s anybody that shows up and is one of ours, we can let them know not to shoot them.”
“Why do they need all of us? Can’t you do it?” Dillon asked.
“Yeah,” Ted said.
“We’re going in from different locations again.”
Three of the four exchanged glances as they all got out of the vehicle. Dean just sat there, staring straight ahead.
“Dean?” Steve said.
Dean kept staring straight ahead.
