Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Someone else in the small group he's gathered says something, and Zayne's demeanor shifts immediately. Outrage fills his eyes as he talks animatedly about whatever the shift in conversation is, but the people around him are no less entranced. The head nods deepen as the group grows tighter together, as if they're hanging on every word coming from his mouth.
I swear the man looks like he’s one person away from starting his own fucking militia group. I'm not close enough to hear what he's saying, but each one of them is buying what he's selling.
I feel a kinship of sorts with him in this moment. It's as if we've both spent a lifetime pretending to be someone we aren't. I discovered after leaving home for the Marine Corps that I didn't want to be the guy coated in anger and expecting people to treat me poorly. It took years of brotherhood and acceptance to let that resentment slough away, and until that man showed up on the doorstep of Cerberus, I thought that the old me was gone for good.
Funny how one person can land you right back in the middle of a life you thought you left behind.
I shift my weight from one foot to the other when I spot one of the guys from the dossier we were given. We know he's linked to The League of Liberty, but it wasn't clear how high his rank in the organization is.
He looks just as captivated by what Zayne is saying, and I know this is a good sign. But I can't fight the exasperation when Zayne looks at the man and gives him a wide smile before offering his hand to shake, as if the guy's the second coming of Christ.
After their brief introductions, Zayne continues speaking, and the group grows larger and larger.
"Do you know him?"
I shift my eyes slowly. I felt the woman approach from my right, but didn't give her the attention she was clearly seeking until she spoke.
"He's my cousin," I grunt, pulling my eyes from her to continue scanning the crowd.
"Does this cousin of yours have a name?" she asks, inching close enough that I can tell she has pressed her breasts to my arm without even having to look.
"Curtis."
I take another sip of my beer, using the motion to shift away from her as well.
The woman is intelligent enough to take a step back. As much as I'd like to tell her to fuck off, I also know that she could easily be someone from the group we're investigating sent over here to ask questions. I know people saw us arrive together, so I have to presume at least a handful of people here already know we're connected.
As ignorant as many people are in their beliefs, I know they're also very attentive. Two new guys showing up to a rally had to have drawn some attention, and there's nothing like drug-enhanced paranoia to make people start asking questions.
"Good to know," she says, her tone now flat and less flirty. "See ya around."
I don't know if she has a hard time pretending to be interested in me for an extended period, or if she got what she needed and no longer has to put on an act.
I blow out a huff of air, trying to decide whether I should keep standing here or walk around a bit. Walking would probably be better. It would draw more eyes and attention, and I know that being seen and becoming a regular part of these types of things is the goal. But that would also force me to possibly interact with people, and I'm feeling a little too twitchy right now.
Before I can make up my mind, yelling from across the parking lot draws my attention.
A woman in much too little clothing for the chill in the air is in a police officer's face. Her actions are wild, her arms flailing and her head moving in exaggerated jerks, but the cop is just standing there, looking over the woman's head as if she doesn't exist.
That is, until she presses one of her fingers into the side of his face, forcing his head to turn. The slow lowering of his gaze to her face tells me everything I need to know. He was fine until she touched him. Although I wouldn't consider what she did assault, the law is clear on what it considers assault. A grand jury may throw the case out, but that won't stop her from getting arrested.
I don't know what this woman's end goal is, but I bet she didn't plan on spending a night in jail.
I glance at Zayne, and just like everyone else in the parking lot, this woman has drawn his attention as well.
Knowing this could be all smoke and mirrors, I scan the crowd to see what other shit is going on that some may not want to have witnesses to.