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)
"You'll head here first," he says, his finger tapping another location on the map. "That's where you'll unload your rations."
I nod, understanding from experience that this is expected. These sorts of situations are not unlike any cult. What you have is no longer yours, but belongs to the organization as a whole.
"The fuck?" Zeus growls. "You expect us to give up our shit?"
I don't take my eyes off Ricky, gauging his reaction.
Instead of getting angry, another smile crosses his lips as if he's the one who created the rule and takes great pleasure in relieving people of their belongings.
"You know, I think I like you," he tells Zeus.
"After you drop rations," he continues, "you'll--"
"I went to fucking jail for six months for stealing the money to get my goddamn shotgun," Zeus interrupts.
Ricky pulls in a deep breath, his smile faltering for the first time since we made contact with him.
"Those are the rules. Don't like 'em? Take it up with Bobby, just let me know when you plan to do that so I can witness him cutting you down at your fucking knees."
"After?" I prod.
"This is the store," he says, pointing to the map once again. "They'll have everything you need to get comfortable."
"We'd be comfortable if we got to keep the shit we came with," Zeus says, his tone a little distant as if his fight is over and he's accepted what's going to happen inside.
Getting pissed at losing our stuff is expected. I doubt a single person has come into this compound and just rolled over and agreed. It isn't fair, and these folks are big on fairness when it fits their agenda. They can't always see it that way when they're taking others' liberties away, but that's also expected.
"If you have any other questions, the folks at the unload location can answer them," he says before taking a step back.
He walks a few steps away from the truck before stopping in his tracks as if a thought just occurred to him. He turns back toward us, staring into the passenger seat until Zeus looks in his direction before speaking.
"Be glad you didn't bring a woman with you," he says, a certain sadness in his tone. "They'd take her, too."
With that, he slaps the side of the truck and walks away. A few seconds later, the gate swings open, giving us access to the compound.
I can't even look at Zeus, despite the rage I can feel vibrating through him. I don't know if he's trying to act in line with what's expected of his character, or if he's trying to blow this. The man has to know that separation from the group at this point, after the two nights we've spent robbing people, literally witnessing the leader of the group commit a felony, isn't as simple as being asked to leave.
I can't explain it to him right now, and I don't know when I'll get the chance, but he has to calm the fuck down if he expects to be successful in our mission.
We need to be the new guys these people trust and lean on, or it will take us fucking months, if not years, to gather the intel we need to take them down. I don't know about him, but spending that long with this group was never in my fucking plans.
"Calm the fuck down," I say as I put the truck in park outside of the first building we're expected at.
He grumbles something about working hard for the things he has, and I know he's in character rather than hell-bent on getting us killed.
"Well, look at you," he says with more than a hint of flirtation in his voice as he climbs out of the truck to be greeted by a cute blonde exiting the building.
"You must be Curtis," she says, bouncing up to him with her hand out.
I don't miss the way her eyes dart in my direction as if she's already terrified of me before she looks back at him.
"Actually, I'm Curtis," I say, watching as she pulls her hand back before Zeus can take it.
Her eyes dart between the two of us, and, much like with Ricky, it seems Lyle Smith's reputation as a giant asshole has spread around the camp.
"I'm Lyle," Zeus says, a softer edge than I've ever heard in his tone. "And you are?"
"I'm Re—" she pauses, as if she has made a mistake. "I'm Candy."
"Nice to meet you, Candy," he says, holding out his hand and not missing a beat, even though this woman just obviously lied to him.
She hesitates a second time, her hand slow to rise, as if she knows being rude to him would come with dire consequences, before reluctantly placing her tiny hand in his.
He gives it a gentle shake before immediately releasing it, knowing the touch is unwanted. I can only presume he doesn't want to victimize her further than she already has been.