Page 81 of Obey

“There’s nothing to reveal,” I say, following Knives’s lead. “But yeah, we should head out. We have a long drive back home.”

Then we’ll get to confront Silvano, which is not something I’m looking forward to.The urge to smirk is quick to fade.

I’m just glad we were able to loot the dead men for their cash and credit cards so we had something on hand, though we’ll get rid of those soon enough.

We head out to the SUV we’d brought back from Boar’s hideout. It’s got the crates of weapons in the back, and I am very uncomfortable driving with this many guns, but there’s nothing else for us to do. We’ll switch vehicles when we get to New Valence.

Hank, Jim, and Pyre are waiting for us outside. I mentally wince when I see Jim. He’s still banged up, one arm in a sling, and he should probably be in bed—not to mention the teary quality to his eyes.

“We didn’t need a whole farewell party,” Knives protests.

Hank shakes his head. “You do! You basically saved the town.”

“We didn’t save anything,” I say, shaking my head, but I can see they’re not going to listen. “But if we helped, we’re glad.”

It wasn’t our goal at all, but sure.

Maybe it does have a little bit of a “feel good” quality to it, but it’s been overbearing enough to where I almost can’t wait to get back to New Bristol. My fuzzy feelings about staying here or bailing altogether have faded, and I’m ready to get back into the regular grind of things.

Assuming we get home without being pulled over and being caught with this many guns, of course.

Jim comes up to us, wobbling a bit. “I just wanted to say, I’m so glad I went fishing that day. You boys are…” He blinks quickly and swallows hard. “I know it isn’t my place to say, but you opened some eyes. My brother didn’t believe a… a… um, men like you two could be manly. But you showed him.”

Men like us?

Knives and I share a look. I don’t have to wonder too hard about what he actually wanted to say.

“Anyway,” Jim continues. “You made me reconsider. I can stay here moping, or I could just go visit my son. It’s okay for things to change.”

I’m starting to look forward to the talk with Silvano, because at least that means I won’t be trapped in all these awkward conversations. I don’t want to change people’s minds, and I don’t want to help them through their personal issues.

“Well, good luck with that,” Knives says. “I’m sure your son will… uh, I hope he meets you halfway.”

Considering how neither of us still talk to our parents, we really aren’t the ones to be giving advice here.

Pyre goes to the SUV and opens the back door. “I guess that’s it? Um, sorry about… all the shit. I’m going to help these guys, um, testify.” He looks at us like he wants us to confirm his story.

I can see why Nevaeh called him an idiot. At least Hank and Jim don’t call him out on the obvious lie.

“Yeah, we have to go. But if we’re ever in the NewVa area again, we’ll be sure to stop by,” I say.

Knives grunts. We’d agreed that we aren’t willingly coming back here ever again.

I hold out my hand for the keys, looking expectantly at Knives.

He grumbles but hands me the keys, and I take them.

“Drive safe,” Jim calls out after us as we head to the SUV.

If only he knew how safely I plan to drive.

It’s going to drive Knives nuts.

I get into the SUV and start it up, enjoying the bliss of the air conditioner. “I thought they’d never let us leave,” I remark as I back out of the B&B’s small parking lot.

“They were way nicer to you than they were to me,” Pyre complains in the back seat.

Knives rolls his eyes. “Your gang flooded their small town with drugs and weapons. Did you think that would make them love you?”

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