Page 44 of Harris

Soon, Harris’s breathing slowed and evened out until moments later, his snores echoed through the room. Woodley pulled the blankets over them and settled in with the man he intended to spend the rest of his life with, no matter how long that was.

Hell, he was in love for the first time in his life. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.

***

The group had grown as they gathered around the dining room table. Along with their team, Apollo and Griffin, a man named Damon, and another named Hendrix joined them. Damon was tall, with jet-black hair and shifty eyes; Hendrix looked like he’dwalked straight out of the sixties or seventies. Long blond hair, a bandana, a jean jacket covered in patches, and a handlebar mustache. Easy Rider junkie if he’d ever seen one.

They were two more survivors and part of Apollo’s team. Though neither was too upfront about their mutations, Woodley could understand their reasoning for holding back. Trust was earned in this community, never a given.

Brick and Apollo entered the room, and everyone quieted down.

“Apollo has a few things he’d like to say,” Brick said before stepping back, allowing Apollo to speak.

“I’d like to thank each of you for all the help you’ve given us. We know your team didn’t have to risk themselves in our search for Robin. Though the search ended with the worst possible conclusion, we now have closure. Where we go from here involves both teams in a concerted effort to remove this threat from our city.”

Brick stepped forward and took over.

“This division of the Noah Group has proved its willingness to kill anyone in their way. It’s time we take the fight to them. In the coming days, we’ll ramp up surveillance on both the bar and Soloman’s residence to gather as much intel about their behaviors and schedules as possible. Tentatively, our incursion plans will center around Wednesday of next week. Midweek allows for a limited number of civilians caught in the crossfire if the Group chooses to engage us.”

Spencer went around the table handing out files. “Inside, you will find your briefs and timeline for the next week.”

“This will be treated as a military operation; therefore, chains of command will be followed,” Brick said.

“Meaning?” Damon asked.

Before Brick could say a word, Apollo spoke up.

“Meaning Brick is the leader in this case. You’ll defer to him.”

“I’m not comfortable with that,” Damon said.

Great, they had an asshole among them. This shit could jeopardize the team.

“I don’t give a fuck if you’re comfortable or not,” Brick stated in a low, calm voice. That was never a good sign. “I’ve led countless missions into hostile territory across the globe. I spent my life taking out evil from the deepest jungle to the hottest desert without explaining why. I’m not about to start now. Leave.”

Holy shit. The look on Damon’s face said it all, shock. Making Woodley wonder if the guy had ever been put in his place.

“But…” Damon sputtered.

“Leave. You’re a liability,” Brick ordered.

Damon looked to Apollo.

“I’m not risking any more of our people’s lives to satisfy your ego. Robin was butchered like an animal, and I don’t give a shit what I have to do to stop it from happening again. Brick’s experience is the best chance we have at making that happen. You can’t follow orders; you can’t come along.”

“Robin was my lover. I’ll do what it takes to stop them from doing this to anyone else,” Damon said, his face bleak.

Woodley felt for the man. He couldn’t imagine how he’d feel if that had been Harris on the slab.

Brick closed the distance between them and stared Damon down until the other man looked away.

“If you want to avenge the man you loved, then you, above anyone, should know that the Noah Group will do whatever it takes to destroy us, and we must be willing to do the same. Whether we have a problem with it or not,” Brick stated. “I’m sorry for your loss, but we have a mission to finish.”

“Yes, sir,” Damon said without his prior bravado.

“That was your one and only warning. Don’t give me a reason to take this chance at payback away from you,” Brick said before returning to the head of the table. “Study the notes. We begin Operation NOLA at eighteen hundred hours.”

As the meeting disbanded, Hendrix came forward and looked between Brick and Stryker, garnering both men’s attention.

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