Page 50 of Killer Moonshine

“Kill that motherfucker!” Before the bullet could be fired, the rush of wind and flash of color flew by them, Marilisa disappearing in a whirl of strange sounds and wind.

“What the hell was that?” asked Ghost.

“I don’t know,” whispered Nine, staring at the last Samaan cousin standing. The man was in shock, wondering if the men were witches.

“Put your weapon down,” said Gaspar.

“N-no. You are evil,” he said. He held up the knife in one hand and his handgun in the other.

“I don’t want to shoot you,” said Gaspar.

The man shook his head, raising the weapons higher. Just as Gaspar was about to say something, the metal in the man’s hand began turning red hot. He stared at it a moment, then slowly screamed as the metal melted in his hand, burning his limbs.

With the Samaans all dead, their men dead or knocked out in the van, the Gray Wolf men stared at one another as they slowly walked out of their hiding spots.

“I didn’t get to hurt anyone,” said Tailor with a frown. He turned to see Marilisa being carried by a strange man and smiled. “Boy, you better put that little girl down, or I will hurt you.”

The man smiled, shaking his head.

“A thank you might be nice,” he said, setting the girl on her feet. Tailor frowned at him, then looked at the others.

“Ghost? Master Chief Stanton? Is that you, sir?” said a man, walking toward them. There were more than two dozen people behind him looking tired, dirty, and afraid. Ghost stared at the man.

He was big, easily six-three or -four. His shoulders were wide, and his face showed signs of scars from something. Ghost tilted his head, looking at the man.

“Ghost? Do you know this man?” asked Gaspar.

“I do. I think. I saved you in the sandbox a lifetime ago,” said Ghost. The man smiled, nodding.

“Yes, sir. You did. I’m forever grateful for that. I never got to thank you properly, so I hope you’ll take all of this as my thank you. Our thank you.”

“Kane. Kane Jackson,” said Ghost.

“Yes, sir. That’s it.”

“Son, you need to explain this to us,” said Nine. “Men flying through the air into the water, metal melting in a man’s hands, and what the hell was that man flying in to save Marilisa.”

“You’re one of us,” whispered Marilisa. The group all turned, staring at the girl. “They’re like us. Different but like us.”

“I think we need to meet about this. With Mama and Pops,” said Gaspar. Gabriel walked toward the group and smiled, reaching out to shake their hands.

“They mean no harm, Gaspar. Marilisa is right. They are like our little geniuses only different in some ways. There are a lot of you.”

“There are,” nodded Kane. “This is my wife Aislinn. That’s Flip and his wife, Nat. Dr. Adam Thorn and his wife, Fiona.”

“Him,” said Marilisa, pointing to a man. The man smiled at her, nodding. “He was the one sending the message. How?”

“Why don’t I tell you everything later,” said Kane. “I’m just asking for a safe place to lay our heads and maybe some food, Ghost. We’ve been on the run for a while now, and there are men chasing us. If what the girl says is right, and she’s like us, they’ll be after her as well.”

“Let’s go,” nodded Ghost. “I’m sure we can round up some food for everyone, showers, and places to live.” Gaspar looked at Gabe, who was smiling ear to ear.

“The thirty extra cabins on the island. Know anything about that, Gabe?”

“Maybe,” he laughed. “It’s always fun getting the best of you, mon frére.”

“Asshole. Let’s go, people. We need some answers to what we just witnessed. On a property where the unusual happens all the time, you just blew my fucking mind.”

As they walked toward the docks and the boats waiting there, the team from VG was standing on the land bridge. Saint pushed through, glaring at Marilisa.