Page 9 of Powerless
"I had to catch them unaware to maximize the efficiency of an attack," Shadow stared directly at Big G. "Otherwise, I would have been captured like the rest of you and thenno onewould get you out."
"Big G's just being a big prick," Jandro glared across the table. "Everyone here knows how you operate. Keep going, man."
"A few hours after taking all of you, they began searching the rooms," Shadow continued. "They shouted loudly about finding the woman—“
"Mariposa," I muttered under my breath. For some reason it irked me how Shadow talked about her. I couldn't place my finger on it exactly, but he made her sound like an object.The woman, like she was some obstacle we had to deal with.
"Their shouting and carelessness made them easy targets," Shadow went on. "I knifed the man who got into my room, took his bow and quiver, then killed everyone in my way until I reached you all."
"Did you really sneak up on every single one of them?" Dallas asked in wide-eyed fascination.
"A few saw me right before they died," Shadow shrugged.
“Once Shadow got us out, we took weapons out of the armory," I decided to pick up the storytelling next. "One of the guards ran up to us in surrender, saying Fischlin was escaping with someone. We ran toward his office, saw where the explosion happened, but we were too late to catch him."
"He was on the back of someone's bike riding south," Jandro added. "They were too far away to see a patch on the cut."
"And our surrendered guard tells us General Tash has been here multiple times," Reaper drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "Pumping tons of resources into this place. Giving them solar panels, high-quality building materials, even chickens and goats for food. All to fuck us over. Why?"
"Another question," Jandro piped up. "How did he know we were coming?"
"Gunner," Reaper's gaze snapped to me. "When was your last contact with the general?"
"Same as everyone's, when we made our deal in Navajo almost two weeks ago. Right before we stopped in Old Phoenix for the last time."And brought ourselves home a pretty little medic.
"You're sure?" The question came from Big G. My head snapped over to him, the edges of my vision already tinged with red.
"Yeah, I'm fucking sure, G. You think I would keep secrets from the club? Frommy brothers?"
"I dunno, man. I'm just sayin'." The fucker leaned back in his seat as he backpedaled. "You're the one in charge of making the deals and shit. Maybe Tash wasn't too happy about something and—“
I was on my feet and my fists hit the table before I could stop myself.
"I'm yourcaptain, you pussy son-of-a-bitch! You want to throw accusations at me? Get over here and back that shit up! Be a fucking man!"
The whole room broke out into a chorus of discernable yells, but I tuned it all out. I couldn't even hear myself. My only goal was to feel the satisfying crunch of my fist into Big G's skull. But someone grabbed me and held me back before I could reach the motherfucker.
"I said, ENOUGH!" Reaper bellowed with a raised hand.
Everyone quieted down, our ragged breaths the only sounds in the room as everyone looked to the president.
"Church is adjourned until everyone can fucking get ahold of themselves," Reaper snarled, his eyes scanning over all of us. "That goes for all of you. No digs at what anyone did or didn't do. No accusations without solid proof. Get the fuck out of my sight."
"Gun, you gonna be cool?" Jandro asked, indicating he was the one holding me back.
"Yeah," I didn't take my eyes off of Big G. "I'm good."
He released me and I straightened my clothes right before pointing at the loudmouthed piece of shit. "You're out of my guard. I'm giving your post to someoneloyalwhen we get back."
"Gunner," Reaper cut in, stepping in front of him before he could respond. "A word?"
I blew out a long breath, pushing my hair back as I nodded. "Yeah. 'Course, president."
He clapped me on the back, leading me out of the room and toward an open balcony overlooking the pool. Reaching into his cut, he pulled out his cigarette case and offered me one. I accepted it and took a big drag the moment he lit the end for me.
"Anything you want to tell me, Gun?" The slim, black cigarette bobbed between Reaper's lips as he spoke.
I exhaled a plume of white smoke, leaning against one of the columns as the nicotine hit my brain.
