Page 247 of Shadowman
My chest is constricting. “I know you’re right, but—”
“No buts,” Velle snaps. “You’re either with us, or you’re against us. It’s that simple.”
I rub my eyes. “What’s going on over here?? How did it come to this…?”
“This has been a long time coming,” Velle rumbles. “I didn’t start this shit, but you bet your ass I’m finishing it. He fucked with us for the last time.”
“He’s been killing prisoners,” Rook jumps in. “I’m sure you’ve heard it…”
“Yea, and don’t act like you guys wouldn’t have been doing it yourselves!” I bark. “I get it; he’s a fucking monster. We all know that. But do you honestly think you can defeat the devil? I mean,really?”
“Wow.” Joy shakes her head.
“He’s got his claws in you too, huh?” Velle scoffs. “I never noticed until now.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I bite. “It’s not about him…”
“So it’s Trevel, then?” Joy balks. “That sly piece of Euro trash is more important to you than us? What happened toloyalty…”
“Why are you ganging up on me??” I hiss in defense. “I’m not siding with The Ivory, okay?? We’re fucking stuck over there! If we leave, he’ll kill us, you know that.”
“You’re here right now,” Rook mumbles.
I stare blankly at them. I feel like I’m not explaining myself well, and it’s because I don’t know what I’m doing.If I don’t even understand it myself, how can I express it to them??
“Armory or not, he has the numbers.” I sigh.
Velle folds his arms over his chest. “We’re rallying the prisoners.”
“How many are left?” I tilt my head.
“Doesn’t matter,” he grouses. “They’ll fight if they have to. It’s better than dying out there. And I don’t give a fuck… He can bring in a thousand more cartel men. It won’t stop us. We’re taking back this island. It’s us versus him.” He gets closer to me. “So I say again, you’re either with us… or you’re against us.”
I pause, shifting on my feet. “I would never side against you guys, you know that—”
“But you have been.” His tone is deep and sturdy, calm in his accusations. “You’ve been on his side since the moment you fell in with Fenwick.”
My jaw clenches. “No, that’s not—”
“You’re a traitor,” he hisses, still only a low rumble. “Sleeping in our bed, wearing my clothes…” He glances at my feet and scoffs. “That’s where you’re staying, right? In our bedroom…”
I stay quiet, stewing in guilt so bitter it’s making me sick.
“Look, it is what it is, man. I just thought loyalty was important to you. I guess it’s not.”
“Of course it is,” I growl, closing in. “I’m here because I needed to see you guys… To make sure you were alright.”
“Aw. Howsweet.” His head cocks, cavernous blue narrowed at my face. “We both know you’re here because he sent you.”
I can feel Joy and Rook leering.
“So I have to ask… Why’d youreallycome?”
I swallow hard. “He told me to come over here and… negotiate.”
Rook scoffs out loud while Joy spins, stalking away and rubbing her eyes. Velle chuckles.
“Obviously, it’s bullshit, Iknowthat. He wants me to get eyes on this place and report back or some shit, whatever.”
