Page 58 of Hunted in the Shadows
He motioned at us with a sweeping gesture—a movement which brought a small iron pin on his collar to my attention. All my time hunting, I had only ever seen it on Cain.
“They really made you marshal?” I said, not bothering to mask my flat disdain.
Rhett flashed me a bright smile. “The people have spoken.”
“Did they?” Cliff folded his arms over his chest. “Last I checked, youcouldn’t shoot a deer if it was standing right in front of you, but now you’re in charge of an entire outpost?”
Rhett laughed, the sound echoing across the waterlogged cypress forest around us. He strode over to take a seat against a steel drum with a weatheredHazardous Material Storagesticker peeling on its side. He propped one foot on the side of the vampire’s severed head, rocking it slightly.
“Look, Goldilocks, I may not be on your level with the world-class sharpshooting, but I do know how to run a business,” Rhett said.
“This isn’t a business,” I cut in.
“It is now.” There was an edge to Rhett’s voice that made me pause—some of the irreverence replaced by something sharp and cold. Still, he kept a lazy smile on his face as he jutted his chin toward the weathered wood and steel of the outpost looming behind us. “What do you think of the place?”
“You mean the restrictions fucking up our day?” Cliff asked.
Behind Rhett, I spotted movement in the window. Three men–what looked like two hunters and an archivist–were idling by the grimy glass. They busied themselves with a map laid out on a table, but I didn't miss the way their eyes flickered towards us periodically–keeping tabs on their marshal. Rhett may have come outside unaccompanied, but he certainly wasn't alone.
“Think of it as opportunities,” Rhett answered placatingly. “Welcome to the concept ofcommerce.You realize the fine people of this outpost can actually get paid for their work now? On top of that, I got more specialized medics on site—you can get cleared to take one along with you if you’re put on a riskier hunt. Hell, I even snagged a couple of attorneys who help hunters out of legal mess with the local law if they get sloppy taking out a target.”
“In return for what?” I scoffed. “Hunters do what we do to help people, not to make a quick buck for a con artist.”
Rhett snorted. “Oh, please. I hate to break it to you guys, but not everyone shares your little white knight fantasy. Half of these people would sell out their own grandma for a six-pack.” He paused, lifting his eyebrows at us expectantly. “This is your cue to say ‘thank you,Rhett’ if it's not too much to ask.”
I rolled my eyes, blood heating. “Get fucked.”
Realizing I was clutching the weapon in my hand with a white-knuckle grip, I hesitantly set the dripping machete back on a crate—though I stayed within reach. I tried to keep my tone even.
“You've got an investor,” I said, letting the accusation hang in the air. “Someone’s helping you.”
Rhett heaved a long sigh, like this was the most tedious conversation he'd had all week. “People need things, I provide things. That’s Econ-101, big guy.”
“You're a snake,” I growled.
“You trash my product and insult me? Not gonna lie, starting to hurt my feelings a little bit.” Rhett kicked the vampire head, where it wobbled an uneven path along the walkway until it halted against another steel barrel.
Cliff stepped closer, looming over Rhett's seated position. “Where’s it all going? The siren, the vampire, the monster parts—who are you selling to?”
“Not that I can go into much detail—butsomeof it does go to a very good cause. I’d be happy to bring you into the fold—show you what it’s all about. We could use someone with your skills, Everett.”
“Shove it,” Cliff said, expression darkening.
“I’m serious. I’ve heard the stories of what you're capable of, and…” Rhett paused to let out a whistle. “You have no idea what a partnership between us could do for you. Besides, we both know you’ve done worse for less.”
“At least I don’t need to buy people to stand beside me,” Cliff snapped. “I didn't come here to have my ass kissed. We need a restock on silver, and we’ll be on our way.”
Rhett straightened off the steel barrel, his amicable tone sharpening into something authoritative. “Well, the way things work around here, you’re not getting what you want until you contribute to the outpost.”
I clenched my teeth. I hated this. I hated needinganythingfrom this smug bastard. Even being in the same space with him made my skin crawl.
“What, is this a country club now?” I said. “We have to pay dues?”
“It means doing what I say,” Rhett drawled. “Silver’s a hot commodity. I can’t just go handing it out to every pair of moody drifters that pass through. But relax—it’s nothing you won’t enjoy.”
Fishing into his pocket, he pulled out a folded piece of paper—I caught a glimpse of a list. It looked like it had been printed on letterhead, with some sort of green insignia at the top. I didn’t get a long enough look to tell for sure, but IsworeI’d seen that strange E-shaped logo—the same symbol that had been littered about the abandoned lab in that church basement.
“Our benefactors have particular requests,” Rhett said, scanning it. “Lucky for you, the current bounties should be simple enough for seasoned hunters like you.”
