His Hostage - Page 68
“The Hunters,” I say. “Kaine.”
“Why?”
I explain the story to them, and he sits down and thinks to himself for a second. “They broke the pact?”
“They broke the pact and a whole lot more,” I say.
“That’s the only law keeping us from falling apart,” he says. “Even I know that. What’s their angle?”
“They want to break up the four corners and send everything into disarray and chaos,” I say. “They want our money. Power. You name it. They want to own it all.”
His grin falls from his face. “That’s not going to happen,” he says. “It can’t happen.”
“I know,” I tell him. “But we need the Hell Squadron to back us up. Otherwise, we might lose this fight. They play dirty. They’ll use every trick under the sun to gun us down. But if we unite and fight together, we ca
n end this and go back to our everyday lives.”
“A war?” he asks, shaking his head.
“We don’t want a war,” Iago says. “We just want Kaine and his men gone. Think of it as another job.”
Maynard shakes his head again and groans. I tell him, “There’s a kilo of powder, with your name on it. That is, if you help us.”
“We don’t need the additional product. I’m not doing this for the money,” he says. “We’ll help you in this fight. I’ve met Kaine before. Never liked the guy. He thinks this lifestyle is something completely different.”
“You won’t regret this,” I say.
“Oh, I know I won’t. Because if I do, it’ll be your head in a box next time,” he says. “The four of you will stay here for the day. We leave at nightfall. We’ll come up with a strategy. How’s that sound?”
“Good,” Jeffco mutters. “You know, I thought you were all a bunch of hillbillies.”
I sock Jeffco in the arm, and glance at Maynard who’s begun laughing again.
“The illusion is all you need, right?” he asks.
I suppose he’s got a point.
26
Caroline
We reach the end of the river.
Out here, there’s absolutely nothing. I’m not exactly at ease, but I’m also not losing my mind either. I don’t feel like there’s the possibility of an ambush. Not out here. Not so far removed from the world.
Maynard is quiet and particularly solemn about things, but he’s willing to help. He eventually gets out a map and places his finger on the spot we’re in.
“This is us,” he says.
“We’re perfectly safeguarded by lakes and rivers,” Iago mutters to himself.
“We pick where we stay with great precision,” he says. “The most important thing in life is keeping this life. Our system is flawless.”
“I’ll say,” Iago whispers. “But where are your men?”
“My men are situated here.” He points at another point on the map. “We tend to stay apart, coming together every few days or so,” he says. “And over here, are your men.”
“We’re not too far,” I say.
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