Chapter 21
As Frenzy reached the vehicle he arrived in, he stood outside the Suburban and looked around thoughtfully.
“You alright?” Valid asked.
“Something doesn’t feel right.”
“Like what?”
“Like we’re not alone.”
“There’s nobody else here,” Valid said.
Frenzy continued to take his time as he surveyed everything around him. He took out his phone and sent a quick message to Valor.
“Still clear?”
Almost immediately Valor answered.
“Crystal.”
Frenzy sighed as he glanced around again. “Alright, we’re out.”
Once they were in the car, Frenzy immediately sent a text to everyone that was on mission with him, including Rance and his Pride members.
“We’re all going out the same way we got here. Pull over about two miles out and we’ll switch out people so we all get to the right place.”
In less than ten minutes all four vehicles were pulled over on the side of the road.
Frenzy got out, and walked over to Rance’s truck. “Got a minute for a little pow wow?” he asked, then walked away without waiting for an answer. He did the same at the other two vehicles, too.
Within a few seconds everybody had gotten out and were standing in a group waiting to see what Frenzy had to say.
Except four of the five Gamieyon males. Steve was the only one who joined the ‘pow wow’ Frenzy asked for.
The other four got out of whatever vehicle they’d been in as part of a team and got in the Laighin Pride’s Suburban, waiting to go back to the Laighin Pride.
“Where are your people?” Frenzy asked Steve.
“They’re overwhelmed, ready to get away from here,” Steve said.
Frenzy nodded. “Won’t be long. But before then, I want to go back in on foot. I know we’re missing something,” Frenzy said.
“Like what?” Fierce asked.
“I don’t think we were alone there. At the very least we were being watched.
Maybe on video feed, maybe with actual sets of eyes.
I’m leaning toward actual eyes because I didn’t see anything electronic.
But neither did I scent anyone. Didn’t hear anyone.
So I’m thinking they’re not on the Gamieyon property, but watching from a distance.
What piece of property can give you a fairly good view of everything coming and going from there?
Maybe you can’t see every foot of the place, but you can see everything driving or walking in, and everything driving or walking out. ”
“Right across the highway. Large cleared field, slightly overgrown, but no trees. If you don’t mind lying flat and still, it’s a perfect spot. Nobody would suspect you being there because there’s really nothing to hide behind,” Savage said.
“Exactly. And we’re going right in behind that field. Not from down the highway, not from the Gamieyon property. From behind them.”
“And who better to lie perfectly still and flat for hours, even days on end, other than our people?” Feral asked.
“You think we’re looking for Variant?” Storm asked.
“I think they’d be less detectable than Lions,” Feral said. “No offense,” he added looking at Rance and those surrounding him.
“None taken. We are creatures made by nature, no particular training, just instinct. You’re creatures made by science. You’ve got instinct you borrowed from nature, as well as training. We’re well aware of what you’re capable of,” Rance said.
“I hope we find them. And I hope we don’t have to kill them. They deserve to be free, too,” Feral said.
“They’re as good as us at what we do. It won’t be easy,” Savage said.
“And if it’s shifters we find instead of Variant?” Rance asked.
“Depends on if they let us let them live or make us kill them,” Savage said.
“What he said,” Frenzy said, pointing at Savage.
“We’re going in from behind them. But we need four drivers to stay here with the vehicles.
I do believe we’ll be taking prisoners back with us so I’ll need the vehicles ready to come to us when I call,” Frenzy said.
He glanced around and randomly picked two of his people.
“Valid and Storm, you stay with our vehicles.”
Hail could tell that Storm was disappointed, but stood straight and accepted her responsibility without complaint. “I really think you should take Storm. I’ll stay behind with the car,” Hail said.
Frenzy lifted a brow and regarded Hail.
“She lives for this shit, and I’m not feeling myself. Everybody is safer if I’m driving today instead of hunting.”
“Respect for acknowledging that,” Feral said.
Hail gave him a nod.
“Here’s the deal, like I said, we’re going back in on foot.
We’re leaving one driver with each vehicle.
Drivers, you will remain armed and alert, vehicles running.
This will not take long. If you must, shoot first, ask questions later.
Keep your ear pieces in, I’ll call you in when we need you. Everybody else is going in.”
“Tate and Slade?” Rance asked.
“Got it,” they both said, knowing he meant they’d be his drivers.
“I got a fucked up feeling, too,” Savage said. “We were just talking about it on the way here.”
“Ideas?” Frenzy asked.
“I got one,” Feral said, looking around to be sure that none of the five members of the Gamieyon Pride were near.
In noticing Steve looking directly at him, he decided ‘fuck it’ and stared at him while he spoke.
“I can’t be the only one that noticed that there was not a bit of hesitation, no sorrow, no regret, no heartache as the other four of your Pride we brought with us carried the bodies of their friends and dropped them into that safe room to be buried. ”
Frenzy’s gaze traveled over to the four males of the Gamieyon Pride, sitting in the back of the Pride’s Suburban.
“You’re right. Something’s off. These are people they’ve lived among all their lives.
No emotional reactions. No outrage. Completely detached, like taking out the garbage for your female.
The only one that seemed to care was Steve. ”
“They’re in shock,” Steve said.
“Seemed willing enough to be a part of it when we asked if they wanted to come,” Frenzy said.
Rance nodded. “You're right. I didn’t think anything of it. Figured they were just numb from all they’ve been through.”
“And they might be. But then again, maybe they just really don’t give a fuck. And it seems to me that whoever helped plan this slaughter, would have to really not give a fuck,” Frenzy said.
Rance nodded and turned to Steve. “If you’re not up for this, stay here. But they’re coming with us.”
“I’m up for whatever is necessary — I’m going in with you. But if you’re right, why are you taking them in with us on foot? Isn’t that a chance that doesn’t need to be taken? We’ll just deal with it here.”
Frenzy smiled. “Too easy to play it off as something it’s not if you’re asked directly.
I’d like to see how they react when we take whoever is hiding just out of sight into custody.
And to see if there’s any surprise or recognition on the faces of whoever I hope we find doing recon in that field when they see these four standing with us,” Frenzy said.
“What are you planning to do to them if they're guilty?” Steve asked.
“You worried they’re going to be?” Feral asked.
“I hope not. I hope you’re wrong about them.
I hope you locate whoever you think is watching us coming and going.
But I also hope you’re wrong about my people.
There aren’t many of us left. And let me be perfectly clear.
If they, or anybody else that might still be alive out there, helped kill our Alpha, contributed to the attack and slaughter of our people and destruction of everything we all worked for; you’ll have to get in line, because I’ve got vengeance to deliver. ”
“Believe it or not, Steve, I’m okay with that. But after we question them and decide we’ve learned all we can from them,” Frenzy said. “You want to let them know to get their asses out of the car, or should I?”
“I can,” Steve said. He walked away from the group and approached the Pride’s Suburban they were sitting in. He leaned against the door, his arm across the open window seal, his head and face partially through the opening. “Hey, we’re needed. We’re going back in and they want us to go.”
“Why? We’ve done everything we can,” Hugh said.
“So if there’s anybody that shows up and is one of ours, we can let them know not to shoot them.”
“Why do they need all of us? Can’t you do it?” Dillon asked.
“Yeah,” Ted said.
“We’re going in from different locations again.”
Three of the four exchanged glances as they all got out of the vehicle. Dean just sat there, staring straight ahead.
“Dean?” Steve said.
Dean kept staring straight ahead.
“Dean!” Steve said a little louder.
Dean seemed to startle and turned his gaze on Steve.
“We’re going back in,” Steve said.
“Why? There’s nothing left. Not a damn thing left,” he said, his eyes glassy with unshed tears, his face a mask of sadness and rage as he stared at Steve.
“We have to do one more round of searches.”
“I can’t do this. I thought I could, but I can’t.
Dropping the bodies into that hole in the ground.
Acting like it was the right thing to do.
It’s not the fucking right thing to do. The right thing to do would have been to stay and fight for their survival.
Instead, I was escorting one tiny section of our people to the Laighin’s.
And now I’m back dropping the dead bodies of my friends in a fucking hole in the ground!
Friends I might have been able to save had I been here!
There’s nothing that can make that right!
” Dean finished, his voice raw and raspy, a single tear tracking down his face.
Steve shook his head slowly as he stared directly into Dean’s eyes. “We can help search out those responsible.”
“Is that what we’re doing? Or are we just going to poke around what’s left of our lives again?” Dean demanded.