Page 91 of Sawyer

For a bit, all they talk about is fucking bitches, and that is when I zone out and start mentally cheering on the little ant colony in front of me.

Really, those little guys are the real heroes, lifting things twice their size like little alpha bugs. They are superheroes, and I’ll die on that hill.

I’m just about to feed them a little bit of granola as a reward for all their hard work when Rumor tenses beside me.

I focus on the guys as static fills the air. “Check in, site four, check in.”

“Site four,” one of the men grumbles sleepily into what I’m assuming is a walkie-talkie.

“Report.”

“Nothing.” He snorts. “Absolutely fucking nothing. Just like any other night.”

“Site eight had one of their wolves take off.”

“Beasts, you can’t train a wild beast,” he mutters back with disappointment. “Where’s it at? I’ll shoot it.”

“Asset Green is back at base camp.” Static flares through the space before he continues. “No breakouts this evening.”

My ears perk up at that.

“You think they finally learned their lessons?” The beta laughs, chilling me to the bone.

“Not yet.” There’s a maniacal laugh in response. “Some aren’t nearly broken enough to give up. Those are my favorite.”

I stare at Rumor. He doesn’t blink, and he doesn’t look at me, not at all. I’m sure he can feel my anger.

As the men talk, I want to rage and yell at him to do something. They are implying… No, I won’t allow myself to even think about what they are suggesting.

I can’t. It’s too awful. Too heartbreaking.

A hand wraps around my mouth, and Sin pulls me back into his arms and down to the ground. I just make out Bryn with his gun resting against the embankment.

Pop-pop-pop.

Quiet. The shots were too quiet.

No one moves.

Bryn flips the scope off and turns to Rumor, only nodding. Sin lets go of me, but I’m too stunned to move.

Rumor turns toward me, his fingers lifting my chin. I can only make out his features in shades of green. “Baby girl, I never intended to let them live.” He kisses my forehead before he hops up and walks casually to the fire.

Okay then.

“I want the walkie-talkie.” Bryn offers me his hand.

Absentmindedly, I place my hand in his, letting him lift me up. My boots crunch on something, and I look down. “No!” I gasp.

“What is it?” Sin asks, but all three men rush to my side.

“I killed them all.” I lift my boot, finding several dead ants.

“We need to find shelter for her to rest,” Bryn states.

Sin tugs on me to move away from the demolished ant colony. “It’s okay, princess.”

“I killed them.” Tears burn my eyes.

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