Page 116 of After the Burn

“Did he really? We’ve only been gone a few hours. No way the town was cleared that fast.” Beck’s voice stayed steady. “And I can’t imagine he’d send you, Wayne.”

“We’ve set up in a warehouse a few miles east of town.” Wayne narrowed his eyes. “Since we lost at least half the population, he promoted me.”

“Who’s this dude?” Peter cut in, eyeing the enormous man standing in front of Wren.

Wren peeked around his torso, her head barely reaching his pecs. “Nobody you want to mess with.”

“Oh, shit! Crazy-ass Wren made it.” Peter started laughing. “Gideon is going to be thrilled that he lost some of his best men, and the nut job made it through with flying colors.”

I could hear a growl, but when I looked down at Max, he was silent.

Was that coming from the behemoth?

“Maybe we can do him the favor of getting rid of her.” Wayne stared at her in contemplation. “Surely, you don’t want to be saddled with the mental patient?” he looked at Beck.

“It’s a damn shame, she used to be something else.” The tall guy leered at Wren. “I remember when she came back from the big city, with her pictures in all the fancy magazines.” He smirked. “Now look at her, nothing but a fucking crazy bitch.”

“I remember you had a thing for her in school, Clark,” Wayne laughed. “And she wouldn’t let you swat flies off her ass.”

“Fuck you, Wayne,” Clark pushed him. “I was the fucking quarterback. I could’ve had her any time I wanted.”

“Sure, you could,” Wayne smirked.

Clark pulled a gun from the back of his waist. “Take that back.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Wayne’s eyes opened wide. “We’re in the same family group, you moron.”

“I don’t give a fuck.” Clark growled.

Peter took a step toward Clark. “Put the gun down, or I’ll make you. Now’s not the time.”

“Now who’s crazy?” Wren poked her head back out.

Clark fixed his glare on her, and the giant gently pushed Wren back behind him, then turned and narrowed his eyes at Clark.

“Now take it back.” Clark returned his glare to Wayne.

“Take it back,” Preston told Wayne. “You know how he is.”

“Fuck both of you.” Clark leveled the pistol at Wayne.

“I’m not scared of⁠—”

BANG!

The round whistled over Wayne’s head and punched through the wooden cross mounted above the tiny church a small distance from the trailer park.

Silence.

We watched as the splintered cross crashed into the church bell.

BONG…

The deep note rolled through the empty town.

We all stood frozen until Max’s head snapped toward the church. His growl began so low that I almost mistook it for distant thunder.

The giant slowly turned his head, listening intently.