A Powerless World | Book 4 | Outlive The Darkness Hunt, Jack (feel good novels .txt) 📖

Forced to remain on their knees, pain rolled up her legs.

She’d heard the conversation over the radio. She didn’t figure Colby would show. That wasn’t in the cards. Two lives meant nothing in comparison to what thousands would lose if these animals stayed in control. That’s why it shocked her when she saw the truck roll in. Alicia squinted. Colby was the driver.

Chapter Thirty

The truck’s engine rumbled quietly. Colby stared through the windshield, taking a moment to soak in the sight of Alicia and Dylan at the center of Eureka Boardwalk. His eyes roamed the building known as The Compass located at the foot of F Street. He spotted some of Boone’s men, in position. They fanned out. Would they shoot him the moment he stepped out?

He didn’t fear death. None of his family did as they had become accustomed to the reaper’s frequent visits. His father had always said it was better to go out fast than to endure a slow and painful death. After seeing what happened to Nina, he had to wonder if any of them would be shown mercy.

No, death he didn’t fear, but losing people, now that was hard.

He couldn’t afford to lose any more.

“Shut the vehicle off, place the keys on top of the truck, and step out slowly,” one of Boone’s men bellowed as they surrounded the vehicle, expecting him to pull a fast one. His gaze went to his rearview mirror to those who were peering into the back to see if it was loaded, to see if there was anyone hidden. There wasn’t. It was empty barring cases of rifles.

Right then, Rachel and Boone stepped into view off to his right, exiting the building.

They kept their distance while the men checked the load in the back. One of them gave the thumbs-up but said it was short. Of course it was, most of the load was now in the hands of the people, the same people that would take this good community back and restore it long after he was dead.

“Get out of the vehicle, Colby,” Rachel said.

A smug grin spread on Boone. God, he hated him.

Whether it was hesitation or a need to show who was in control, Rachel gave a nod of the head and Boone made his way over to Dylan. He grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back, then jammed a handgun into his mouth.

Colby’s chest tightened, his hand balled.

Hesitant, expecting to be shot on sight, he pushed out of the vehicle.

He was quickly spun around and patted down by one of Boone’s men. They kicked his feet apart and he felt hands go down his arms and back, up his legs and then stop when they reached his chest. They turned him around and tore open his jacket to reveal a belt of grenades. It wasn’t rigged to erupt at the pull of a pin, instead, all he needed was the one he had in his right hand. The pin was already pulled. If it erupted, the rest would.

The men backed away, pointing and quickly placing distance between them.

Colby remained beside the vehicle and lifted the grenade.

“Release them now.”

Boone aimed his pistol at Colby.

Rachel stuck out her arm. “Don’t shoot him.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t do that. If I go, so does this fine collection of firearms in the back.”

“And kill yourself?” Rachel asked. “Don’t be stupid.”

“Stupid is to think we can survive any of this. I’ve dodged the bullet more times than I care to mention. I should have been dead a long time ago. I’ve lost nearly everyone I care for, so go ahead. Shoot, Boone. I’m more than willing to die if it means taking you all with me. Are you ready to go?”

“Put the pin back in the grenade, Colby, and we can talk about this.”

“Through a cargo box? I think not.”

Dylan laughed. “You all are stupid. Don’t you know us Rikers are fucking psycho!” He laughed even harder, causing Boone to lash out in anger, pistol whipping him.

“Hey asshole. You do that again. I swear to God, I will send you to meet your maker.”

“You’re bluffing,” Boone said. “Don’t listen to him.”

“Am I?”

“Don’t listen to him.”

“You want to roll the dice and take a chance?” Colby took a few steps toward him and he released Dylan, backing up. Colby moved back into position by the truck. He knew there was a chance that one of them would take the shot but firearms and ammo were extraordinarily hard to come by, so it would have been insane to kill him in such close proximity to the truck.

Dylan laughed again. “Shit, Colby, and I thought I was the crazy one.”

The racking of guns could be heard. Alicia caught Colby’s gaze.

“Don’t shoot him,” Rachel shouted. “That’s an order. Don’t shoot.” She walked before them, turning to make sure no one squeezed a trigger. What they didn’t know was they were probably in someone else’s crosshair. “Listen to me, Colby. Okay? You’ve got my attention. We need those firearms. The people of this community need them.”

“Is that why you are keeping them locked away?”

“We are doing that for their protection.”

“Bullshit, you are doing it to control them.”

“Control. Protection. It’s all the same. Don’t you get it? Someone has to make the hard decisions. They won’t. They don’t have what it takes.”

“That’s where you are wrong. The people of Humboldt are strong, resilient, and they sure as hell won’t roll over for a bitch like you. Why don’t you tell them you were behind the death of those in ward one? Huh? Why don’t you tell them you were behind the murders of those outside the gates? It wasn’t Johnson. It was you and this asshole.”

Boone seethed. “Let me take the shot.”

Rachel stabbed a finger at Boone. She was furious. “No!”

“I’m telling you, he’s bluffing.”

“Admit it,” Colby said.

“Yeah. I put the order through. But like I said, to move the needle sometimes you have to