Free Vessel: The Demontouched Saga (Book 4) by Douglas Wayne

say looking around the camp more.
    Around the camp I see a few dozen vehicles stationed around four different houses. Beyond that I can’t make anything out thanks to the trees. I’m about to put down the gun when I see someone being thrown out of the yellow house below. When the person lands on the ground another one walks out the door with his arm stretched out. He takes a few steps before I see the distinct flash of a gunshot coming from his hand.
    “Think I found where the boss lives,” I say. “What do you say we pay him a visit?”
    “Hoorah, Sir!” the pair say, saluting.
    I smile, handing Neil the rifle. “I assume you know how to use the scope.”
    He responds with a nod.
    “Good because I have a plan.”
     
     
     
     
     
    Twenty minutes later Alana pulls up to the front gate. Within moments, two men holding rifles walks out of a makeshift guard shack out front to look us over. The one on the left walks up towards the diver’s side of the car. He isn’t young, by any means, but I wouldn’t put his age much higher than thirty. He is wearing a black long sleeve shirt to go with a pair of black slacks. The other man a pair of jeans, a white button up shirt and a large pair of cowboy boots. I’ll let you guess who is carrying the bigger gun.
    “What do you want?” the guy in black asks, leaning into the car.
    “Looking for a place to stay,” I say. “Your camp looks secure.”
    He pulls the gun up to the window. “Get out of the car.”
    “Sure thing,” I say, opening the door. Tex turns me around before slamming me into the side of the car to search me. I look over to see Alana getting searched the same way.
    “Here’s what’s going to happen,” Tex says. “You are going to turn your happy ass around and walk on down the road. If you so much as look back, I’m going to send a bullet into your ass”
    “What about her?” I say, pointing to Alana.
    “She gets to say,” he says. “As our honored guest.”
    The pair of thugs laugh.
    “Not going to work,” I say signaling towards the man groping Alana. Alana gasps as the side of her thug’s head blows off, sending blood and brains against the walls before we hear the shot go off.
    Tex takes a step back, his gun aimed to the ground.
    “Your move, cowboy,” I say, cracking my knuckles.
    He responds by lifting his weapon, which is what I expected to see. I’m about to pull the gun from his hand when I notice a man on the other side of the black iron gate. Shifting my land to the left, I manage throw Tex off balance. He pulls the trigger, putting a nice hole into the man at the gate.
    Wasn’t what I had planned, but I’ll take it anyways.
    Tex lowers his weapon, but isn’t given a chance to grieve before another shot sends the front of his face spraying over the companion he just shot.
    I might have to keep Neil around, he is useful.
    “Weapon up,” I say, pulling my knife out. “Time to go inside.”
    I walk up to the gate and throw it open while she trains her rifle inside. With it open, she heads inside first with me limping close behind. We are nearly ten yards inside when a door opens to our left. Without hesitation, Alana turns her weapon, bringing the threat down with a single shot.
    Impressive.
    We continue through the compound, working our way to the place we saw the crosses. Part of me wanted to hit the yellow house first, but I have to make sure they are still alive. Taking down that asshole can wait.
    After passing the first house, we jump the fence into the back yard. To be fair, I should say she jumped the fence then opened the latch. There was no way I was getting over a five foot tall white privacy fence on this foot.
    Once we are in the back I can make out the top of one cross over the fence on the other side.
    “Easy from here,” I say. “Don’t want a stray bullet hitting one of them.”
    She nods, running off ahead.
    It is hard to make out, but from here I can almost make out movement from the top of the