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Thehim to stumble and fall onto the hard-packed dirt Redjacket turned on Zane and threw a punch that snapped Zane’s jaw to the side and caused hiained his balance and turned on the un in his back warningly Zane glared at them both mutinously, but he kept his hands laced behind his head as theout of the corner of his mouth sidestepped around him and moved to stand next to Redjacket
"Keep your damn mouth shut," Redjacket ordered as he poked Zane in the chest "You’re in our rated out "We’re on a fucking vacation"
"I wanted to go to Cabo," Deuce hed loudly "Shoulda listened to your boyfriend," he told Zane as he kicked at Deuce
Zane’s body jerked as he resisted the instinct to help Swizzlestick stepped forward and poked Zane in the chest with the barrel of the shotgun Zane swore right then and there that he would take that shotgun away from him and beat him with it After the past week, his teoddamn who the hell you are or why you’re here," Redjacket snarled at the da the equip card table set up nearby that held an array of dull coins, one broken candelabra, and several other unidentifiable pieces Deuce looked at the for buried treasure?" he asked with ill-concealed disdain "And blowing shit up all over the place to do it?" he added in growing anger
"Can’t have anybody finding out, now can we? Got to protect our investments," Earflaps sneered
"How many people have you killed?" Zane asked furiously
"Shut up," Redjacket growled at him
"--over a few pieces of broken--"
"I said shut up!" Redjacket shouted as he raised his hand, prepared to hit Zane again
A noisy tuht halted hiun at the noise as Redjacket pulled a gun from the waistband of his jeans "Who’s out there?" he shouted as he pointed his gun at Zane’s face and squinted into the darkening woods There was no response as everyheld his breath Zane tried to turn his head just enough to peer into the forest, trying to see who or what it had been He al the careless Swizzlestick puun and pointed it at Deuce when the silence stretched further
"Show yourself or both these ht now," Redjacket called out
Another movement answered the threat, and Earl slid down the sracelessly, his hands held up and out over his head as he sturiood and bad Bad because now Deuce and Earl were both here and in the line of fire But good because Ty was still out there And these idiots would have no way of knowing
Redjacket began cursing as Earl showed hi froo search Earl
In the space of a few seconds, Zane calculated his chances: all threeaway, Deuce was un in his arm rather than ready as he approached Earl, and Redjacket and Swizzlestick were both in easy grabbing distance Without even consciously deciding, ZaneRedjacket hard in the back to tip hirapple with Swizzlestick for the shotgun In the le, Zane are of three quick shots co fire fro away his presence Zane laid Swizzlestick out with a hard hook, but as he turned to face Redjacket, pain exploded in his cheek as his world went bright white and flared out
EARL was on his knees, his hands laced behind his neck and his head lowered He cursed hio, he’d never have un pointed at Deuce’s head, he hadn’t even considered not showing hiet out of this
The skinny guy with the swizzle stick was co loudly about his jaw as Earflaps rolled Zane over roughly Earl watched as Earflaps rifled through Zane’s pockets, looking for any sign that Zane h, liun, and after a littleknives from sheaths that were strapped to Zane’s forear them into a nearby sack All this ti the weapons
His eyes flicked to the side, to the woods where Ty’s shots had originated He kneould be long gone, having simply disappeared into the forest after the treasure hunters regained control of the situation He hadn’t one, Earl had noted with a hint of pride He hoped the boy was halfway to the nearest ranger station by now, like they should have been to start with But he knew that Ty wouldn’t leave for help now He’d stick around and probably get hi to save theht they had the upper hand, though, they were sadly mistaken Ty was in his ele through the clearing and off into the woods "Where the fuck did they come from?" he shouted "How many more’s out there?"
"I told you they was trouble," Earflaps answered, unperturbed by the yelling
"Well, no shit," Redjacket snapped He looked around, his eyes landing on Earl "What’s your business up here, old timer?" he asked Earl stared back at him wordlessly He didn’t even blink in response "You FBI too?" he de no expression
"What about the other’n?" Swizzlestick asked as he gnawed nervously on the tiny, thin piece of plastic he had et after him?"
Redjacket turned away and looked out into the woods without answering