Fireteam Delta by J. Halpin (ebook reader that looks like a book txt) 📕

weapons. I wouldn’t normally give a crap about rumors like that. Merchants”—he gestured to Synel—“they talk their shit up left and right. Magic spears. Unbreakable armor. You get some gems now and again, but it’s mostly bullshit.”

“What do you want?” Summers repeated.

“Okay, okay. You don’t want to chat. I’ll cut to the chase, then. I’m going to guess that you’ve got something on you that can do me harm, and I want to make sure we have a nice, civil discussion. You understand?”

Summers nodded.

“Fantastic.” Rhodes pulled out a chair, sitting down and angling the barrel of his gun toward Synel. “Hand whatever you have—all of you—to these nice men. Don’t worry. They know what they’re doing. Won’t shoot you in the gut unless they mean to.”

Summers considered for only a moment. Slowly, he reached back, unslinging his M4 and placing it into the outstretched hand at his side. Logan followed suit. Cortez just stood there, watching the man in front of her.

“Go ahead. Take it off me.”

“Fuck’s sake. All right, every time that one gives me lip, I put a bullet in that one’s kneecap.” Rhodes gestured to Cortez and Logan. “Like pulling goddamn teeth.”

Cortez watched Rhodes for a moment before she relented, unslinging the rifle from her back.

Rhodes gestured at the group with his gun. “All of it. Come on, don’t hold out on me.”

Summers handed over his sidearm, two knives, and a grenade.

Rhodes just smiled at the sight of the last one.

“Was that so fucking hard? Christ, act like I’m robbing you.”

Summers placed his hands back on the table, watching the gun.

“Right.” Rhodes tucked the pistol into the back of his waistband. “Anyway, I’m sorry to get off on the wrong foot like this. You gotta understand, I can’t be taking chances.”

“Are you with the army?” Summers looked at Rhodes incredulously.

“Do they look like soldiers to you?” Rhodes gestured to the men beside Summers.

Asle shifted beside him, already reaching for the holster at her thigh. Summers put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“To answer your question, I consider myself to be on leave. Now, there were four of you on that wagon, not counting the half-pint here. Where’s the last one?”

“Look, we don’t want any trouble.” Logan held his hands above his head. “We’re just here to resupply.”

Rhodes brushed Asle’s hair out of the way, looking at her pointed ears. “Good. She’s not any of yours, right?”

Asle slapped his hand away.

“Shit. All right, fair enough.” Rhodes held up his hand in mock surrender. “So, where’s that last man? Don’t make me ask a third time.”

Summers hesitated.

Rhodes sighed before he stood, grabbed Summers by the collar, and threw him toward the door.

Summers cursed under his breath, recovering before he even hit the ground. When he looked up, he saw Rhodes standing there, holding a gun to Asle’s head.

“Look out the window. And think real hard about the next words out of your mouth.”

Summers stared at the man a moment before looking away, out to the street.

There had to be nearly fifty guards watching the building, some even on the rooftops. Each had gun in their hands.

Summers gritted his teeth.

“He’s guarding the wagon.”

Rhodes gestured to one of his guards. “In. The. Wagon. You got that?”

The guard nodded.

“Goddamn language barrier.” Rhodes watched the guard leave. “I had to teach them nodding, too. Ridiculous. Hell, when your girl here waved back to me, I nearly shit myself. Would have written it off as a coincidence, if every new face wasn’t talking about you.”

“Look,” Summers started. “I don’t know what you think we are, but we’re just trying to get back home.”

“Home?” Rhodes’s smile only widened. “Maybe it’s my ego talking, but I kind of expected you’d be here for me.”

“If we were, do you think we’d bring four men and a girl?” Logan replied.

“Fair enough.” Rhodes looked at Synel. She was staring wide-eyed at him. “More than fair.”

Cortez started to say something, but stopped as Rhodes glanced in her direction.

“I was just fucking with you, sweetie. Go ahead and talk.”

“Go fuck yourself,” Cortez replied.

Rhodes’s smile only widened. “I got people for that.”

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Nowak stood atop the wagon. It was a quiet night out, one that he was glad for. Even with the bustle of the merchants’ porters, they were still keeping a healthy distance from him. That suited him just fine. It made his job easier and ensured they didn’t have issues.

“Hello.” A woman’s voice caught Nowak’s attention.

She was speaking English.

Nowak turned to find a young woman staring up at him. She had her hands clasped in front of her, but she looked as though she was staring him down.

“Hi?” Nowak responded, unsure of what was happening.

The woman bowed.

“Apologies, but I’m here to claim your cargo. Thirty men will be here shortly. I wished to inform you that your friends will die, should you resist.” She bowed a second time. “Again, I apologize.”

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Summers watched as Nowak walked in a few minutes later. A young woman stood beside him. Summers recognized her as the same woman that had been beside Rhodes.

“Finally.” Rhodes gestured to the woman. “This is Nisha. She’s my translator. I will ask you to treat her with the respect you would show me.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” Nisha bowed before turning to Rhodes. “Several dozen rifles, ammunition, fragmentation and nonlethal grenades, along with standard-issue equipment and a few electronic devices.”

Summers understood immediately. That was everything they had in their wagon.

Rhodes just beamed in response.

“Fantastic. Now then. You had guns. Those guns are now my guns. Any questions? Concerns?” Rhodes looked to the group. They kept their hands raised. “Great. Now, with that unpleasant business out of the way, how can I