Page 24 of Property of Mercury

“You the new owner?” the driver asks.

Since I’m the VP, Orion defers to me, so I nod. “I am, do you need a signature?”

“Yeah, but there are more in there I still need to get unloaded,” the driver replies as he stacks the first set of boxes off to the side where Orion pointed him to.

I watch as Orion pulls a sheaf of papers out from the inside pocket of his cut and he walks over to the boxes, Finley at his side. “We can check these off while he’s getting the rest,” he says to Finley, pulling two pens out from his cut. I need to check it out and see just how many pockets the fucker has because he seems like Mary Poppins right now, having whatever is needed at his fingertips.

Since they’re busy going through the inventory to make sure nothing is missing from the load, I keep my eyes set on the driver. In this town, I have a mistrust of everybody, no matter their gender or profession. This town stinks of deception and since we don’t know if this is a rich man’s game or not, everyone is under the lens of my microscope.

I kick back as Fin and Orion go through the last box and am startled when an alarm blares through my phone. A few seconds after mine alerts with an incoming message, Orion’s mimics mine. After cleaning my ear of the ringing from the sharp, piercing sound, I glance at the screen and just the header of the message has me sitting up, ramrod straight.

“The fuck?” I whisper as I re-read it.

“What does it say?” Finley asks.

“Found some shit on the dark web,” I read before continuing with the document. “Orbit says that there’s a site that caters to those who like to hunt humans. They’re taking membership requests, which they impress that they’ll go over with a fine tooth comb and make sure that those wanting to join and gain membership are legitimate.”

Orion continues scanning it and whistles, “They even charge maintenance fees to keep the caves stocked with ammunition for them to replenish their supply if they run out during their hunt.”

Finley’s face pales and she looks like she’s going to pass out. “O,” I warn, ticking my head in her direction. “Catch her.”

I would but I’m not as close to her as he is, but it takes everything in me not to growl when he manages to scoop her up before she hits the cement floor. Almost as though he knows his life is in danger right now, he immediately hands her off to me before saying, “I’m calling Gemini while you take care of her.”

Since her safety was my first thought, I feel slightly bad. As the VP, that should be my job, but my cousin knows me well enough to realize that I have to make sure she’s going to be alright before I can focus on what he just read. I’m going to need a topical map of the area that details trails, caves, and then go hunting myself.

Hopefully to find evidence that’ll help us shut these fuckers down. Or if we can’t do that, at least make enough noise that legitimate, unbribed law enforcement can come in and take out the trash.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

Finley

As I come around, my brain is hazy and I can’t remember how I wound up on the floor with a jacket under my head as a pillow. “There you are,” Mercury says as he helps me sit upright.

“What happened?” I ask, clutching my head as the room settles around me and stops spinning like it’s on an axis.

“You passed out,” he informs me as he wraps his arms around me and drags my head into the apex of his chest.

“Because of what you said,” I say, my tone flat. “I think… I think maybe that was more than I could handle, Mercury. Knowing that they’ve got stockpiles of weapons and ammunition so that they can hunt people? What kind of sick piece of shit does someone have to be to even entertain doing something so vile and reprehensible?”

“Not sure, wildcat, but regardless of what we find out, I want you to keep one thing in mind, you survived.”

“Yeah, thanks to you,” I mutter. “We both know that if you hadn’t found me, the elements, the wildlife, or even one of those scumbags would’ve finished me off.”

“Maybe so, Fin, but you didn’t succumb to the injuries or the infections. That says a lot about your internal fortitude,” Orion says, walking over to where we’re at and crouching. “And before you make a smartass remark, cuz, I already knew that word.”

I slowly shake my head, clearing the last of the blurriness, and grin. The zombie apocalypse could be upon us, and they’d still be giving each other shit. “Y’all are something else,” I tease.

“Of course we are, we’re Kings,” Orion jests. He looks at Mercury and adds, “The guys are coming. Seems Orbit found out a few things that Gemini says you need to know.”

I watch as Mercury narrows his eyes at Orion and huffs. “He didn’t give you any further information than that?” he asks.

“Said it was something he needs to tell you in person,” Orion announces. “I bet it’s bad since Orbit didn’t send it en masse like he did the other details he discovered.”

“And it’s something I need to know?” Mercury presses. “It’s gotta mean it involves my tracking, right?”

I shrug because I have absolutely no idea. “Maybe?” I reply. “I mean, you said you were back out where you found me looking for clues. What if this Orbit guy has found some information that can help you find them?”