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Dupre shook his head. “Absolutely not. We don’t have any weapons, and our people wouldn’t use them anyway. We’re here to stop war, not to create one.”
“I’m not suggesting you use weapons. We will be with the convoy. The militia will be here. There’s no change from what you were doing before we arrived, but having someone actively monitor the checkpoints and sounding an alarm if something happensisnecessary and should have been happening all along.” Which was an understatement. The lack of overall nighttime security was shocking.
Dupre frowned and stared at the piece of container he was using as a tabletop. “We’ve done the best we knew how to do.”
Ronan leaned back. “I’m not criticizing you for what you’ve done. I’m pointing out areas that need improvement. I didn’t bring you in here to chastise you, Miller. You and I are a team. Our goal is to get everyone out of here without losing anyone else.”
Dupre nodded. “Hindsight sucks.”
Ronan knew the guy was thinking of all the people he’d lost. “It does, but it also illuminates a path forward. We’re moving forward. The past is set in concrete. The future is the only thing we can change, and we’re making the correct changes to move forward and accomplish our mutual goals.”
Miller looked up at him. “How did the meeting with the militia go?”
“Habib is acceptable. I believe he, for the most part, is willing to do what we’re paying them to do. Will they sluff off if we don’t call them on it? Hell yes. That’s why you only had a few posts manned.”
“As I said, we had no way to enforce anything, and the people in charge of ensuring the militia worked with us are on another continent. Getting them to understand what was happening or not happening was like pulling teeth. When I finally got one person to understand, they moved on in the organization and were replaced, and we were at square one again. After years of trying, I finallyrealized it wouldn’t happen. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when they said you were coming. I’m used to promises that go unfulfilled.”
“Guardian does what it says. Period.” Ronan crossed his arms over his chest. The guy had been through hell. All the people who worked in the camp had been through the wringer. It was a common experience, it seemed.
“I’m seeing that.” Dupre nodded. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Not at the moment. If there is, I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll go break the news. My people have already worked, most since sunup. Can I give them a day to make the transition?”
“Absolutely. My men will be on duty tonight and every other night until we’re out on a convoy, or we bug you out.”
“That’s the second time you said you would get the convoys going. Have you figured out what happened?”
“No, not yet, but even if we don’t, it’s my intention to put things in motion to get supplies in at a minimum and the people out as a best-case scenario. We were sent here to make it happen. As I said, Guardian does what it says it will do. Every time.”
“I can see that.” Dupre nodded. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me yet. Let’s get things moving first.” When Ronan stood, Dupre followed suit.
“Do you mind if I take some of that with me to the sections? Might make the nighttime shifts a little easier to take.”
“I’ll do you one better.” Ronan walked over to their supply trunk, took out a bag of the candy, and tossed it to Dupre. “There’s more when that runs out.”
“Oh, man. You better watch your tent. If the word gets out that you have the good stuff, they’ll be breaking in here.” Dupre laughed as he tossed the heavy bag into the air. “I think you might have just raised morale to its highest point in years.”
Ronan smiled as the man walked out of the tent. Wraith came out from behind the panel that divided the cots from the work area. “Went well.”
Ronan nodded. “You could’ve come out.”
“Nah, you were bonding.” Wraith chuckled.
“He’s not a bad guy. Just stuck in fuck-all circumstances.”
Wraith nodded and sat down. “Jug’s got it bad.”
“Yeah, he does.” Ronan rubbed his face. “I don’t want to have the birds and bees conversation with him.”
Wraith laughed and stood up. “Don’t forget to have that talk with yourself.”
Ronan lifted his eyebrows and cocked his head. “Excuse me?”
“Happened to walk in the convoy tent this morning. Walked back out.”