Page 58 of Expecting The Unexpected
EPILOGUE
“Did we get all the flash drives?” Hron asked.
“We think so. I haven’t been able to go through them yet. I’m still reading everything Tumm had on his computer. He had one hell of a diary, but a shit ton of it is angry rants about how stupid the Nakaka are. He has some names and shit...”
“Why was the one guy...” Hron dug through his papers until he came upon the name he was looking for... “Zeus. Why was Zeus worried about Tumm’s computer? How would he even know that Tumm kept a diary. Hell, his own fathers had no clue he had one.”
Shaking his head, Throg answered, “No clue. Maybe he mentioned it to this Zeus guy.”
“Well, from the flash drive files we got off of Tumm, there’s a shit ton of names. Some are human and others shifters. Tumm’s the one that contacted them and gave them the addresses of all the clutch houses. He signed each e-mail the Fortie.” Spencer said in disgust.
“I can’t believe he did this to us. I’ve contacted the other Caliphs, and I have to say they are as worried as I am. If the Sortie know where we are, they could attack us any time they want to,” Groth said angrily.
Spencer sighed, “None of this makes any sense. Why give them this information, when it will place Tumm and his buddies in just as much danger as any of us. It’s not like the Sortie would know one Nakaka from another.”
“If they work together, then they know each other, Spencer.” Groth said.
“The Fortie and Sortie... for goddesses’ sake, this is insane. One a human-shifter group and the other Nakaka... and they’re working together to exterminate us, and for what? Two hundred years ago. All this took place two hundred years ago. This is not what the gods would want for any of us,” Petree said sadly.
“Have any of the Nakaka brought in talked?” Turq asked gruffly.
Shaking his head, Hron answered, “No, but the ancients are letting us handle this. They offered any assistance they could offer, though.”
“I say we go in and make them talk,” Emerald snarled.
“That won’t work. It’s a proven fact that torture doesn’t bring out the truth. No. We have to just keep talking to them, until one of them breaks,” Hron stated.
A soft voice said, “I don’t think the Sortie is working with the Fortie.”
Everyone looked at Jory in surprise. The little Nakaka had not been happy when Groth had brought him into the room. He hadn’t looked at anyone, and no matter how hard Nug tried, Jory refused to even look his way... or Groth’s. Spencer hated how sad his friend seemed to be, and was going to make it a point to help him as best he could. However, his comment had Spencer asking, “Why do you say that, Jory?”
Jory finally looked up, but only faced Spencer when he spoke, “The Sortie was formed, because of the killings of the humans and shifters that attacked us. From what you all said, Tumm said he was doing this because of so many Nakaka dying. It seems that the Sortie wants to end all Nakaka, and these Fortie Nakaka want to do something else. I think they want to take out the humans, and maybe even the shifters. It makes sense that if that’s the case, neither side would want to work with the other.”
“True, but maybe it’s like they say. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Turq said.
Shaking his head, but not looking at the man, instead he stared at his hands, “From the way things are going, I don’t think whoever this leader of the Fortie is, would willingly work with the Sortie. Not with the hate he has for humans and stuff.” Jory went quiet, then muttered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t really know anything about this kind of stuff.”
“Jory, you are a part of our little group here, and your voice is important. I happen to think you might be onto something,” Hron said, giving the man a pointed look.
Jory just nodded.
Hron’s phone went off. “Shit, it’s Dak and Topaz.”
He put the phone on speaker. “Dak did you find him?”
“Yeah, we have him now, and we’re coming in,” Dak said, sounding out of breath.
Hron quickly said, “Where are you? I can send some—”
Before Hron could even finish, Dak hissed out, “No. Stay where you are, Hron. We’re almost to the island now.”
“Why do you sound out of breath? If you’re in trouble, I can send some men to help,” Hron insisted.
A loud sigh escaped from Dak, as he said, “I... Topaz and Jade are hurt, Hron. I have them both on a litter. It’s slow, but I...”
“Where are you? My brothers and I will come and help.” Turq insisted.
Dak sighed once again. “Fine, but I want you to know that Jude is mine. We mated already, and if you do anything... I will end you. Brother or not.”