Page 278 of Shadowman

Trevel curses under his breath, raking fingers through his messy black hair.

“Can’t we just get out of here??” Dash asks frantically. “Make a run for it?”

“You got some Kevlar under your skin we don’t know about??” Hancock scoffs. “You step outside, especially over here, and those assholes will turn you into Swiss cheese.” He gestures to the bandage on his shoulder. “Trust me.”

“Yea, not to mention, we’re all still wearing these.” I tap the collar around my neck.

Dash rushes to me, examining the collar. He goes to yank on it, but I back up fast.

“Yo, take it easy,” I chide. “I don’t feel like being paralyzed for half a day.”

Dash’s brows jump, morbid fascination shining in his eyes as he chews on his pouty bottom lip. “How do we deactivate them?”

“From what I’ve seen, The Ivory has the key… A small remote-like object he used to remove yours,” Trevel says to me.

“I’m assuming he has the only one,” I sigh, and Trevel nods.

“What about those fuckhead doctors from the East Wing?” Hancock asks.

“They’re no longer with us,” Trevel hums darkly, his tone giving me chills. “But they didn’t have anything on them. Trust me, I checked.”

Hancock and Dash give him an intrigued look, but they don’t press it.

“Kemper’s with Joy and Rook,” Dash tells us. “If I can get to them, we can come back for you…”

“So you’re just gonna leave us here??” Hancock shakes his head.

“What other choice do we have??” Dash points out. “We need backup. They should be able to cover us so we can all get to Velle, but you guys are stuck here until we figure out how to get those things off of you.”

“You’re acting like Velle is going to somehow save us all, like Walker Staten Island Ranger or some shit,” I grunt. “It’s a nice thought, but he’s outmanned and outnumbered.”

Dash and Hancock both glare at me.

“You’re such a fucking traitor,” Hancock scoffs.

“I’m just being realistic,” I hiss. “Do whatever you want, but Velle doesn’t give a fuck about us, so why should I put my life in his hands?”

Dash’s eyes flick between me and Trevel, bemused hurt in them that twists my gut like a clove hitch.

“Kang… please.” Dash steps over to me again. “I won’t pretend to know what’s been going on here since I left, but you’refamily,and you know that. It’s always been us versus him…”

My heart is reaching, banging against the inside of my chest, desperate to believe what he’s saying. But when I glance at Trevel, he’s nothing but uncertain. He looks like he’s never felt more like an outsider, and I can’t take it.

He’sthe only one who’s been here for me. While everyone else was pairing off, leaving me in the dust, he was right the fuck here. By my side, holding me up.

So I straighten, jaw clenched as I move closer to my partner in crime.

My… partner?

“You’re right,” I murmur to Dash. “You have no idea what’s been going on since you left. You took your shot… I won’t pretend any of us wouldn’t have done the same. In fact, I’m pretty sure we all have, or at least tried. You were doing what was best for you, and it’s fine. But don’t act like we’re all supposed to have each other’s backs, because it’s bullshit. It’s every man for him-fucking-self on this island.”

I swallow down a mouthful of guilt at the look on my friend’s face. Dash fidgets, chewing on his bottom lip, eyes wide and sparkling with hurt.

“I… I offered…” he whispers, but his voice dries up and he blinks hard, shaking his head.

“This is great.” Hancock sinks onto the loveseat, face falling into his palms. “We’re all fucked.”

“W-well… we should at least hide somewhere,” Dash stammers, like a sad child again. “To avoid Governor fucking Russo when he gets here… And The Ivory.”