Hunting Redbones

Hearing Proctor, Alex turned his head and looked at Rebecca again. He was still moving his view in the newspaper as if there were some shocking news in it. Her face was reddened by the heat caused by brandy, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

—Well, I thought better of it. Maybe having a partner like you on my side can be more beneficial than I had anticipated.

Proctor noticed his movements and there was a glimpse of supplication in Alex's eyes, Alex's weakness was now exposed. Proctor was a measured man, and he wouldn't beg Alex for his help, but that didn't mean he was going to miss this opportunity.

He refilled the glass with a little more brandy, then moved his until he ran into a toast, like a sign of reconciliation. Alex breathed a sigh of relief and quickly drank the contents of the glass in unison sealing his arrangement.

—Well, I'll see how I can help you, just give me the list of council members who are against you as soon as possible.

Alex, confused, asked:

— A list?

—Yes, of all those who voted against you, and support George Hunter. —Proctor said, hitting the table.

Alex nodded.

—The tribal council meeting will take place next week.

—There is enough time. Send me the list tomorrow and I'll take care of the rest.

—Okay, so I will. Thank you.

—No need to thank me. We are now partners, and our interests are aligned. —Proctor reached out, his expression would be — Is it correct to say it, right?

—That's right, as long as our interests remain aligned. —Alex took a deep breath before shaking Proctor's hand, without too many options.

After the matter was resolved, Alex wasted no more time. He got up from the chair, was silent, and took one last look at the group. Then he went out the door, leaving a trail of tension in the environment. He put on his hat and left the Club with firm and heavy steps.

After Alex left, Rebecca immediately put the newspaper aside and said hesitantly:

—We have other businesses on our hands now, why is the casino so important to you? So far I don't see any benefits, just problems that come with it —Rebecca said frowning.

Since the death of the former chief of the tribe, Proctor had been constantly rejected by Alex. For months, he had tried unsuccessfully to make a place for himself as a shareholder in the new casino. But I hoped it was Alex who would take the first step and ask for his help.

Proctor, relaxed and satisfied, allowed himself a moment to patiently explain to Rebecca:

—Well it is normal that you do not understand. You must learn to expand your vision.

Rebecca looked at him with a frown, as he continued, with a glass of wine in hand.

—The slaughterhouse and the club are just a front for our core business. They serve to distract and appear clear. But you know well that for our operation they are far from enough to cover our income. — said Proctor, highlighting each word with a calculating smile.

Rebecca crossed her arms, silently watching him as he continued, in the tone of someone who had already won the game:

—If we manage to be shareholders of the casino we can launder all the money of our business through it. That means more funding, more resources, and ... — Proctor paused intentionally, enjoying the suspense — power!

Rebecca watched him in silence, now understanding the magnitude of her uncle's move.

A couple of days later.

Ethan was driving his Dodge down the winding road outside the town, the moonlight glowing over the hood of the car. He had already disposed of Quentin, and was now keeping the Moody brothers company. Finally, he felt a little more comfortable, although Brantley's absence still made him uneasy. He knew that Brantley would soon find out that something had happened in Banshee, noting that his men had not communicated. I just had to be patient. For now, his focus was on finding the Redbones and Chayton.

He turned the wheel and drove to Job's house.

As soon as the car stopped, the curtains on the house garage opened in a corner. Soon Job went out the front door.

— And Quentin?

Ethan nodded and opened the garage.

—This is it, don't worry.

Seeing Ethan walk behind the Ford, open the trunk, and take out the travel bag where he kept the equipment he had asked for Job. After a while he put it back in the trunk.

— What will you do?

Ethan closed the trunk of the car and, with an air of determination, replied:

—Pay off a debt. 

—Well, I get it —Job looked at his watch, turned around, and went home.

Ethan took his phone out of his pocket again, sliding it to the main screen to open the map. Precisely, he clicked on the location that Nola had sent him minutes earlier. The point shone on the screen, confirming the direction on the outskirts of town. He carefully observed the surroundings of the marker, analyzing possible access and escape routes. 

As soon as he came out, Ethan smiled helplessly and then stepped on the brake.

—Bastard, you didn't think I'd let you go alone, did you? —Job said with a mischievous smile as he threw his travel bag into the back seat with a blow.

Before Ethan could say anything else, Job opened the passenger door and slipped into the vehicle with the same challenging attitude as ever.

—Actually, I can do it alone —Ethan explained, glancing at him as his hands stood firm on the wheel.

Job settled into the seat, crossing his arms over his chest and letting go of a soft laugh.

—Yes, sure, but that would be boring, right? Also, someone has to watch your back —Job said with a carefree smile, waving, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world —. Just drive and tell me about the idiocy you want to do this time.

Ethan had no choice but to start the vehicle and move on.

—Just a few days ago, when I was escorting one of the Red Bone gang leaders, some guys from the Kinaho tribe, I was ambushed on the road —Ethan said while scratching the scar on his forehead, a memory still fresh from that incident —. His men appeared out of nowhere and gave us no time to react.

He paused, his eyes darkening as he remembered what happened that day.

—One of my colleagues, Siobhan, was injured and had to be hospitalized. —Ethan exhaled with frustration, his jaw taut as he remembered the chaos of that night — So we still have to settle the accounts.

Job looked at him with a frown, his expression hardened.

—An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth —Ethan said in a sinister tone.

Job understood what it meant. They didn't need to say more. They both knew that blood debts were paid the same way, they were that type of person. Job crossed his arms, the shadow of a dark smile appearing on his face.

—Let's just do it, let's kill those bastards! —he stated, making it clear that he was also one of those who acted first and asked later —.

After driving for half an hour in silence, Ethan turned the wheel and hit the road, entering the dense forest. Tall, dark trees formed a natural tunnel, as Ford lighthouses illuminated the path in front of them. 

Without saying a word, each took his travel bag out of the trunk and began to prepare. The branches creaked under his boots as they opened the bags and took out his equipment.

Within minutes, they were both fully equipped. Black combat uniforms fit their bodies, mixing with the darkness of the forest. Ethan checked his gun, making sure everything was in order, while Job finished adjusting the straps on his tactical vest.

The cold forest air was barely felt on the skin covered by the team, but the adrenaline was beginning to flow. It was the prelude to what was to come. They both knew that once they went deeper, there would be no going back.

— Ready? —Ethan asked quietly, while placing his gun on his belt.

—I always am —Job replied with a slight smile, his eyes shining in advance.

Without further ado, they began to walk silently towards the heart of the forest. According to Nola's instructions, the gang's cabin was one kilometer from his position. Ethan led Job through the forest. The moon was particularly bright that night, and visibility in the woods was good, so Ethan turned off the little flashlight on his rifle.

Occasionally crunches could be heard everywhere, and the animals were especially active at night. Several hares suddenly jumped from one side, scaring Job into cold sweating. He looked at the dark forest and cursed quietly:

—!Shit, I'm going back to New York tomorrow.- I exclaim frustrated.-

—Silence, we will be there in ten minutes.

—!Go to hell, we've been walking for half an hour, let's just rest for a moment. —Job gasped.

Ethan had no choice but to stop and let Job rest for a while before continuing.

Soon, there was noise and fire in front in the forest.

The two looked at each other, leaned down, and walked silently toward the slope. They hid behind a bush, and Ethan was able to see a camp of traditional Indian tents set up later.

In the center's open space, members of the Red Bone gang with long, short weapons gathered around huge bonfires, drinking and having fun. Under-clothed Indian girls shook their hips in front of the bonfires to the rhythm of leather drums.

Occasionally, someone drunk would sneak into a store and start having sex. Ethan looked closely and saw that the camp was equipped with all the facilities, including a small shooting range.

No one was seen guarding or patrolling outside the camp.

Job grabbed the AR-15, clenched his teeth, and whispered:

—You son of a bitch, is this trivial? Did you say it was a small gang?

—I never said it was small —Ethan replied quietly.

The Kinaho tribe was strong, and the Red Bone gang had more than a dozen members

Job lowered his hood and looked up.

— Now what?

At the time, the party was in full swing, and I didn't have the time to wait for them until they fell asleep before acting.

After watching him for a while, Ethan said to Job:

—Stay here to provide support. Do you see that store? I bet you ten bucks that Chayton is there.

Job looked in the direction Ethan was pointing. Not far away, there was a tall store, clearly different from the others.

For these gangs, sometimes the way to distinguish status among their members was very simple, they always had the most beautiful girl, the best and greatest place to live. This store meets those standards, and should not be occupied by someone without status within the gang.

—Go ahead, be careful —Job said.

—All right. - He said patting him on the shoulder, lowered his hood and then leaned down before jumping out of the bushes.

After a while, he approached the camp, without trying too hard, they would never expect anyone to find this place deep in the forest. With the exception of its members, no one would go so far into this area. The camp was built in the middle of the forest, with trees everywhere except an open area in the center. This facilitated Ethan's stealth movement.

From a nearby store, you could hear grunts and occasional fights.

When I was about to approach the high store, heavy steps rang. Ethan moved quickly and hid behind a log.

A man and a woman walked away from the campfire and walked to the bushes where it was hidden. Ethan held his breath and slowly pulled the Colt M1911 out of its sheath. The two people were so close that Ethan could clearly see a huge tattoo of an Indian head on the woman's bare back, with realistic feathers.

The bald man held a bottle of alcohol with one hand, while the other rested unstable on the woman's shoulder. After some crunches and flashing sounds, the two returned to the stake.

Ethan exhaled with relief. Making sure there was no more movement, he continued to advance.

Arriving in front of the high tent, he knelt down and raised a corner of the curtain. No one was inside.

He looked around and entered. The store was illuminated by several hanging dim light bulbs and covered the floor with thick rugs. On the side shelves were Indian decorations, and in the center was a large mattress covered with animal skins.

Across from a low wooden table, there were several shotguns and knives piled up disorderly, with wooden boxes behind.

Ethan approached the table, examining his surroundings. He picked up a sharp dagger, walked behind the boxes, and bent down.

He pulled out his phone and texted Job, then waited patiently.

Half an hour later, chaotic steps were heard. Ethan was instantly encouraged.

The curtain in the store opened and a clear female voice sounded:

—It seems like you're enjoying it a lot. Those bitches just wanted to take your pants off on the spot.

—I was just playing with them, you are my favorite.

—I don't believe you. Just because I'm Chayton's wife? Aren't you afraid I will come back?

Hearing Chayton's name, Ethan poked his head in silence.

— What are you afraid of? Chayton's time is up, I'll be the boss now.

A tall native used his hands hard, and with a tearing sound, the clothes of the long-legged woman in front of him tore.

Ethan nodded silently, she was an incomparable beauty.

Beech looked at the elegant figure in front of him and licked his lips.

—If I hadn't risked my life and led our people to rescue him that day, Chayton would be in jail right now. Because of him, four of our gang members died, and that damn cop almost ran me over.

Hearing this, Ethan's eyes shone coldly.

Beech, anxious, continued:

—In return, now I should be in charge of the Red Bones. Everything now belongs to me, including you.

Finishing talking, Beech threw the woman into the mattress and pounced on her.

Unfortunately, Chayton was not in Banshee now, the damn coward had fled.

But the culprit who hit the police car was there, within reach.

Ethan squeezed the hilt of his gun and moved silently.

Beech, mired in his euphoria, enjoyed what he considered the best days of his life. With Chayton out, he had assumed all power in the Redbones. Status, women ... and now even Chayton's wife.

Seeing the look of terror in the woman's eyes, Beech smiled satisfied.

—You really know how to pretend, huh?

His desire for dominance motivated him to move faster, until he felt something cold in the back of his head.

The sweat started running down his forehead.

— Who are you? —asked motionless.

—Sorry to bother you —Ethan replied, pressing the barrel of his gun against Beech's nape, while sliding a dagger over the woman's neck — Don't make any sounds. If you understood, just blink.

The woman's eyes blinked repeatedly, terrified.

—Thanks for cooperating. You are smart. Now be quiet —said Ethan, satisfied, turning his attention to the man —. You are Beech, right? I will ask you some questions. If you respond well, I will go and you will live to enjoy another night with this beauty.

Beech, not wanting his success to be so short, replied quickly:

—I get it. I will cooperate.

— Where's Chayton?

Relaxing upon hearing the name, Beech quickly replied:

—The police were going to transfer him a couple of days ago, but he escaped. I take a car and it disappeared. No one knows where he is now. I swear.

— Any idea where it might be?

—I don't know.

Beech gestured towards the woman.

— Why don't you ask him? She was his wife, he must know more.

— Are you sure you don't know?

—I'm sure —Beech said seriously.

A sound of "pop". Ethan grabbed the hand holding the dagger and pushed it from behind, sinking it deep into Beech's neck.

—Sorry, wrong answer.

After a few seconds he suffocated with his own blood, and reluctantly closed his eyes.

Ethan pulled out his dagger and pushed it aside.

He put the dagger against the woman's sexy clavicle, and the red liquid slipped through her soft, delicate skin.

—Okay, now it's your turn. Where's Chayton.

The blackhead ignored the blood dripping on her face and whispered quickly:

—I haven't seen Chayton since the police arrested him. As far as I know, he usually wanders around several nearby states participating in clandestine boxing events. He likes to fight. After escaping you will surely do the same. If you want to find him, you can go to places where there are clandestine fights and ask about him.

After finishing talking, the blackhead implored:

—Please, I don't know who you are and I'm not interested in knowing. I do not want to die.

I was hoping I could find Chayton. But not everything in this life goes as you want.

He had no rancor and would not kill anyone just to see him.

Then Ethan raised his hand and said:

—I will spare your life.

 The black-haired woman, suddenly happy, closed her eyes. It was better to be unconscious by a blow than to be stabbed to death. Ethan knocked the woman out with a punch, then got up and left the store.

As soon as he left, two women headed towards the store, furious.

One of them clenched her teeth and said:

— Beech is mine, and that bitch can't take it from me!

When they reached the open door, they pulled the curtain away with a look of disgust. They were about to curse, but stopped when they saw what was in front of them.

A heartbreaking scream echoed:

— Beech was killed!

As the screams pierced the night sky, chaos erupted in the Redbones camp.

Ethan quickened his pace and left.

At that moment, people in the nearby store, hearing the noise, pulled up their pants and ran away, colliding head-on with Ethan.

Ethan kicked them.

The man could barely see a man dressed in black before receiving a powerful kick that threw him back.

The store fell and several cries of pain were heard from inside.

— Over there, fast!

The movement immediately attracted the attention of Red Bones members, who ran to him with weapons and screams.

Ethan no longer hid his presence, spread his legs, and ran to Job.

Several people immediately noticed his figure, raised their weapons, and shot randomly.

Suddenly, gunshots erupted everywhere, causing the entire camp to explode. Bullets whistled and the bark of nearby trees exploded, splinters flying everywhere. Although their equipment was not the best, most only had shotguns and pistols, but in large quantities they could do damage.

At that moment, Ethan felt a violent blow to his back, the impact pushed him and he fell behind a tree.

The gang members were even more excited to see that they had hit the man in black and ran forward in a swarm.

In front of Ethan, a tongue of fire exploded.

—Bang bang!

On his knees, Job prepared his AR-15 and began to shoot rhythmically at the crowd behind Ethan.

The bullets raised clouds of dust on the ground in front of them.

Seeing that the enemy was still firing, the gang members stopped quickly. The slowest fell into place, while the fastest hid behind the tree trunks.

Some reacted faster, tried to back down, but feared being killed, so they froze. If Job had not controlled his precision, several people would have fallen to the ground.

Ethan took the opportunity to catch his breath, crouched behind a tree trunk and shot twice.

The bullets flew and landed accurately on the knees of two people. The kneecaps were instantly broken, and two cries of pain were heard.

Seeing that his companions were beaten, Red Bone members responded with their weapons. At that time, Ethan had already run away.

He launched himself forward, rolled and collided with Job.

— Damn! How dare you say you didn't need support?

Job quickly emptied the bullet magazine, lifted Ethan up, and they both started to back off quickly.

When the gang members were finally able to approach cautiously, they only found dozens of empty caps on the ground. The two men in black had disappeared into the forest.

Hearing the angry screams of their enemies, they all stopped and, cursing, returned dejected.

Concerned about being chased, Ethan and Job ran for more than ten minutes before stopping.

—Wait, we need to rest.

Job leaned his AR-15 against a tree trunk, took off his hood, and gasped:

—Damn, I can't run away anymore. If you dare chase me, I will not hold back. Those bastards won't call the police anyway.

Ethan also took off his hood, his hair drenched in sweat. He shook her, and a few drops flew.

— Were you shot? —Job asked worriedly.

Ethan turned around and showed Job his back.

—Luckily, I was shot with a gun. Help me get the bullet out.

Job inspected the small hole in the back of the tactical uniform, and saw that the deformed warhead was embedded in the armor.

He took it out with his gloved hand and threw it at Ethan.

—You were lucky.

—Yes, I think so too.

—Come on —Ethan said, testing his body and seeing that there was no serious damage.

—Wait a minute.

Job raised his hand, pulled out his cigarette case, but before he could open it, Ethan took it off.

—Smoke later. Be careful.

With resignation, Job carried the AR-15 on his back, and they both walked more slowly in the direction they had come from.

Ten minutes later, the lights of a car illuminated the forest.

A Ford appeared slowly and advanced on the concrete road.

Although the dangers had not been fully resolved, the hatred in Ethan's heart had been alleviated and his mood had improved.

Smoking his cigarette, he looked at Job and said:

—Tell me, where are we going tonight?

Job showed him the middle finger.

— Bastard! You know well that Johnny is waiting for me at home.

Ethan laughed. He patted Job in gratitude and stepped on the gas.

After leaving Job at his house, Ethan returned to his own.

He took off his sweat and the smell of gunpowder, and looking at the clock, he saw that it was not too late yet.

He was still a little excited about the shooting, so he decided to go for a walk.

Sugar's bar surely wouldn't be open that night, and he didn't feel like going to the Proctor Club alone, so he turned the wheel and drove to the Miles restaurant.

At that time, the people at the police station had already gone home after work, and a large padlock hung on the door. Ethan parked the car in the parking lot, turned the key with his fingers, and entered the Miles restaurant.