"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Gaspar approached the three men with a broad smile.
Brad, Billy, and Kyle stood under the watch of several armed guards. They had raised their hands before approaching Brigantine, calling out that they had come to talk. Without that, they doubted they would have made it past the first watch post alive.
Even now, none of them felt comfortable lowering their hands completely.
One of the guards stepped toward Gaspar.
"They say they're from that other community. The people staying near the Boardwalk."
Gaspar looked them over.
Brad stood slightly ahead of the others, trying to keep his chin raised. Billy's gaze kept shifting toward the weapons around them. Kyle remained stiff beside him, his jaw clenched.
"So," Gaspar said. "You know Ryan?"
Brad's nervous expression darkened.
"Yeah. We know that fucker."
Gaspar's smile widened.
"Everything's gone downhill since he showed up," Brad added.
"Has it?"
"You have no idea."
