115: Hear him.

115: Hear him.
Bastian pov

The rogues were silent for a long time while I kept pacing, counting seconds under my breath like a madman. I didn’t care if I looked deranged, I cared only about results and nothing more. 

If Ryker wasn’t brought here within the next hour, I already had a plan how to get to him with or without help from that moron Garrick. 

Everyone in the camp knew he was plotting against me, even if the only soul brave enough to admit it out loud was Hale. But that was fine too, after all, if I got to Ryker myself and didn’t use their hands to kill him, which was exactly what I wanted because that halfbreed bastard would fall from my blade, I didn’t have to pay anyone. 

Actually, that was the brilliant part of the plan - stringing these idiots along for all this time only to slap them with the fact that I did the dirty work they were hired to do and therefore, I didn’t have to give them a single dime of agreed payment. 

But, just as I started celebrating the brilliant plan, the rogues suddenly stirred. The nose started before I noticed anything and soon, the entire camp broke out in cheers. 

My head snapped to the side and eyes widened as I watched the scene. Garrick came through the trees with Ryker slung in his grip, head down, boots dragging, the exact picture I had been trying to buy for weeks. 

For a second, I stood there, frozen mid-step, unable to look away. But soon, a grin spread across my lips, so wide it actually hurt my cheeks. 

“Put him where I can see him,” I said right before I started moving toward them. 

Garrick nodded, grunted and dumped him near the crates the rogues were stacking earlier. Ryker remained slack, completely boneless and perfectly still. 

Hale was the first one to react loudly and clapped his hands, grinning as wide as I was a moment ago. “There it is, finally he remembered the reason why we’re here.”

Draven let out a laugh while Kieran slapped a hand over Garricks’ shoulder and Reese actually whooped like we had won a game instead of a man.

I opened my arms as widely as I could, finally feeling like I was standing at the top of the world. “I told you,” I called out, pulling everyone’s attention to me. “I told you many times and you refused to listen, but now look at where we are!” 

None of the rogues offered a comment, so I kept talking. “I kept repeating that the bastard would walk into our trap with his own legs if we lure him into a town that looked like it was suffering. I was right about everything all along - the King sent the exact man we have been hunting for so long. As long as they felt like they were losing their people, they were ready to sacrifice the one man everyone deemed as a war hero.” 

The smile on my face grew much wider as I turned slowly and pointed a finger at Ryker’s unmoving form, “and now, look at him. The great Alpha’s son, the King’s favorite, dropped in my camp like yesterday’s trash, breathing only because I allowed him to breathe a little longer.”

Hale stepped up beside me the moment my speech ended, looking like the only man from the whole bunch who never once questioned where his loyalty should be. “You called it, boss. Despite every attempt to stall and countless delays, you still pulled it off and got what you wanted.” 

Garrick remained standing at a safe distance, still breathing hard. I walked to his side and clapped a hand over his shoulder, unable to hide the joy that was coursing through me. “Tell them,” I encouraged him, “tell everyone the story of how you managed to capture that bastard before you forget the details.

Not surprisingly, Garrick shrugged like he didn’t just commit the greatest miracle in my life. “I told Bastian I’d go check out the town and see what was the situation alone so nobody could suspect that we’re still sniffing around there. Funny enough, I caught this one in a narrow alley behind the shops. He had his back turned to me, so I didn’t know that it was Ryker before I struck and he dropped. The moment I realized it’s him, I dragged him away from there before any of his minions could realize something was wrong. That’s about all, the rest of the story is literally me, dragging his fat ass all the way here.” 

Reese stared at Garrick with pure wonder and shock in his eyes, “just like that?” 

“Just like that,” Garrick repeated, sounding more bored than excited.  

I understood why that was - the road between our camp and that town was pretty long, so bringing himself back and dragging an extra body tired him out quite a lot. 

“Listen to him, boys,” I called out and laughed so hard, I threw back my head. “That’s our leader, the man of the hour. Some things never change and neither does Garrick, he’s as humble as ever, even if he finally did the first useful thing.” 

Hale nudged my side, laughing as loudly as I did. “Useful doesn’t cover it, boss. Garrick brought you the end of your every worry in one body.”

He was right, of course he was, but I wasn’t planning to admit it out loud, especially in front of Garrick, who was watching me like he needed to see if I’d make a single mistake. I didn’t look the way he was staring, but before I could point it out, Kieran’s voice caught my attention. 

He crouched next to Ryker and poked the fucker with a strick, “he’s really out cold. Dude’s dead to the word, do you see this?” 

“Hes out because Garrick had the sense to knock him out before dragging him here,” I spoke over the cheering that exploded after Kieran’s words. “Stop poking my gift, I want him awake and very fucking aware of what’s about to happen to him once I decide he’s allowed to open his eyes again.”

Draven lit another cigarette and leaned against the nearest tree, smirking. “So, Bastian, all of those speeches you gave us, they were true after all.”

“My speeches were always true,” I agreed and walked a slow circle around Ryker. I didn’t crouch down or poke him like Kieran did - I simply looked down on him, this time more literally than I had before, back when I still lived in Willow’s pack. “All of you sat here, hiding away, whispering about timing and your nerves. But, while you did that, I kept my eyes on the gaol because I knew that this man would walk straight into my trap.” 

Hale raised his hands and shouted, “say it louder, some of them still believe we should’ve sat down like a bunch of cowards and waited for better days to come!” 

I did exactly as he asked, turning to the rogues. “I was right. I was right all along and I’m the reason this crew still has a future. Not a single thing you did brought us here, it was all me because I’m the only one left who finished what he started.” 

A couple of the rogues turned to glance at Garrick, but he simply ignored their stares, which was the first smart thing he had done in a long time. 

Once the cheering settled down, Reese stepped closer to me, scratching the back of his neck, looking all nervous, “what happens now? Do we, I don’t know, just watch him sleep or are we supposed to find a way to wake him up?” 

“You don’t touch him without my approval,” I snapped, much sharper than I initially intended. “For now, I enjoy the view before me. Once he wakes up, I’ll enjoy the process even more. One thing all of you should understand is that no one drags a halfbreed into a camp just to rush through his ending like some beginners. No, you savor it and drag out every second of pain.”

“That’s a true leader talking there,” Hale called out, grinning from ear to ear.

When Garrick decided to remind everyone that he was still around, his voice remained flat, almost bored. “He’s secured enough for the moment, but if you want him tied up, better say that now before he wakes up. If you decide you want someone to watch him, make sure there are two men around him at all times, plenty strong to hold him down if he comes to his senses.” 

I waved Garrick’s words off. “We’ll watch him, no need for extra steps with ropes. I’ll announce my plans for what comes next right after I hear you admit you doubted me in front of your men.”

The silence that followed my words was like no other. Since Garrick didn’t seem too eager to speak up and admit the mistakes, I turned and grinned at one of the rogues. “Draven, you can go first, show Garrick how easy it is to be a man and swallow your pride.”

Draven exhaled smoke and shrugged, “I thought the town play was messy and unnecessary but it still worked, I can admit that much.” 

I grinned and turned to the next one. “Kieran.”

Kieran lifted both hands. “I wanted a better moment and you wanted him. You got him, so you win.”

The smile stretched much wider as I turned my attention on the last one that still held some value, “Reese.”

Reese swallowed so hard I could hear the sound even from this far away, “I thought we were stalling ourselves into a grave, but it looks like I was wrong.”

Hale spread his arms wide open, looking like a man who had never been defeated and didn’t plan on changing that either.“And I never doubted you, which is exactly why I’m standing here instead of hiding behind a bag.”

I pointed at him. “That, right there, gentlemen, is a man who understands vision.”

Garrick watched the scene with a raised eyebrow. “A good vision doesn’t keep a patrol from following a drag trail. We should move him away from the open fire and think about our next steps.”

“In a minute.” I grumbled and crouched just enough to look at Ryker’s down-turned face. I didn’t look away from the miserable bastard even as I spoke to the rogues again. “Does everyone see what’s happening right before their eyes? Some of you said this day would never come and look at me now. Today, I change everything and soon enough, Ryker will stop being a thorn in everyone’s side and become the body in a coffin he was destined to be.”

Hale crouched next to me and muttered, “you got Willow’s mate faster than he could figure out the town attack was a set-up. You said he’s smart, but it seems like he’s just another moron who cares about his ego and mirror image more than anything else.” 

I chuckled at his words and slowly stood up again. “Don’t touch him,” I told the rogues. “And don’t try to talk to him like he’s some guest because he isn’t. This bastard is my prisoner, there’s no need to build useless friendships with a man who won’t see tomorrow.”

Somebody in the back shouted, “Best call you’ve made!” While another followed a moment later, “should’ve listened to you much sooner!”

I let myself enjoy those words because I earned all of it - me and me only. Even if Garrick’s inner circle wouldn’t repeat the same words, at least I knew that the rogues who were kept at arms distance still stood by me. 

As everyone was starting to settle down in their positions, I turned and raised both hands, “remember this very moment when somebody tries to lure away from the greater good. And if that doesn’t matter, remember who’s the only man who ever brought in a real result.”

Garrick’s eyes flicked to Ryker before they focused back on me. “You want him gagged before he wakes?”

A smirk pulled at my lips as I shook my head. “I want to hear him scream.”