Bad Blood by Ren Hamilton

Author:Ren Hamilton [Hamilton, Ren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-04T22:00:00+00:00

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Shep gathered Allisto and Margol in the downstairs den. They were quickly joined by Joey and the two followers, Carlos and Devin, who immediately professed what a great honor it was to be chosen as Joey’s protection. Their hot pink Mohawks stuck up like frightened feather dusters atop their otherwise bald heads. Shep wondered if they might ironically serve to draw more attention to the group instead of deterring it. But he supposed as long as people were gawking at them and not Joey, it was all right.

Shep called ahead to a bar called The Island Hut and spoke with the owner, who was most cooperative. He promised Shep security and crowd control, and Shep promised him a ‘contribution’ for his efforts. Joey smiled when he saw Allisto and Margol, who’d vigorously cleaned themselves up. Their heads were a mass of rebel curls, but they were clean and sharply dressed. “Hey! You guys look great!” Joey’s smile dropped when Margol tuned to face him.

At Shep’s instruction, Margol had put flesh colored ointment on the bulbous candle burns that covered one side of his face, but the ointment did not serve well to hide the angry-looking welts he’d received in his altercation with Father Bello.

“Holy shit!” Joey said, staring at Margol without a bit of candor. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Got baptized by fire,” Margol answered sheepishly.

Joey shook his head. “Bummer, man.”

Shep clapped his hands to get the small crowd’s attention. “Okay, listen up people. We’re going out tonight, and I need you to act as bodyguards. I realize this is not what you signed on for, but due to circumstances beyond my control, this is the way it has to be.”

“We don’t mind at all, Shepherd!” Devin exclaimed. Carlos was quick to add his agreement. Shep thanked them. He was secretly repulsed by their incessant zombie ass kissing, but if their ass kissing would help keep Joey safe, so be it.

“Margol and Allisto, the same rules apply tonight as whenever you go out in public. Don’t do anything to draw attention. Try to be as human as possible, okay?”

“Where are we going?” Allisto asked.

“To a beach club to see a band.”

Margol raised his hand, but Shep immediately cut him off. “Please don’t ask me why, just do as I say.” Margol put his hand down. Shep continued. “The bar is within walking distance from the house. I want Devin to walk on Joey’s right, and Carlos and Allisto to walk on Joey’s left. I’ll take up the front, and Margol will cover the rear. We’ll cut through the back woods to avoid the main center of town. This should bring us out by the gazebo, leaving thirty feet or so to actually walk along the sidewalk. We should be fine. But that doesn’t mean we can relax. I want you all on full alert. No one gets near Joey. Understood?”

They all nodded.

“Here, put this on.” Shep tossed Joey a long black cape with a hood.

Joey caught it and held it up, sneering.

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