Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 146: The Traitor's Megaphone

The nail guns had a limited range. Once the mob pulled back far enough, the formation stabilized.

A figure emerged from the crowd with a megaphone. "Brothers at No. 98, it's Number Seven..."

Number Three exploded first. "What kind of demon is riding you? You betray us, Ms. Townsend shows mercy and lets you walk, and you walk straight to the enemy? Then you bring them back to bite the people who let you live?"

The rest of the team cursed Number Seven raw.

Number Seven didn't even flinch. He grinned. "We're all bodyguards. You take a paycheck, you do a job. Mariella fired me. I have every right to find a new employer. Whoever offers better terms gets my service. Simple."

Number Five spat. "You're working for monsters. You sold your soul."

Choosing a new employer was one thing. Joining a gang of killers and leading them back to attack your former teammates—that wasn't a career move. That was something else entirely.

Number Seven didn't care. He kept the megaphone going. "Black Bear respects talent. He treats his people well. Brothers at No. 98, join us, and you'll be taken care of.

"Turn around right now and grab Mariella. Open the gates. Half the supplies inside are yours to keep. And whoever wants first dibs on Mariella—"

Bang.

Number Seven screamed. The megaphone hit the ground.

His hand was a mess of blood. A bullet had gone through his wrist. He nearly collapsed.

At some point, Number One had switched from a nail gun to a pistol. He'd shot Number Seven's wrist, and now the barrel was leveled at his forehead.

Number One's dark eyes were burning. His voice was icy. "You filth. You dare say that about Ms. Townsend."

Number Seven was pulled upright by the men around him. He tried to run.

The mob held him in place. He had a job to finish.

"Boss gave you an assignment. You don't walk until it's done. Unless you want to find out what discipline looks like." Goldilocks's voice was a threat wrapped in silk.

Number Seven gritted through the pain, switched hands, and picked the megaphone back up.

"Number One, drop the act. You think I don't know how you feel about Mariella? Too bad Chandler got there first. She doesn't want you. You're never going to be enough.

"Your chest could be twice as big, and it still wouldn't matter. All the jewelry in the world won't change it. You're not as handsome as Chandler. You can't sweet-talk women like he can. So, you just sit there and watch while she picks him every single night and leaves you in the cold.

"Don't you hate it? Don't you want her? Black Bear says the word—if you're the first one to bring Mariella down, you're the new king of No. 98.

"Take No. 98, hand us half the supplies, and you go first. You'll be first in line for Mariella, too. After that, No. 98 belongs to us. Bodyguard becomes boss. Doesn't that tempt you?"

Matthew was so furious that he wanted to draw his pistol, but he was also trying to cover Serena's ears. His fair face went scarlet.

Chandler had already chambered a round in the AK. He murmured to Mariella, "If any of these bodyguards turn, we can't let them walk this time."

Number Seven was the lesson written in blood.

A teammate who turned was worse than an enemy.

They knew you better than the enemy did. The blow always landed harder and more precisely when it came from someone who used to stand beside you.

Mariella didn't answer Chandler. She turned to Matthew. "You can't cover her eyes and ears forever. Scenes like this are going to be common from now on. She needs to understand that women are a resource men fight over. Even a child has to learn to watch for greed and malice from every direction."

In the apocalypse, even children lost the luxury of innocence.

The sooner Serena understood how dark and dangerous the world really was, the sooner she'd know how to protect herself.

Matthew's eyes dimmed. In the end, he let go of Serena's ears.

"Daddy, is Number One going to betray us like Number Four and Number Seven?" Serena's hand tightened around the small pistol at her waist.

"I don't know, sweetheart." Matthew sighed.

The human heart was the hardest thing to read.

"How confident are you in the six up on the roof?" Mariella turned to Chandler.

Chandler gave a bitter smile. "How confident are you in me?"

The truth was, until the moment someone turned, you could never be certain.

Mariella held his gaze, unblinking. "If I had even half a doubt about you, you wouldn't still be alive."

The words landed without a visible reaction from Chandler. Matthew, however, went still with shock.

"I think Serena and I should go check the front gate." He took his daughter's hand and turned around. He had a feeling he'd just heard something he shouldn't have.