Julie Shackleford reached out, grabbed the paper, and pulled it over so she could read it again. Earl noted that she’d not offered her thoughts yet. He knew Julie didn’t like Franks much. He was the walking embodiment of all the ways the MCB had screwed them over. He’d expected Julie, with her mind for business, to be intrigued by this bounty. Maybe being pregnant was making her soft, hormones and whatnot—either that, or she’d love to take a shot at Franks herself, but knew that her husband would flip out about her participating. This was Franks they were talking about after all.

“Franks is too dangerous,” Owen said.

“You’re scared of Franks,” Holly said. “You’re letting that color your perceptions, Z.”

“Oh, bullshit. If somebody’s not scared of Franks they haven’t been paying attention.” Owen snapped.

“Well, you shouldn’t worry because you’re not going anyway,” Holly pointed down.

Owen had one arm and one leg in a cast from Las Vegas. “This? No. I’m worried for any poor, dumb Hunter stupid enough to get suckered into taking a shot at the title. Look, I’ve spent more time with Franks than any of you. He’s a killer. No matter how hard you think he is, you’re still underestimating him.”

“Admit it. He’s grown on you,” Trip said.

“He’s saved my life a couple times. I’d go so far as to admit grudging respect.”

“Yeah, you might like him some, but the minute the government decides that your weird psychic thing makes you dangerous, who do you think they’d send to kill you?” Trip demanded.

“Franks,” Owen admitted.

“Or what if they decided they didn’t like Julie carrying the Guardian’s curse? Or they didn’t think Earl should be exempt anymore? Or they don’t want to look the other way for our orcs anymore. Who will they send?”

“Franks.”

“Exactly. And not just for hypotheticals about you guys, they routinely send him to beat witnesses into submission. No matter how much he’s helped us in the past, it isn’t because he’s got a heart of gold under all that hate, it’s because he was following orders that happened to not include killing us. He murders people, Z.” Trip was really sticking to his guns on this one. Earl was impressed.