The Legend by Melissa Delport Read Free Book Online Page B

graciously.
    I avert my eyes from the sympathy of his kind gaze, and a movement on the other side of the track catches my attention. I shield my eyes and discern five grubby looking men crouched on the stands, watching us intently.
    â€œWho are they?” I ask, and Michael swings around to look.
    â€œThe Lakeside Five,” he answers. “They were here when we arrived, put up a bit of a fuss when they realised we were staying. Adam and Kwan usually deal with them.”
    â€œI can’t see that they would pose much of a threat.”
    â€œThey were armed when we arrived. I doubt they have much ammo – they were probably hoping to intimidate us into leaving.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œKwan took their guns off them before they even knew what was happening. He gave them back though, shortly afterwards. Once they had seen what the Legion was capable of they backed off, but they stick to themselves. You’d think they would be grateful, considering how much food the town is supplying us now. Adam’s been explaining things to them – he seems to think he’s making progress, but I don’t see it.”
    I stare up at the five men thoughtfully. As far as I can tell they are unarmed. “Do they still carry their guns?”
    â€œNah. I think they keep them down in the marksmanship centre.”
    â€œI’d better go. I’ll see you later, Michael.” I jog back towards the dining hall, my muscles aching in protest. My father is engaged in conversation near the east wall, but I head straight for the serving centre. I am ravenous but as I reach for a plate I spot Jenna and Chase sitting a few tables away with their heads together. Dropping my plate with a loud clatter, I march over to my father. Surprisingly, he looks weary as he notices my approach.
    â€œI want him out of here,” I point across at Chase.
    â€œForget your manners, Tiny?” I turn to find Reed glaring at me, his eyes bright with annoyance. “We were in the middle of a conversation,” he continues, gesturing between my father and himself.
    â€œWhat? Oh, right, sorry. I want Chase locked up again.”
    â€œBex,” my father sighs placatingly.
    â€œNo,” Reed cuts across him, shaking his shaggy blond head. “That’s quite enough, Jeffrey. Stop indulging her.”
    â€œExcuse me,” I sneer, my lip curling. “Stay out of this, Reed. I was speaking to my father.”
    â€œCorrection,” he drawls. “ I was speaking to your father until you so rudely interrupted. No,” he snaps, as my dad starts to step between us, trying to defuse the situation, “stop protecting her. You,” he points his finger in my face, so close that I take a step back, “you stop behaving like some goddamned prima donna. You’ve been awake, what, not even forty-eight hours and you’ve managed to piss off every person who has ever helped you. Stop behaving like a brat, Rebecca, and grow up.”
    I open my mouth to lash out at him, to retaliate, but he turns his back on me and states in a loud voice, “Now, Jeffrey, where were we?”
    Red-faced and humiliated, I become acutely aware that every eye in the room is fixed on us. Vowing that I will have it out with Reed later, that this conversation is not over, I beat a hasty retreat. It is only when I am back out in the open air that I realise I have nowhere to go. Without thinking, I smash my fist into the brick wall beside me. There is a sickening crunch as three of my knuckles break, and I give a howl of anguish.
    â€œMom?” I turn to see Alex watching me apprehensively.
    â€œThat was a silly thing to do,” another youthful voice pipes up and I catch sight of Brooke standing right behind my son, her green eyes narrowed reprovingly.
    â€œIt was,” I agree, mortified. I bend down and ruffle Alex’s hair, grinning at Brooke over his shoulder. Brooke was in a very bad way when we