The Renegades (Book 5): United by Jack Hunt

president. If it wasn’t for the fact that he had such a way with words, and would follow through with any promise he made, people wouldn’t have liked him.
    “Good evening. I know that many of you are worried about the safety of Paradise in light of the recent tragedy. But I’m here to reassure you that things are going to change. That what has occurred will not be repeated. As you know, you are the ones that choose your leaders. We are not involved in the decision process, except in the need to agree on changes to be made. This is not a dictatorship run by one man, and nor will it ever be that way. You are the ones that decide the fate and future of Paradise. So I would ask you to carefully consider what must be done here this evening.” He moved around the stage eyeing the other six leaders. “There must be consequences for what occurred in section A. It is my belief and from what I have learned from others that the majority of people believe it is time Ethan stepped down from leadership. It’s unfortunate that it has come to this but the fact is, over sixty people have died under your hand.”
    “And what about under yours?” Baja yelled out.
    “Who said that?”
    People’s heads turned towards us.
    “I did.” Baja stepped out from the darkness with zero fear. “People of Paradise. Sebastian would have you believe that Ethan cannot do his job. But if we are going to discuss a lack of oversight then let’s not forget today’s loss of lives. Or has that even been made known?”
    “Silence. You will get your time to speak after we have dealt with the most pressing matter. The security of Paradise.”
    “Oh don’t mind me,” Baja said slipping through the crowd. “If security is what you are concerned about, let’s look at that, shall we. You, Sebastian gave the command for a team of people to go after those responsible for the deaths in section A. You knowingly sent us and others into hostile territory for what? For what reason?”
    “I won’t tell you again.”
    “Oh settle down, you stuck-up prick.”
    Sebastian’s nostrils flared and his eyed widened. He turned to the other leaders but they were keen to hear what Baja had to say.
    “It has come to our attention that most of you don’t know what happened in the city today. Sebastian will say that news travels slowly inside the walls but that’s not the case. You all know that there are runners who distribute news to the seven districts. Anything related to the loss of life receives priority. But according to those of you who we have spoken to this evening, that wasn’t the case.”
    “I will not be spoken to in this manner. Guards, arrest this man.”
    “Arrest?” Baja pulled out two Glocks from the front of his pants. “The only one who should be arrested is you.”
    Even I wasn’t aware that he had shown up at the meeting with handguns. It wasn’t permitted. All weapons had to remain at the gates. It was just precautionary due to the number of heated discussions that the community had got into, that and to prevent anyone from taking out a leader.
    “Come on. For what reason did you send us out there?”
    Ethan didn’t try to prevent Baja from speaking. He already knew his neck was on the chopping board. At least Baja’s outburst might delay whatever Sebastian had in mind.
    “People of Paradise. Your brothers, sisters, family members were slaughtered today because of this man’s need to bring to justice those who set off the explosion in section A. Now he will have you believe that it was necessary. That he didn’t know about the ambush we walked into but he did. Of that I’m sure. The message they sent us back with was strange. Concede or suffer, they said. Now I have to ask myself. Why would this group start a fire and then leave unless their actions were guided by someone else? Someone who is behind the curtain pulling the strings and trying to make Ethan look incompetent.”
    “Arrest this man now,” Sebastian yelled