Hunters

CHAPTER 0.5

Dante, Isabella, and Evan had already developed an unbreakable bond, their crusade for justice cementing a deep friendship that was more like family. Each of them brought something different to the group, and despite their stark differences in personality, their dynamic was fluid, seamless. They complemented each other in ways that made their mission even more dangerous for those on the receiving end of their vengeance.

Tonight, though, was different. It wasn’t about a target or planning another job. They had someone else in mind to join them—a figure who had been there for all of them in one way or another, someone who had taught them lessons they didn’t even realize they were learning at the time: Raymond "Grizzly" Blake.

Dante leaned back in his chair, twirling one of his hunting knives lazily between his fingers. His grin was wide, mischievous, but his eyes had that familiar spark of intensity. Isabella sat across from him, her laptop glowing in front of her as she casually scrolled through data feeds, police scanner chatter humming quietly from the speakers. Evan sat on the floor, legs crossed, his usual awkward, almost distracted air about him as he reviewed blueprints for a house they'd scoped out earlier.

Raymond was due any minute.

“Alright, kids,” Dante said with that playful tone of his, flashing a grin at Isabella and Evan. “You ready to bring the old man in on the fun?”

Isabella smiled softly, adjusting her glasses as she closed her laptop and looked at Dante. “You know he’s been ready. Raymond’s always had that fire in him. He just needs the right nudge.”

Evan, still focused on the blueprint spread out in front of him, chimed in without looking up. “Yeah, he won’t take much convincing. He’s been dealing with scumbags longer than we have.”

Dante’s grin widened as he spun the knife one last time before letting it drop to the table with a soft thud. “Exactly. That’s what makes him perfect for this.”

Just then, the door opened, and Raymond stepped in, his large frame filling the doorway. He was wearing his usual work jacket, looking like he’d just come off a long shift. His eyes scanned the room, and despite his gruff appearance, the fondness he had for the trio was clear. They were family to him, and that bond ran deep.

“What’s all this, then?” Raymond asked, his voice a deep rumble as he closed the door behind him. “You kids plotting something without me?”

Dante was the first to speak, his tone light but purposeful. “Would we ever leave you out of the fun, Grizz? Come on, take a seat.”

Raymond raised an eyebrow but did as he was told, pulling up a chair and settling into it with a grunt. “Alright, let’s hear it. What kind of trouble are you three cooking up now?”

Dante exchanged a quick glance with Isabella, who gave him a small nod before he turned back to Raymond, his grin fading just slightly. “We’ve been talking… and we think it’s time you joined us. You’ve been fighting your own battles for years, and we could use someone with your... expertise.”

Raymond chuckled, his voice deep and warm, but his eyes held a spark of curiosity. “Expertise, huh? That’s a nice way of saying you want me to do the dirty work.”

“Please,” Isabella chimed in, her voice gentle but firm. “We know you’ve always been about justice, about protecting people who can’t protect themselves. This isn’t much different. It’s just... outside the system.”

Raymond leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at each of them in turn. He was quiet for a moment, thinking it over, but there was no hesitation in his eyes—just consideration.