Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) novel Chapter 1292

Andrew replied mockingly, "I'm laughing at how stupid you all are, how you're deceiving yourselves! That little dwarf clearly only cares about himself and doesn't give a damn whether you live or die.

"Yet here you are, thinking about him, fantasizing that he'll rescue you. If that's not stupidity, what is it?"

Earl's face turned red with rage. "That's bullshit! Tristan isn't just our superior, he's one of us! He and I are even cousins. There's no way he would abandon us here!"

Andrew sneered and challenged him. "Fine, you say he cares about you? Then let me ask you, why did he just walk away when I let him go? He didn't even say goodbye to any of you!"

Earl was speechless, unable to form a single coherent response.

Andrew continued his cold laughter. "Also, you all might see that dwarf as one of you, but I doubt he ever gave a damn about any of you. You guys, the underlings and muscle, dying or getting hurt, have always been part of the job. But just now, you all saw that the dwarf didn't even dare to fight me!

"What does that tell you? It means he values his own life more than anything else and doesn't care about anyone but himself. It's pathetic how you fools are still dreaming here.

"For all you know, that dwarf is probably celebrating right now. You idiots traded your freedom for his life, and he's thinking you all deserve what you got!"

With each sentence Andrew spoke, Earl and the others' expressions grew increasingly grim. By the end, some of the more emotionally fragile gang members were on the verge of tears, their faces contorted with anger and betrayal.

Earl's face turned ashen as he kept shaking his head. "No, Tristan wouldn't be so heartless!"