Live Free or Die Complete Series Boxed Set: Age Of Madness - A Kurtherian Gambit Series Hayley Lawson (ebook reader play store .TXT) 📖

of a safety, so she called, “We mean you no harm. We’re here to see…” Shit, I can’t remember his name.

“Johnny Garner and Dustin Duncan,” Massimo supplied.

“Shut up,” a voice snapped, but all the people on the roofs pointed their guns away from Ryder and her crew.

Well, that wasn’t the welcome I was expecting. Seems like Darkwell is filled with nice happy folks.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Mad bolted down the street toward them. Ryder fired an arrow at him, then a shot came from one of the people on a roof and the Mad fell to the ground.

More Mad came out of the buildings, attracted by the gunfire, but the shooters on the roof took care of them.

There was an eerie silence in the air once it had finished. Then one of the men climbed off the roof, and others followed his lead. He must be the one in charge here.

“Johnny,” Massimo greeted the man who walked toward the group.

Johnny had cowboy-style light-blond stubble on his chiseled chin, and his blue eyes looked as if they had once sparkled. He was chewing on a small piece of wood, like a toothpick.

Johnny glanced over the group. “Massimo, Leandro, Willard.” He didn’t even look at Ryder. “Why are you guys roughing it in Darkwell? Have you got the same maggot problem in Pinewood?”

“We did last night. We’re here to see if you and Dustin would be interested in earning some gold,” Massimo told him.

More people came to stand beside Johnny. Some were women, dressed in tight clothing with their breasts pushed upward. They looked like they were going to fall out of their clothing. Ryder couldn’t help but stare at them since their breasts looked oddly huge. Carter looked like he was about to drool.

One of the women walked up to Ryder. “This one is pretty. She’d make an interesting addition. We’re understaffed now.” She lowered her head toward some of the bodies on the ground who were dressed like her.

“Massimo, you know I don’t need your money. My girls bring me all I need,” Johnny said as he pulled the woman toward him by her waist. She let out a playful squeal.

“I have other things to offer,” Massimo told him.

Before he could finish Johnny interrupted, “The bold one does have a pretty face. Once her hair has grown in, she’ll get work. I didn’t take you for a man who would offer me a woman in trade for something. You must want it badly. Frankly, Massimo, I’m shocked, but it’s nice to see that you’ve come down off that golden pedestal you people from Pinewood have put yourselves on.”

That jerk thinks Massimo is offering me to him. Ryder’s hands hovered over her knives.

“Don’t be disgusting! Ryder’s not up for offer. I meant other things! Like, Willard will have my music player.”

“And records,” Willard added. Massimo had hoped he could get away with just the music player.

“What’s going on?” another man asked.

“Hey, Dustin,” said Willard.

Johnny cut him off before he could say more. “Oh, that’s disappointing.” Johnny twisted the little stick in his mouth, then stuck his tongue out and flipped the stick around. His tongue looked like a snake, just like him. “What do you want from me that’s so important you’d come all the way here? You’ve never hidden the fact that you don’t like Darkwell, and that it’s not as good as your precious Pinewood.”

Ryder started to wonder if coming here had been a complete waste of time. This jerk wasn’t going to help them, and to be honest, she didn’t want him to.

“We’re here to see if you and Dustin would help Ryder and us free some people from a bunker. They’re being held hostage,” Massimo explained.

“You want me to help a girl?” He laughed.

“Massimo, let’s leave,” Ryder told him. They’d wasted enough time here. The others agreed with her.

They turned to head back out of Darkwell. “You’re following a girl? She’ll lead you to your deaths, and we’ll take over Pinewood.”

Massimo spun on his heel and was in front of Johnny before the others had a chance to react. He went all vampire on the man, and the gang loved it.

Massimo’s nose touched Johnny’s. “You need to show women respect! And if you ever—and I mean ever—come into Pinewood, I will feed you to the Mad. Then when you turn into one of them, I’ll kill you myself! Are you clear on that?” Massimo growled.

Johnny didn’t speak.

“I asked if you were clear?”

“I’m clear. All right, I’m clear!” Johnny spat.

Massimo didn’t like the way Johnny answered, and he slammed him in the chest. Johnny flew backward and landed on the ground in a heap.

Everyone fell quiet as they took in what had happened. Some of the women ran over to Johnny and tried to help him up, but he pushed them away sulkily.

Dustin walked toward Massimo. “Way to go, Massimo! You’re one badass vampire. I’ve wanted to do that for years. I’ll join you guys. I’ll be happier running with a badass gang and a vampire than hanging around here with the Mad and Johnny. Can I live in Pinewood afterward?” Dustin asked happily.

“Sure.” Massimo grinned. “One out of two isn’t bad, is it?” he asked Ryder.

Ryder grinned. “Not at all. Better than I thought it would go. Welcome to the gang, Dustin.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Terrier lifted Samantha into his arms. He was her shield from harm and nothing was going to get to her now. Samantha nuzzled her head into Terrier’s shoulder. She felt safe.

A few men looked at Terrier as he carried her out of the bathroom area, but he warned them off with a glance.

He was heading to the stairs leading to Level Six when General Murray, his son Martin, Shane, and Advisor George ran toward him. They had blood splatters all over them.

They all looked at one another: Shane glaring, General Murray and Martin astonished, and George scared. Those men looked like they’d just left hell.

They ran up the stairs to Level Four. Samantha