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

Leandro put his face close to Carter’s. “I wasn’t lying, and my name isn’t Fluffy. It’s Leandro.”

Ryder pushed them apart roughly. “Carter, this isn’t the time or the place! Stop winding Leandro up. You need to think about your sister, and getting her out of that place before she has her baby.”

She clapped her hands to her mouth. Oh damn, that wasn’t perfect timing. Actually, it was the worst timing, but then again could that news ever come at a good time?

Carter froze like a spell had been placed on him.

Leandro went on to say something, but Ryder put her hand up. “Not now, Leandro. Please see if Byrant will join us, and I’ll speak with Carter.”

Leandro looked at Carter and then back at Ryder. “Okay.” Even Leandro, who didn’t like him or know what was going on, knew that Carter had just received some bad news.

The others left with Leandro. Ryder could hear the others questioning him about the Fluffy thing.

“She’s pregnant? How? She’s only a kid,” Carter muttered.

“She was a kid when she was taken, but she’s a woman now. I didn’t mean to tell you that way.”

Carter was silent for a moment as he tried to take everything in. “She can’t be.”

Ryder placed her hand on his shoulder. “She is.”

“Is she married?” Carter asked. Ryder felt sick at this line of questioning, since it could only lead to one answer—the one which was the most awful part of the bunker, and the reason she wanted to free everyone.

Ryder shook her head. “No.”

Carter gulped. “And the father. Is he nice?”

“I don’t know him,” Ryder lied. It could have been any of the men in the bunker, even the man who slept in the bunk next to hers. That was the reality of life for women in the bunker; they were commodities to be distributed at Afana’s whim.

Carter looked straight at Ryder, and for the first time she didn’t see a dumb kid. She saw a heartbroken man. The emptiness in his eyes made Ryder want to cry. It was like looking into her own. He shouldn’t look like that!

“Less of this soppy shit. You’ll see her soon enough. So, are you better than this ace gunslinger Byrant, or are you just full of bullshit like normal?’ Ryder teased. She was quite proud of herself for thinking on her feet since that was normally Carter’s job. Her pride faded when Carter failed to respond with a smartass comment.

“Oh, same bullshit as normal. Wait until I tell Fluffy. Now he’ll have something to tease you with.”

Carter raised a shaggy eyebrow. “Wait up. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

He’s back. “I’m not wearing panties! I have shorts on.” I’m back. Carter caught up to Ryder, which was quite easy since she’d been walking slowly. “Are you really any good?” she asked.

“You’re about to find out, aren’t you, sweet cheeks?” Carter laughed, running ahead of her toward the others. Sweet cheeks, fucking sweet cheeks! I wish I was still pretending to be a man.

“Is he joining us or not?” Carter asked as he got to the group. He was so damn smooth, it was unbelievable he was still alive. Byrant was younger than Carter, and looked too young to be the best shooter in town. He had short slick black hair, and an Italian look to him. The gang really did look like a group of misfits.

“Who’s this jerkoff?” Byrant asked.

“I’m the best gunslinger in town,” Carter bragged, putting his hand out to shake. “And who are you?” Carter asked, knowing damn well who he was.

“I’m the best gunslinger in town,” Byrant said, shaking Carter’s hand.

“Twins!” Carter smiled. “It’s nice to meet a brother from another mother, and I have to say she must have been a fine-looking lady since you are nearly as handsome as me. I guess we’re not identical? Is your mom around? I’d like to say Hi.”

Byrant pulled his hand away from Carter and turned to the group. “You’ve got one second to tell me why I shouldn’t shoot this rude fucker’s head off,” he demanded.

Everyone fell silent. He’d rubbed everyone the wrong way since they’d met him, although Ryder knew he had good intentions.

“Jeez, not even one of you?” Carter said, pointing a gun at everyone in turn. “Ryder, I thought you at least would have something nice to say after that night we spent together.”

“We never spent a night together!” Ryder protested. “We didn’t,” she repeated to everyone.

Vicky smiled back in response.

Carter tilted the gun to his lips. “Hush, my sweet.”

Ryder lunged for him. “Carter, I’m going to fucking kill you!”

Byrant inserted himself between Ryder and Carter. “How the hell did you get my gun?”

“I’m not only the best gunslinger in town but the fastest.” Carter smiled as he handed the gun back to Byrant.

No one knew what to do. Carter gave a pissed-off Byrant his gun back, and Ryder was ready to fire an arrow through his eye.

Massimo interjected calmly. “Byrant, please excuse my overexcited friend Carter. As I was saying before he rudely interrupted, we are going to rescue some people from a bunker, and we were hoping that you would help,”

Byrant glared at Carter, who smiled back at him, clearly not bothered that Byrant had a gun in his hand.

“Massimo, how can I help you? You know I would, but I won’t have this jerkoff insulting me,” Byrant told him.

“I completely understand. Why don’t you show him that you’re the best?” Massimo suggested. He turned to Carter. “Would you be interested in showing off your skills? Let’s say this. If Byrant wins, he can call himself the best gunslinger in town and he’ll help us. And likewise if you win?” Massimo asked the two men.

“Sounds fair to me,” Carter replied.

“Carter, you don’t have a gun,” Ryder pointed out.

“Nope, but I have this.” He brandished his slingshot and grinned. “I just need some stones.”

“I hope you do better here than you did with