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

Fluffy looked up at Massimo. He knew that despite the teasing his Pops was hurting.

Massimo leaned back in the rocking chair. “What can we do?” he asked.

Leandro whined again.

Damn, he was cute when he looked up at Massimo with his large orange eyes. Massimo let out a little laugh and patted Fluffy’s head. “You weren’t a mind reader when you were a human, so why would you be now you’re a wolf?” He traced the scar in the chair arm idly. “I’m not as young as I used to be. Today I felt alive. I have to say, son, you looked alive as well. Have we both been hiding our true selves out of fear of the unknown?”

Fluffy tilted his head.

“Ah, you do understand me. I’ve been thinking. I can’t let everyone down tomorrow. How could an old worn-out vampire like me fight a mutant vampire?” He frowned. “I’m thinking I should do something I swore I never would.”

His son looked no less confused, but Massimo didn’t notice. His mind was on the monumental decision he was coming to.

“I should have stopped Afana years ago before any of this started. I knew what a monster he was back then, and I did nothing. That makes part of those people’s captivity my responsibility, and it’s about time I took ownership of it. It’s time to stop hiding in the shadows and face what my cowardice has brought about.” He looked at Fluffy, noticing the glazed look in his son’s eyes. “I’m rambling, aren’t I? I need to drink human blood and get stronger if I’m going to win against Afana.” Massimo paused for a moment.

“What do you think?” he asked Fluffy, “One nod for yes, two for no.”

Fluffy nodded.

Massimo ran his hand through Fluffy’s fur. “Yes, then.” He smiled.

She’d looked good with the flaming arrow, Leandro thought as he watched Ryder. She smiled at him before she loosed it. That woman was hot. Flaming hot. Leandro snickered to himself.

He loved watching Ryder, and it was even more fun now because he could see two of her. Now it wasn’t creepy because he was a wolf, just staring up at her like a lost puppy.

I’m thirsty again. Leandro had drunk more that night than he had in his whole life. Part of him wished he’d done it more often. He felt more courageous. If he could have spoken he’d have asked Ryder out, although he wasn’t sure where he’d take her. The Old Dog would have been the perfect location until all the deaths.

Leandro turned around; everyone was walking back into the house. Was it something I said? Leandro chuffed with laughter. I doubt it. More likely the gas I just let out…

Massimo took a seat in the rocking chair, and Leandro sat down on the porch next to his Pops.

Leandro rested his head on Massimo's knee, wishing he’d taken more time to just have a few beers on the porch with his Pops while he still could. He closed his eyes as Massimo stroked his head, right...right...

Ahhhh, that’s the sweet spot, Leandro thought as Massimo rubbed him behind his ear.

Massimo nudged Leandro. “One for yes, two for no.”

What?

“Yes, then,” Massimo said.

What did I just agree to? Leandro wondered.

Chapter Three

Ryder was having a hell of a lot of fun with her new arrows. They whizzed through the air and landed in the tree trunks with a satisfying thud each time. Her arms were tired from the battle that day and she knew she needed to save her strength for tomorrow’s fight, so she decided to call it a day.

When Ryder went to retrieve her arrows, every part of her body ached. The water was leaving her body, and so was the relief it gave her. She’d have to have a few more shots to sleep tonight. She’d aimed for a tree that was far away from the house, which she realized was not the best idea now as she had to go get them. Then again, it was a good thing, since it was giving Massimo and Fluffy time to chat. They were deep in conversation. Well, Massimo was, given that Fluffy couldn’t actually speak.

Ryder worked the arrows out of the tree, holding each one up to the moonlight to check for damage. She could make out that the arrows hadn’t been blunted by the force of hitting the tree, which was a good thing. She placed her finger on the tip of an arrowhead to double-check that it was nice and sharp.

Ryder slung her bow over her shoulder and headed back to the house. She was hungry now and hoped that everyone in the house hadn’t eaten everything while she was out here training.

Ryder turned at a rustle in the trees behind her. With all the extra people, they could do with the meat. She breathed in, and the foul smell of rotting eggs hit her. No animal smelled that bad, and Carter was inside, so it wasn’t his gassy ass.

It was a Mad.

The branches parted and the Mad zeroed in on Ryder, taking her by surprise. There was no room for her to use her bow, but she could use an arrow. Ryder stood her ground and waited until the Mad was almost upon her. The Mad was so close that Ryder could smell death on her breath, and there was a chunk of flesh missing from her cheek that had been bitten away.

Ryder leaned forward, and the Mad’s greedy red-glowing eyes widened in anticipation of an easy meal. Ryder took her chance and slammed the arrow point-first into the Mad’s ear. The arrow met a little resistance at first, but Ryder pushed through with a few twists.

Ryder grabbed the knife from her belt and sliced the Mad’s throat. She wanted to make sure this Mad was dead. She had no remorse for the killing. This Mad may have been a woman once, but whatever part had