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

started to wonder what it had been like growing up in a normal world like this, where everyone appeared to be equal and free. It felt almost like a dream to her, but she knew it wasn’t just because she was damn tired and needed sleep.

Tonight, she would sleep under the stars, which she didn’t mind. Quite the opposite—she was looking forward to it. After all the years trapped underground, being outside was liberating.

Carter smiled at Ryder, and when she did the same, Carter’s eyed widened. “Did you just smile?”

“Shut up, or I’ll knock you off your stool,” Ryder teased, pushing him and making him wobble. Then, she grinned at him and held him so he wouldn’t fall. She couldn’t injure the only person who was going to help her, even though she’d often felt like it.

“Aaand she’s back,” Carter laughed with a shit-eating grin.

Ryder rolled her eyes. He was on his second beer and was chatting to the locals in the bar. Carter wasn’t drunk, but Ryder had a feeling that after four beers, he’d be well on his way.

Ryder enjoyed her beer with the knowledge that she wouldn’t get drunk. The only problem with beer was that after a while, it didn't quench her thirst. It just made her thirstier.

“That’s an interesting tattoo,” Kelvin said. “What does it represent?” She rubbed the back of her neck uncomfortably, and Kelvin seemed to sense her discomfort. “I've got a few as well.” He lifted his sleeve to reveal tattoos on his arm.

Ryder made a face of appreciation. “Wow, those are cool!” He rotated his arms so she could see the swirling black patterns banding them. “Who did them for you?”

“Tightwad.” He pointed to a man drinking at a table.

“Tightwad?”

Kelvin looked at Carter to make sure he wasn’t listening, which he wasn’t. He was engrossed in another conversation. Kelvin cautionary scan made Ryder interested in what he was going to say next.

“Massimo calls him that because he gets drunk on water, like you.” Ryder raised her eyebrow, and Kelvin grinned. “It’s my job to know my customers, even the new ones. Would you like some water?”

Ryder shook her head. “I like to have a clear head. Another beer will do.”

Kelvin smiled and passed her another beer. “I can introduce you to Tightwad if you like. He’s good at doing tattoo cover-ups as well.”

A twinkle entered Ryder’s eyes at the thought of getting Afana’s stamp on her neck obliterated. “Thank you for the offer. I’ll take you up on it next time I pass through.”

“You’re not staying? This town has a lot to offer.”

“It does look like it. Just not right now.”

“Well, we’re not going anywhere. But I am. I need to keep everyone’s drinks filled, or my ass will get canned like tuna.” With that, Kelvin went to serve the other customers.

Carter leaned toward Ryder. “Looks like you’re making friends.”

He winked. That was it. Ryder started to push him off his stool for real, but before she could, a bloodcurdling scream came from the corner of the bar.

Ryder whirled to see where the scream was coming from. A man was biting a woman’s neck, and she was howling in pain. Some people hadn’t heard the cries over the music and kept dancing. A few men pulled the guy off the woman, but he just lunged at the next person, biting them like he’d never eaten before. His eyes glowed red.

“He’s gone Mad!” Ryder yelled above the commotion.

There were too many people in the Old Dog for Ryder to use her bow, so she went for her knives instead. Carter did the same, but Kelvin was the first on the scene with a baseball bat.

“Move out of the way,” Kelvin yelled as he swung the bat at the man. He hit the Mad in the head, but he wasn’t strong enough to cause damage to the brain.

The Mad grabbed another person and sank his teeth into his arm, pulling part of his flesh away and spraying blood on the people next to him. The party was over.

Carter arced his knife over the people’s heads, the blade burying itself in the Mad’s skull with a dull crunch.

Panic spread quickly through the bar. One of the Mad was dead, but they didn’t know if there were more around or how many people had been infected.

Music boomed out of the jukebox, something about West End girls and East End boys. A woman stumbled over to Ryder, crying as she clutched her neck. Blood seeped through her fingers, but this woman’s eyes weren’t red. They were filled with fear.

“Help me,” she begged, stumbling closer.

Carter stepped in front of Ryder.

Why do men always think I need protecting? She spotted a man in the corner whose eyes were turning red as he lapped at the blood on his hand.

Ryder jumped onto the bar. A hand grabbed her and yanked her back. She grabbed a beer glass and slammed it right into the man’s glowing eyes. Then, she kicked the glasses out of the way, and they smashed on the floor.

Some of the bitten had started to change. There were too many pairs of glowing red eyes to count now.

Out of nowhere, Ryder’s legs were pulled from beneath her, and she banged her head on the bar before slamming onto the floor. She was dazed for a second, and then her head started pounding from the blow. She knew that if she stayed down, one of the Mad would bite her, and she’d be done. There was no fucking way she would let that happen.

Ryder flipped over so she was no longer face-down. She was shocked at who was in front of her. It wasn’t a Mad. It was Pavel.

“Pavel, what the fuck?” she spat.

He grinned. “Ryder.”

“Where are the others?” Ryder asked.

“They’re on their way. You know I’m faster than them. Faster than you, too. You’re my kill, traitor.”

“Are you serious right now?” she yelled. “Do you not see what’s going on around us?”

Pavel made a face and shrugged.