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

mall? Ryder didn’t ask, since she was worn out from the night’s events and was trying to keep conversation to a minimum without being rude.

Massimo turned to face Leandro. “It looks like you could do with a mall run anyway. You look like you haven’t changed your clothes since public school.”

Carter interjected, “Hey, that’s what I said.”

“Did you really? I didn’t hear that.” Massimo smiled and winked at Ryder.

The man was listening. He was just winding his son up. Ryder thought this was quite funny and smiled back at Massimo.

“Pops, don’t BS. You hear everything.”

“You know my hearing isn’t as good as it used to be.”

Leandro shook his head at his dad’s response. Massimo’s hearing was just as good as his. One thing that Weres and vampires shared was their enhanced hearing.

Ryder looked disappointed. How rude! He should respect his dad, especially one who is as sweet as Massimo.

“What brings you to Pinewood?” Massimo asked Ryder and Carter.

Ryder paused for a moment. Part of the reason might sound stupid. “We came to see if anyone would help me free my friends from the bunker I was held in. And to see if a wolf was here.”

“A wolf?” Leandro asked.

“Yes, Fluffy,” Carter told them. “He was Ryder’s pet wolf.”

“A wolf? Named Fluffy?” Massimo repeated, then looked at Leandro and raised an eyebrow. What had his son been up to?

Leandro was quite pleased that she’d come after him, but not that Carter had told his dad he’d gone by the name Fluffy for a time.

“Yes, he protected me,” Ryder added. “Have you seen him? He’s white and, well, fluffy.”

Massimo’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll turn up soon enough. Aren’t you, Leandro?”

Leandro turned red. “I don’t know,” he spluttered, making everyone look at him. “What?”

Massimo shook his head. “Anyway, Ryder, you said you needed some help?”

“Yes.”

“I’d love to hear all about it once we get settled. We’re here.” Massimo gestured his hand at the house in front of them. It was built from the same stone as the shops in Pinewood, but bigger.

Ryder noticed the outbuildings which stood away from the house were made in the same way. It looked like something out of the glorious past.

“You are welcome to stay for as long as you want,” Massimo told her. “But be careful with the basement, as I accidentally blew it up this morning.”

Leandro’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Relax,” Massimo soothed. “Everything is fine, just a little scorched.”

“How many people live here?” Ryder asked.

“Just us, for now.” Massimo turned and winked at Leandro.

Yegor went back to the location where the vampire had attacked them. As he ran, he’d heard a gunshot, and he wanted to find out what happened. His curiosity was stronger than his common sense.

He peered around the trees, hoping the scary-as-fuck vampire wasn’t still there. The vampire wasn’t on the same shit-your-pants level as Afana, but the glowing red eyes and fangs caused a similar effect.

Sergei sat on the ground, looking pissed. Yegor thought about leaving him, but he didn’t know where to go. He’d never been this far away from the bunker, and he’d never been outside on his own. Yegor had been born in the bunker, and he wanted to go home, but Afana would have his head if he didn't return with Ryder’s.

“Who’s there?” Sergei demanded, scrambling to his feet. His eyes darted wildly as he grabbed his gun.

Yegor panicked. “Sergei, it’s me.”

“Me who?” Sergei spat, pointing the gun in the direction of the voice.

“Yegor.”

Sergei scowled. “I only know one person named Yegor, and he is a long-necked traitor who’s going to lose his motherfucking head when I get my hands on him.”

Yegor gulped. He’d seen what Sergei had done in the past, and he didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it. He didn’t know what to do. He edged back, then forward again.

“Don’t make me hunt you down,” Sergei told him. “If you do, I’ll take my time with you first.”

Yegor couldn’t think. He was basically screwed. If he came out of hiding and went toward Sergei, he would lose his head. If he ran away, Sergei would torture him and then cut off his head. He was fucked.

Maybe I can talk to him? Yegor thought, but Sergei wasn’t known for his willingness to listen. Here goes nothing.

Yegor stepped out from behind the tree. Sergei kept his gun pointed at Yegor. “Where’s Pavel?”

Yegor shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know.”

“That fucker must have run off as well. And you’ve done it two times on me. First at the bunker, and now here.”

“I’m sorry, did you see him?” Yegor asked. “That motherfucker was a vampire, just like Afana.”

“Did I see him? I fought with him! You’d have seen it if you hadn’t run off.” Sergei was lying, but Yegor didn't know that. Only Pavel did, and Sergei planned to shut his mouth permanently. He’d expected Yegor to run off, but not Pavel.

“Now what am I going to do with you?” Sergei ruminated.

Yegor felt like he was going to shit himself again. “I know where Ryder is. He’s with the vampire.”

“You saw Ryder and the vampire together?”

Yegor smiled. “Yes. Why don’t you not chop off my head, and I’ll show you where they went?”

“Fine,” Sergei sneered. “I’ll let you live, but betray me again, and I will kill you.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

The inside of Massimo and Leandro’s home was even more impressive than the outside. It was filled with Massimo and Leandro’s possessions, and everything fascinated Ryder.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, and then we’ll give you a tour,” Leandro told Ryder and Carter. “Ryder, I’ll show you to the bathroom.”

“Can you show me as well?” Carter stepped quickly to Ryder’s side.

“Sure,” Leandro agreed, trying his hardest not to sound annoyed.

Leandro led them to the bathroom, and the space filled with “oohs” and “aahs” when they were shown the shower. Massimo had developed a hot water system for it, which never failed to impress Leandro, even though he used it on a regular basis.

“Carter, you