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

He prided himself on being nothing like the vampire who turned him. David had been a cold, supercilious prick who took what he wanted with no regard for the value of life. Massimo had done well to escape that eldritch castle and flee to Siberia.

“Yes, Afana is a vampire,” Ryder said like it was common knowledge.

Ryder’s words snapped Massimo away from memories of his past. “Why does he keep you all in a bunker?” Massimo started to feel guilty. If he hadn’t cut Afana off, would he have been able to stop his obsession?

“We are his cattle.” Ryder rubbed the back of her neck. Massimo had noticed the tattoo there, and now he realized it was a brand. “He feeds on some of us, and others, he uses for tests. No one knows what he does exactly because no one ever comes back.”

That fucker, I want to slap the shit out of him for that. “I’m sorry.”

“You have no reason to be sorry,” Ryder demurred.

Massimo knew that he did. “What do you want me to do to help you?”

“Could you help me convince some of the people from Pinewood to come with me? In my short time in the Old Dog, I heard how fondly everyone thinks of you.”

“They do?” Massimo blushed. It had been a long time since a girl had made him blush.

Leandro noticed his dad’s reaction and decided to chime in. “We’ll help you,” he added, which made Ryder smile.

She really is stunning, and Leandro has finally made a breakthrough with her, Massimo thought. A few more of those smiles and Massimo might get some grandchildren after all.

“Will you come to the bunker with me?” she asked.

Leandro nodded resolutely. “Yes.”

“So will I,” Massimo told her. It was the least he could do. He couldn’t bring back the years Afana had stolen, but he hoped this would help.

“You don’t have to do that,” Ryder argued, raising her eyebrows and looking a little embarrassed.

Massimo was confused. “I can’t think of anyone better to help you. One vampire fighting another?”

Ryder’s mouth dropped, and she blinked. “What?”

“Didn’t Leandro tell you I was a vampire?” Massimo was used to everyone in Pinewood knowing, and he’d just assumed Leandro had told Ryder when they were on their tour of the house.

Ryder leaped to her feet. Her knives were in her hands, ready to attack.

“I’ll take that as a no. Leandro?”

Massimo remained in his seat, but Leandro stood up. “Pops, you can’t just come out and say shit like that. You’ll scare people. Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. It just slipped my mind.”

“It slipped your mind that your dad is a fucking vampire? Has anything else slipped your mind?”

“N-no,” Leandro stuttered.

“You’re a fucking liar. I’m not going to be your dinner, you pricks! Carter!”

Ryder edged toward her bow with her knives at the ready. Carter came running into the living room with a hand towel around his waist, revealing his ripped chest.

Not bad! Ryder thought. Not now.

His beard and hair were lathered up with soapy bubbles. Carter knew something had gone wrong. He just didn’t know what.

“They’re fucking vampires,” Ryder told him, fuming. More than anything, she was pissed at herself for trusting them.

Carter leaned back in amazement, then his shoulders slumped. He was disappointed, since he had been looking forward to a good night’s sleep.

“I’m not a vampire, only Massimo is,” Leandro corrected, pointing at his dad.

Massimo spoke at the same time as Leandro. “Leandro’s not a vampire. He’s a Were.”

“Pops!”

“What the fuck?” Ryder and Carter said in unison.

“Jinx,” Carter added.

This jerk thinks it’s time to joke. “Carter, zip it,” Ryder told him, waving her knife at him. She turned to face Massimo and Leandro. “You two had better start explaining yourselves!”

Leandro pushed his hands through his hair. He hadn’t wanted to explain his situation to Ryder this way.

He’d barely had a chance to think about how he was going to start when Ryder interjected. “Screw this. Carter, get some clothes on. We’re leaving.”

Carter turned away and revealed his buttocks.

“Carter, that’s a hand towel,” Leandro groaned. “You’re meant to use the bigger towel for your body.”

Carter looked over his shoulder. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Leandro scowled. Carter’s eyes widened with recognition. “Fluffy, is that you?”

Leandro dropped his head into his hands.

If looks could kill, Leandro would have been dead from the one Ryder gave him. “Fluffy?”

Leandro slowly waved his hands. “Surprise.”

Ryder backed away, overwhelmed. “Surprise? I rubbed your fucking stomach! This is all too much. Werewolves aren’t even real. Carter, I’ll be outside.”

Ryder headed for the door, still not giving Leandro or Massimo her back. Leandro stepped closer to Ryder.

“Don’t,” she told him, holding her hand up to stop Leandro from coming any closer.

She felt behind herself for the door handle and pushed down, stumbling slightly as it opened.

What the fuck had she gotten herself into now?

Ryder sat on the swinging chair on the front porch outside the house, swaying back and forth. The movement calmed her a little, and part of her began to enjoy it. But she was pissed–royally pissed.

How could Leandro lie to me? He’s Fluffy?

How was that even possible? She knew damn well that werewolves weren’t real. They were just the stories they told the kids in the bunker.

Weres couldn’t be real. But if he wasn’t a Were, then he had to be a vampire. And she fucking hated vampires. Then again, Massimo was a vampire, and he didn’t look like Afana or act like him. He was just an old man with an odd son. Ryder preferred that explanation.

She sighed. It looks like I will be sleeping under the stars after all. I hope none of the Mad come out tonight.

Ryder’s plan to get help was going to shit. If she tried taking the bunker with only Carter, then they might as well chop their own heads off and save themselves the trip.

She wished Carter would hurry up. The front door opened.

“About fucking time,” Ryder snapped at Carter, but