Fire and Fury (Ruins of the Earth Book 6) by Christopher Hopper & J.N. Chaney

Author:Christopher Hopper & J.N. Chaney [Hopper, Christopher & Chaney, J.N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2021-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

18

1920, Day 188, Year 0

Androchida Prime

Sincipia Ocean, Leeward Side of Lorralow

Kareesh Kindesh’s Estate

I was tempted six months ago to stay here. Retire. Call it quits and let the empire do what empires do. Grow, extort, conquer, and then eventually implode. Kareesh offered us sanctuary from all that when we were aboard her futuristic yacht. But that’s the thing about empires: eventually, everyone gets burned.

She’s certainly made quite the kingdom for herself on Lorralow Island, I’ll give her that much. Whitewashed buildings run down green-sided slopes that plunge into aqua blue waters. It’s like Greece’s coastline meets the Caribbean. Not bad, if you like tropical seaside landscapes. But I’ve always been a northern-climate man. Too much heat in my blood to settle somewhere so humid.

Thirty minutes ago, the team got settled into staterooms in Kareesh’s main house—a sprawling palace, if there ever was one. Now we’re escorted to a covered portico with a large banquet table overlooking an ocean sunset.

“I feel like we’re on a honeymoon,” Hollywood says.

Bumper’s face flattens. “What?”

“Uh. Just sayin’ it’s pretty, is all.”

“Sure, yeah. Real pretty. And expensive.”

Hobbs, dressed in flowing white cotton pants and a tank top, holds my arm and whispers in my ear, “Someone’s got cold feet.”

“Or he’s just afraid of the price tag.”

She smiles. “Money can’t buy love.”

“Then why do I keep throwing away all my cash?”

She smirks. “Never said it didn’t buy happiness.”

The team spreads out around the balcony, admiring the view, while I count how many seats are around the ornately set table—about twice as many as we are. Unless this particular dinner isn’t for us, the duchess has plans for other guests, which makes me uneasy.

“You okay?” Hobbs asks as we near a stone railing. The warm salty breeze feels good.

“Fine.”

“You keep looking over your shoulder.”

I sniff the air. “I don’t like this.”

“Really?” She looks over the town and toward the beach far below. “Not bad if you ask me.”

“No, I mean—”

“I know what you mean, Wic.”

I nod, then look at all the chairs again.

Servants step through a pair of sliding doors and peel out on either side of the opening. Behind, I hear voices—little ones. And they’re giggling. A beat later, Kareesh appears in a long flowing dress accompanied by eight or nine children, all covering their eyes with their hands.

Before any of us can say anything, the duchess announces, “Okay, open!”

The children’s hands come down, and their eyes widen when they see us.

“Mr. Ghost,” one little girl cries, and I recognize her face right away.

Ghost does too. “JoJo?”

The tiny girl rushes around the table, leaps into his arms, and squeezes his neck with all she has. “I was so so so worried about you! I thought I’d never see you again. But you came back, just like you promised.” She pushes away from him a little and grabs his face with two hands. “And you should always keep your promises.”

“Yes,” the sniper replies, and I could swear I hear something crack in his voice. “You always keep your promises.

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