Helpless (Steel Demons MC #5) - Crystal Ash Page 0,37
to lend Blakeworth two-hundred contracted soldiers, and one-hundred contracted laborers.
The contract length and terms shall be decided by my father and I, with no input from Four Corners. Any attempt to renegotiate these terms will be considered a refusal, and you may find yourself grandfather to the heir of Blakeworth before your next birthday.
Either way, congratulations are in order. We look forward to your response in one week’s time. Any delay in receiving an answer will also be considered a refusal.
* * *
Your humble servant,
Malcolm of Blakeworth
* * *
“Who in the fuck does this chode think he is?” The disgust was clear in Jandro’s voice.
“The crowned prince of Doucheville,” Gunner scoffed. “He writes like he actually believes the sun shines out of his asshole.”
“Vance has been a wreck ever since seeing this,” Josh said tiredly. “He does not want to give in to their demands, naturally. Losing two-hundred soldiers and a hundred laborers will devastate us here. And if we agree…”
“You don’t expect to get those citizens back,” Reaper filled in.
“If Blake sets the terms of the contract and does not allow any negotiation,” Josh shook his head. “They’ll be trapped there as indentured servants, most likely. Escape will mean risking death. We can’t sacrifice three-hundred people like that. It’ll be sending them to slaughter.”
T-Bone leaned his head back with a groan, rubbing a hand over his shaved crown. “How far’s the border from here?”
“About five-hundred and fifty miles.”
“So at least a day’s ride, probably two if we want to be stealthy.”
“Then we still gotta find out where she is,” Dyno said. “We’ll have to do some interrogation, send Munin out. But even if we get her location relatively quickly…”
“We’ll have to ride out early tomorrow at the latest,” T-Bone concluded. “Before that sick bastard fuckin’—” He shook his head, unable to complete his thought when he looked over at us, chin lifted. “What do ya think, Demons? Feel like riding in and being fucking heroes?”
“No.”
Reaper answered before any one of us could voice an opinion, ignoring my bewildered stare at the side of his face.
“I wish you all the best in getting the girl back, but I’ve got too much on my plate. If Governor Vance doesn’t want us sticking around, I respect that. We’ll rest up, and then keep moving. We’ll be sure not to overstay our welcome.”
“Reaper!” I hissed.
He ignored me and turned to leave, heading down the stairs.
Thirteen
GUNNER
Mari was pissed. And not in the cute, adorable way.
“Reaper, stop.” She marched after him, breaking into a jog to keep up with his storming out of the governor’s house.
Jandro reached for her shoulder. “Bonita—”
“Not now, Jandro.”
He lifted both hands away and looked at me with a shrug, walking a few steps back to trudge alongside me a few paces behind the arguing married couple.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“That I need a drink,” I sighed. “And a night in a real fucking bed.” I reached up and tapped my hand on Horus’s talons. “Go.”
He spread his wings and launched himself off of my shoulder. Once he got high enough he’d be able to see the club where we left them.
“Agreed on those points. What about this?” Jandro gestured ahead to where Mari kept after Reaper, demanding that he talk to her.
“I can see both sides,” I admitted. “This isn’t our business to get involved in, and we do have our own people to look after. Refusing to help doesn’t make us look good to the governor, though. And we might need him in the future.”
“And it pisses our woman off that we’re not stepping up to help someone,” he added.
“That, too.”
We caught up to Mari and Reaper on our way down the hill, catching their heated back-and-forth conversation.
“I don’t understand,” she was saying. “We have plenty of capable people who can do something to help. Why are you refusing this?”
“I’m not sending any of our people to some fascist territory where they’ll be beaten to death if caught.” Reaper turned abruptly, holding his index finger up in Mari’s face. “I’m done with this conversation.”
“No, you’re not.” She batted his hand away, not even flinching. I couldn’t help the swell of pride inside me. She really was becoming fearless. “What about the girl who’s already there, already a hostage? She’s alone and scared. What if that was me?”
“It’s not you, so it doesn’t matter,” he growled. “It’s an awful situation, but I can’t save every girl in trouble.”