Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“What are you going to do with him?” Niko asked.
“Leave him outside for now. Then consult with Ambrose. If the wildlife drags him off, all the better. It’s none of our concern.”
Niko nodded. “He doesn’t deserve a real burial.”
“Fuck no, he doesn’t.”
I grabbed Dimitri’s arms and dragged him from the cabin, taking him far enough into the woods that if someone approached the cabin from the front or rear, they wouldn’t see the body immediately. Beyond that, I didn’t care. Anyone who came out here was either a friend who would help us or someone who would be joining Dimitri very shortly.
Niko was probably right—I likely had a concussion. My vision was a little iffy, and I wasn’t as steady on my feet as I needed to be, but I would have to push through. I didn’t have any fucking choice.
I called Ambrose as I circled the house, surveying the area for signs that anyone else had been out there.
“What’s up?” Ambrose said when he answered.
“Have you talked to Remington?”
“Yes, I got all the info. Sorry about Dante, but it sounds like he’s doing good. I was going to head on out to get y’all in a few hours.”
“You need to come now. Dimitri showed up. When I couldn’t get Landry to respond, I went to look for him. Dimitri got me in the back of the head with a big chunk of wood. He’d given Landry the same treatment.”
“Fuck. What happened then?”
“Dimitri broke in, but I’d left Nikolai with my pistol. He barely knows how to use it, but apparently, Alina is quite a good shot. She got him right through the temple. I need to dispose of the body.”
“That’s good work. If she needs a job—”
“No way. She’s also a hacker. Remington’s got dibs on her.”
“An impressive young lady. She’ll drive Remington insane.”
“True. What’s our best option to get rid of Dimitri like he never existed?”
“I bet Gerard would enjoy a snack. I’ll pick you up by boat. It’s no more than a five-minute walk to the closest place I can dock. We’ll bring the body back to my old cabin and give Gerard a treat. I can drive you all out from there.”
“Sounds good. How fast can you be here?”
“If I take the airboat, twenty minutes.”
“We’ll be ready.”
I stepped back into the cabin, not thinking about how alert Niko and Alina would be. Once again, I found myself facing down the barrel of my own gun in Alina’s hands. “It’s still me.”
“Learn to knock if you’re going to make me stand here ready to shoot someone.”
“Good point. Ambrose will be here in about twenty minutes. We’re going back to his cabin to dispose of the body, then he’ll take us back to Remington.”
Landry was still on the couch, but he looked more alert than when I’d left. “Are you going to be okay to travel?”
“I’ll manage.” His jaw was tight, and I was sure he was in pain, but just like me, he’d push through.
“I’ll contact Remington and make sure he’s got the doctor there when we get back.”
Landry frowned. “It’s just a bump on the head. I don’t need a doctor.”
Alina turned to him, scowling. “You most certainly do need a doctor. Do you know how long you were unconscious?”
He shrugged, then winced. “I’ve had worse.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you’ve had before. There’s a doctor available, and you’re going to have him look at you.”
“Her, actually,” I said.
“Oh, that’s even better.”
Landry didn’t say anything else, obviously knowing that arguing with Alina was futile.
“Gather up everything you want to take. Landry, I’ll grab what you had out in the shed.”
“We’re bringing my father’s body with us?” Niko asked. He looked pale and exhausted. I wanted to comfort him, but I needed to be sure we were ready to get the hell out of there as soon as Ambrose arrived.
“Ambrose is coming in the airboat. I won’t have to carry the body far. We’ll cover it up so you don’t have to see him. You can handle it.”
“Yeah, I can.” I didn’t like how shaky his voice was.
“I’ll be with you the whole time. I swear.”
Half an hour later, we were flying down the bayou at breakneck speed in Ambrose’s airboat. Niko clung to me, clearly scared he was going to fly out over the side. Landry had his arm around Alina, who looked even paler than Niko. Apparently, the ride wasn’t suiting her like it was Ambrose. He was clearly in his element, not the least bit concerned that we had a body on the floor of the boat wrapped in one of the sheets from the cabin.
When he slowed and pulled up to a tiny dock that was falling apart, Landry held Alina’s hair back while she vomited over the side. When she was done, she glared at Ambrose. “I fucking hate boats.”