Page 44 of Alistair

Tying him to the center of the debris, Garr, Gator, and Leif set the explosives and began marching the other men down the hill.

“You’re just gonna blow him up?” asked one of the men, staring at them with shock and horror.

“He had his chance. He chose his future. You get the chance to do the same. If you’re lucky,” said Leif.

Exactly three minutes later, the sky was lit up by the biggest explosion anyone had seen since the last mine collapse. The men all gasped, not believing what had just happened. When they reached the road, they spotted the two buses. Alistair looked at the men.

“Well? What will it be?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“Seven. Seven chose rehab over jail. That means eight were too fucking stubborn to get help, and they’ll be right back doing this shit with someone else,” said Garr.

“They will be, but at least while in jail, they’ll dry out. They won’t have an option, and it won’t be a controlled detox. It’ll be ugly and fucking painful,” said Alistair. “Worst part is we still don’t know where Stone is.”

“We know he’ll be at his premiere,” said Leif. “I’d say that’s going to be our best bet. He’s going to think his brother died in that explosion. The sheriff is going to put out a statement that it was a chemical explosion, and no one survived.”

“He’ll panic,” said Alistair. “He’s going to have do his own dirty work or find someone other than his brother. We still don’t know where the sister is, either. She might be with him.”

For the remainder of the drive, everyone was quiet, trying to figure out their next move. In the eyes of the public, Lance Stone was an action-movie hero. Popular, handsome, and seemingly a philanthropist.

When they pulled into the inn, Iris was seated on the front porch waiting for them. She was rocking slowly back and forth and then stood, smiling.

“I heard the explosion from all the way down here,” she said. “You boys stopped those drugs?”

“Yes, ma’am. We did,” said Tailor.

“Good. That’s good. Fine work, all of you. Dinner is on the table in warming dishes.” She stood and stumbled a step, nearly falling before Tailor gripped her waist.

“You okay, Iris?” he asked.

“Just tired, son. Just tired,” she said, shaking her head.

“Come on. You’re eating with us tonight, and we’re cleaning up,” he said. He walked her to a place at the table, fixing her a plate, and watching as she picked at the food. The men spoke mostly of things happening at home, the kids, grandkids, upcoming wedding.

“Hey, did you guys know that Macie was nearly done with her dissertation for her PhD?” grinned East. They all looked up, smiling, shaking their heads. “Yeah, man. She’ll be Dr. Macie Gray Cooper. She’s going to be working out at G.R.I.P. I don’t know why I thought she was so much younger than all of us, but I guess she’s only a few years younger.”

“Five,” said Garr quietly. They all slowly turned their heads, staring at him. “She’s five years younger than we are.”

“Is that right?” smirked Tailor.

“Yeah. That’s right.” He pushed his plate aside and walked out onto the front porch.

“I’m no expert,” said Iris, “but I’m going to guess that he’s sweet on this girl, Macie. That’s the reaction of a man who is showing he has feelings for a woman when her name is mentioned.”

“Macie? I would have never guessed,” said Leif. “I mean, she’s pretty, unbelievably smart, and I think she plays some sort of instrument, doesn’t she?”

“Piano,” said Gator. “Mia plays violin, and they used to play together at the holiday events. It was amazing. I honestly thought that’s the career she would have chosen.”

“What is she getting her PhD in?” asked Iris.

“Engineering,” said Alistair, leaving out the part about it being weapons engineering.

“Now, that’s a girl worth keeping. Is she pretty?”

“Gorgeous is more the word I would use,” said Rett. “She’s almost exotic-looking. I’m surprised she hasn’t met someone at school.”

They dropped the subject of Macie, hoping that Garr would come back inside. When the meal was finished, the men took care of the dishes and leftovers and cleaned the kitchen. Leif and Gator chopped the rest of the wood for Iris. Rett and Dan fixed two leaking faucets, and Alec and Tailor repaired the steps leading to the front porch.

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