Page 53 of Lady Death

“Did you shoot Davorin?”

“No, I blew sarin powder into his face,” she replied. “Mocked him as he died. It was … cathartic.”

“Sarin?” He blinked. “Is that a joke?”

“Nope. Took him a few minutes.” She explained what had happened in the SUV. Watching Davorin slowly die. Killing the guard and the driver. “I have no remorse for that.”

“I would hope not. Your life verses theirs is a no-brainer.”

“That means you’re stuck with me,” she said.

Ronin ran the back of his knuckles over her cheek. “I’m more than okay with that. But were you exposed to the sarin poison? Do we need to get you to—”

She placed a finger on his lips, shutting him up. “I’m fine. I stayed away from his body. Make sure your men are safe when they handle him.”

He nodded that he heard her. “Where the fuck did you get sarin?”

Keres held up her hand, showing the ring. “Hidden compartment. Darby had four of these. One had tetrodotoxin, which I used on Peterson. One had GHB which I used to roofie Sapphira Todd. Sarin was in this ring and the one in my pocket contains anthrax.”

“Jesus,” he muttered. “Now I know not to piss you off.”

She grinned as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

“Reinforcements are on their way,” Ghost said as he walked over to them. “The sheriff knows, as well. He said he’ll keep any traffic off this road until we give him the ‘all clear.’”

“Thanks, man,” Ronin said.

“Anytime, brother.”

As Ghost walked over to Davorin’s car, Ronin gave an ear-piercing whistle. “Don’t touch Davorin. He died by sarin poisoning.”

Ghost frowned. “Are you shitting me?”

“Serious as a heart attack.”

“It says something that I’m not even blinking at this,” he said and pulled out his phone. “Hazmat it is.”

Ronin wrapped his arms around Keres.

“I love you,” he said. “More than my life. More than I love the Death Riders. I will love you until I take my last breath, and then I’ll love you into the next life.”

“I don’t know when or how it happened, but I love you too.”

“I guess we’re perfect for each other.”

She grinned. “I guess so.”

Epilogue

Halloween

The backyard of Ronin’s house was transformed into a wonderland of fairy lights and flower vines under the full moon. A bonfire added light and warmth for everyone. Crystals surrounded the intimate space where Ghost and Sidonie stood, staring at one another with hearts in their eyes. Everyone wore white, including the groom. For the evening, the Death Riders traded their black leather cuts for bleached linen.

Sidonie wore a flowing white dress with a matching turban on her head. Golden hoops dangled from her earlobes, with a dozen or so bangles lining each wrist. Every time she moved her arms, they melodically clinked together.

The officiant wore a yellow dress, and she held a bundle of leaves. Pungent smoke swirled around her, trailing like a cloud as she danced around the perimeter, shaking the rattle she held. A small altar had been set up, with black candles burning. She laid the sage upon it and picked up a small wooden box.

“I bid welcome the divine messengers who bridge the living and the dead,” she cried out. “We ask theloato come forth and bless this woman and this man in unity.”

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