Page 64 of Fire Meets Fire

It’s a valid question. Us two bikers look to him to respond, but it’s Helo who supplies the answer. “Because he already hates me and all that I stand for. He tried to discredit me but that didn’t go anywhere. He’ll get more satisfaction taking me out, and honestly, who’d miss me? While his baby momma presumably has family who’d raise a fuss.” She snorts. “He probably rubs one out to the thought of having taken out a female soldier. Outwitting me when he thought I’d survived without a scratch.”

She might not have visible injuries, but those she has go bone deep.

She takes a step toward Netherton. “You know what? I felt guilty for what happened. I felt so much remorse for having survived when others died. But you? You regard life so cheaply.You wouldn’t have blinked an eye that your son died if it hadn’t been for the complications it could have caused you.” A slight nod my way suggests that she might be on the way to healing.

I’d been worried if Chet had had a justifiable reason for landing all that had happened at her door, she’d have pulled the trigger on herself. But knowing she wasn’t being chased as anything other than a scapegoat for his own misdemeanours might help restore balance within her. No one, except for this asshole, placed one ounce of blame on her. And I know I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure she understands what an amazing woman she is, and how no one could have done more in the circumstances she was under. She’s worth a thousand Chets.

I’ve heard enough. Helo deserves to live her life without fear, and Netherton doesn’t deserve to live his at all. I call Legend up as he’s necessary for the rest of the plan. As I thought, he’d been hovering close by, and soon he is seated at the desk with Ogre’s gun pointed at Netherton’s face to make sure he complies. Which he does, seemingly without hesitation. Does he still think there’s a chance we’re going to give Helo up? Nah, even he couldn’t be that stupid. He must be trying to appease us in the hope it will save his life. Zero fucking chance of that. Even though there might not be tangible evidence, I can smell corruption on the politician which makes me suspect the whole country would be better off without his interference in our military. And, at the least, it would make serving in the armed forces more comfortable for people of Helo’s sex.

Without knowing the details, another thing that makes me admire her more, the woman beside me looks on without questioning as Chet contacts his bank, arranges for a two-million-dollar transfer, and then obeys Legend as he sends it through various unidentifiable accounts, some overseas, and some dealing with bitcoin. I note Legend consulting his notesand am pleased he’d taken the advice of the financial wizard, Data, in Texas, who seems to know what he’s talking about.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long before the Dominators and Soulz have a million dollars in our bank accounts, and now it’s just a matter of dividing up the remaining two million that Chet brought in cash. Ogre assigned two of his men and told me they were happy doing that task. Yeah, right, and I was born yesterday. Beard, as treasurer, has been appointed to make sure they can count.

My phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket, check caller display, and step out of the room.

“Slugger,” I greet him.

“How’s it going?”

“Almost finished. Time for the grand finale coming up.”

“Good. Look, I’ve got to stay here for a while. Got a bit of a mess to sort out. Won’t be making it back to AZ anytime soon.”Can he hear my sigh of relief? I hope not.“Take care of your woman, Chaz. I like her.”

Praise indeed from the man himself.

I grin, though no one’s here to see it. “Ain’t going to be cutting her loose.”

He chuckles. “I rather thought not. But,” his voice turns whimsical, “will she stay when there’s no longer a price on her head?”

He’s voicing a thought that had only recently occurred to me. It was easier to keep her when she couldn’t go out and show her face. The world will be her oyster in just a few hours.

I decide not to answer him. “Ride safe, Slugger.”

“You, too, Brother. You, too.”

Taking the hint, he ends the call without pressing his last point. Nevertheless, his mention of my own fear escalates it in my mind.Can I keep her? Helo, Queen of the Skies? Why the fuck would she want to stay by my side? What have I got tooffer her?Except for my dick. As I recall, despite the rushed circumstances, she had enjoyed that ride.

“Ogre’s ready.” As if I conjured up an apparition, she appears at my side. “But as I wasn’t let into that side of the plan, I don’t know what they’re planning.” She sighs.

I do. Ogre and I had exchanged text messages and had quite the conversation when we were forced into close proximation in the closet and forced to keep quiet. While Queenie and I had been getting our rocks off, Slugger had suggested a course of action which Soulz and Dominators alike had agreed with. Okay, so sometimes the man does come in handy.

Yeah. Sometimes Slugger comes up with a good plan. What man doesn’t enjoy some liquid indulgence after a long flight?

As if summoned, Weasel appears at the top of the stairs, and I can overhear his conversation clearly.

“Should be running a bath for you, fucker.”

Even before he comes into sight, I can guess at his companion. Skunk. I grin. Yeah, Chet’s last olfactory moments won’t be exactly pleasant.

“What’s going on?” Queenie asks casually, as two of Ogre’s men follow behind mine.

“Come see.” I risk taking her hand, and she allows it, even going so far as to squeeze my fingers. Her touch makes my dick pulse and I resolve that soon I’ll be getting her horizontal and proving how much it’s worth her staying in my life.

But once we re-enter the master bedroom, my attention rightfully returns to making sure this is done right. A murder but one which will leave no clues that it was anything other than an unfortunate accident.

Ogre raises his chin as we approach and nods toward the whisky bottle and glasses he’s already lined up. I lift a querying eyebrow when I expected just one. He grins as an answer.

Filling four glasses, he passes them out. One to me, one to Queenie, takes one for himself and offers the other to Chet who looks totally bemused at what’s going on. There’s a cockiness in his eyes as if he thinks that he’s won.

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