Page 25 of Stalker
The man stared at him, apparently considering whether he should answer or not.
“Yeah, I’m Vradin. You must have been what all the shooting was about.”
“Apparently. My partner and I were just cruising by, looking for whoever was in charge. And suddenly, a hail of bullets rained down on us.” Stalker stood looking at him with a grim expression and his hands resting over his hipbones above his gun belt.
“Are you telling me they will come in here and take over?” Vradin frowned.
“The towns will remain mostly autonomous, but there are a few laws they must abide by. We’re discovering certain factions are infringing on human rights, as in human trafficking and even outright slavery. That will not be tolerated.”
“You think you and your partner can enforce that?” Vradin asked.
Stalker flashed a derisive smirk. “Right now, I’m just the messenger. I’ve brought you a com-tablet so that you can communicate with the Enclave and learn how the United Territories will be governed. They are more than willing to help restore your infrastructure, provided you cooperate.” He took out a tablet from a pocket in his armor.
Unfolding it, he turned it on and showed the screen side to Vradin. “The Enclave offers supplies and medicine. They will send teams to demolish the ruined buildings and construct new homes for your people,” Stalker explained, flipping through screens showing the supply drops and the reconstructed towns.
“Before the war, Los Angeles and the surrounding suburbs were one of the most heavily populated places in the world. But no longer. So instead of a massive urban center, it is reduced to a series of small towns. As long as you follow the basic laws on human rights, the Enclave will leave you alone. If not, we will take you down.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Do you even know who you are talking to?” Vradin asked. “I own the towns in this section, not just this one. I’ve got a thousand enforcers protecting my interests and administering my orders. How many rangers have you got?
“Six….” Stalker grinned. “But a hundred more cyborg protectors are on their way. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but you have no idea what a few cyborgs can do against men only armed with projectile weapons.”
“Bring ‘em. If your Enclave thinks I will give up everything I have worked for all these years, for supplies and new buildings, they don’t know who they’re messing with.”
“My partner and I just neutralized fifteen of your enforcers.”
“You killed my men?” His eyes widened in shock and anger.
“No, they will live. I simply stopped them from shooting at us,” Stalker said. “Since you’ve decided not to cooperate, tell me which other towns are under your rule, and I won’t waste my time with them.”
“Or maybe you’ll decide to neutralize them, too,” Vradin replied with a suspicious glint in his eyes.”
“I don’t understand why you have a problem with laws intended to protect human freedoms. Slavery and human trafficking are non-negotiable.” Stalker shook his head at Vradin’s stubborn expression.
“I’ve given you the information.” Stalker showed Vradin how to turn on the tablet and access the Enclave’s restoration program information and who to contact to set up a supply drop. Momentarily, he received a call from Neely on their com-links.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m on my way.” To Vradin, he said, “I have to go, but I will check back to see if you change your mind. If we are met with bullets, there will be consequences.”
Stalker extracted his helmet, turned, and left. Cyborgs were pretty hard to kill, but their eyes were vulnerable to high-power bullets even though their eye sockets were reinforced. It shouldn’t have been long enough for any of Vradin Blackwood’s henchmen to recover and start shooting again; he wasn’t taking any chances.
Neely was looking through the scope of her rifle to see what was going on in her surroundings. The only movement she saw was Stalker striding back toward her. She retracted her faceplate as he approached and smiled at him.
“Nice job!” Stalker praised as he noted the two males lying bound by their hands behind their backs. He didn’t miss the way her face lit with his praise. It chased away his annoyance with Vradin Blackwood and the prospect of further hassles that lay ahead as he reconned the area for law enforcement.
Focusing on his mate, his thoughts turned to taking her home and breeding her senseless. His stiffening cock liked the idea. Neely looked delectable in the armor that hugged and accentuated all her curves.
“Let’s go home. I’ve had enough of ignorant people today.”
“What about them?”
“We’ll take off the cuffs and leave them.”
“They tried to assault me.”
“But you won.” He gave her a sexy smirk. “Anyway, the nearest jail is in New Chicago.”
