The Mogul (Necessary Lies Book 2) (30 page)

T
he next morning
, we took steaks out to the dogs, who hadn’t yet left the side of their fallen. They stayed by him all night, and even when we approached, they growled softly lest we get too close.

Piper moved into their midst, kneeling down to hug and kiss Ronnie. The others meekly licked at her hands, eagerly accepting the offered food.

I dug a grave near the house, no mean feat given the cold climate and rocky terrain. I’d let the shovel snap before I stopped digging, however. VZ stood vigil until the last bit of dirt was placed on the grave, then he lay down right on top, regal, daring anyone to move him.

Durham received our message, and verified our worst fear, Ujarak had been found dead, the official story a suicide. Unofficially, Durham’s people believed he’d been killed, possibly tortured first for information regarding our security.

He was a good man, and we mourned his passing.

Late that afternoon, Harold Nickle arrived with a team of “cleaners,” men who could perform the function indicated by their job titles and eliminate any sign of the previous day’s violence, including making the bodies of the Bosnians disappear. More than simply janitors, they could be counted on to be thorough and discreet. They’d repair or replace the sabotaged cameras, and make the entire place as good as new.

Escorted by Harold and two members of his security detail, we took our boat back to Ketchikan and were spirited into a private jet bound for Juneau and beyond. VZ, Johnny, and Stevie stayed with us, paying special attention to Piper. They knew she was pregnant, and they weren’t about to lose another member of our peculiar family.

“Where are we heading, Harold?” I asked as we climbed into the sky over the Alaskan capital.

“Home, Mr. Porter. According to your identification, you’re from near Charleston, correct? South Carolina?”

“Yes, but…” Harold cut me off.

“Odin’s already in Charleston, your other brothers will meet us there. A strategy session, sir. To put this entire affair to bed. Speaking of which, we’re at altitude now if you’d like to avail yourselves of the bedroom, it’s all yours.”

I rose, shaking his hand and thanking him. I took Piper’s hand in mine and we strolled to the back of the jet, our pack in tow.

I had to admit, I was angry at myself. I’d let my guard down, made myself believe we were out of harm’s way. But as long as QB was alive, we would never be truly safe.

It was time to finally settle the score of a game that had run long past overtime. And with the rage I felt over losing Ronnie and almost losing Piper, I didn’t fear for myself.

I feared for the man who was responsible. Because he was as good as dead.

T
o be concluded in ODIN
, out this Fall. A guaranteed HEA, plenty of steam, a baby, and hot new Titan brothers galore…

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A
lison Ryan is
a romance author who lives with her husband and sons in a southern kind of heaven. She loves books about love, watching too much Bravo, and good bourbon. Not always in that order.

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