No Ordinary Day by Tate, Harley (best large ereader .txt) 📕

combat than you can imagine. Hand-to-hand combat, gun fights, you name it. He’s also one of Dane’s best operatives. You’re not going to get anything out of him.”

Raymond fumed, lips pressed so tight together the edges signed white.

“Besides, you need to be out there.” John jerked his head toward the woods outside. “Until I find out more, we have to assume someone else is coming. There could be another guy out there in the woods, waiting until we’re vulnerable. You need to be our first line of defense.”

It took a full minute for Raymond to agree. At last, he stepped back. “Fine. But if you even so much as think about helping this guy—”

“Understood.” He waited until the front door slammed before reaching out and righting Nick and the chair. If telling him the truth meant nothing, and beating him only made it worse, the only way left was to play the friend. John glanced at the door and lowered his voice. “You okay?”

Nick eyed him.

“Sorry about the punch, but I knew they were listening.” He eased down to sit on the edge of the bed. “You said it yourself, those girls are no match for any one of us. But according to that redheaded nitwit out there somebody’s dead?”

Nick motioned toward his arms, still not buying the transformation. “You take this tape off and I’ll tell you all about it.”

John did as he asked, pulling the duct tape off his arms and legs.

“Thanks. That crap was itchy as all get-out.” Nick settled into the chair, sliding his arms up and down until he found a comfortable position. Only then did he offer an explanation. “Dane made me take Simmons.”

“The new guy?”

“Said he needed to be the lead, thought he could handle a couple broads and a teenager.” He shook his head in disgust. “How wrong he was.”’

“You knew I was here, though, right?”

Nick nodded. “You were my target. Simmons was on point for the others. He had this stupid idea to show up at the cabin, pretend to be a lost hiker. Thought he’d get in their good graces like you did. Maybe get a little somethin’ somethin’ before he snapped their necks.” Nick rolled his eyes. “Amateur.”

“So how—”

“Did I get shot?” He glanced down at the blood crusting over his shirt. “That little ginger piece of yours is a terrible shot. Pretty sure she aimed for my heart, barely got my side. Woke up with a splitting headache and all this shit. So here I am. All thanks to Simmons.”

“Where’s he?”

“Dead, the lucky bastard. Now he won’t have to face Dane and his disappointment.”

It was the last thing John wanted to experience as well. After all he’d done, if the man ever laid eyes on him again… “Dane will kill me.”

“That is the plan, my brother.”

John held his head in his hands, partly for show and partly in horror over the past and the future.

“What the hell happened? Why didn’t you just take her out and move on? You’ve always been so dependable. So solid.”

John glanced up at Nick before turning to the window. “Blame the EMP. First, I got stuck in the elevator with Emma, then ended up driving her to Zach’s place. When we got there—”

Nick whistled. “Heard about that one. Willy left that place a mess, man.”

John flicked his head back to Nick. “Did you say Willy?”

Nick nodded. “Who else could shoot up a house in the middle of the day and not end up wearing a toe tag in the morgue?”

John exhaled. It was as bad as he’d feared. “Is he still in play?”

“Last I heard, ol’ pops had him back at the ranch, keepin’ close in case shit got real.”

“You mean with the EMP?”

“Naw. I mean this contract. It’s way bigger than you know, man.”

“But with the grid collapsed and the chaos out there—”

Nick shrugged. “Don’t matter. Dane says they’ll pay us however we want—houses, cars, land, even women. Anything we want as long as we fulfill the contract.”

John had never heard of something so outrageous. “How many hits are outstanding?”

“Including your two?” Nick counted up in his head. “Nine. A couple in D.C. hit some snags when the city went into lockdown.”

John’s eyes widened. “D.C.? You mean there’s government targets on the list?”

“Some senators, I think. Not my marks, not my problem.”

Nick motioned to his wrists. “You gonna cut me loose or what? I knew this had to be an act. Get all chummy with these suckers so you can get what they’ve got.” Nick looked around. “Sweet cabin. And their vehicles are totally solid. Even that dog’s got potential. You should have seen him attack Simmons.” He nodded as a grin spread across his face. “You could retire here real nice, man.”

John nodded like that had always been the plan. “Seems like the best idea, with everything that’s happening out there.”

“You should see LA. Place is lit up like a firefight at night. Fires everywhere, looting like crazy. It’s worse than any war zone we ever saw.”

“Heard from any of the guys?”

“Dane said a couple are MIA. Donnie’s got that kid now and Trevor’s engaged or something ridiculous. They dropped off when the grid collapsed. Thinks they’re in the wind.”

“And he’s okay with it?”

“Hell, no. But this contract’s got all his attention. He’s not going to rest until it’s fulfilled.” Nick leaned forward. “I heard they promised him his own private island.”

John stood and walked behind Nick. “That was always Dane’s dream, to be king of somewhere.”

“And now he’s gonna get it.”

John sucked in a deep breath and steeled himself. “Not if I can help it.” He wrapped his arm around Nick’s head, applying pressure to his neck. Nick fought but it was useless. With his arms restrained, he couldn’t do a thing. John leaned in close enough to whisper. “I’m not going to kill Emma or Gloria and neither are you. Dane isn’t going to get his island. I’m done being his lackey. His errand boy for everything dirty and