“Fuckin’ idiot,” Celt agreed.
“No, my bloody ex did, though, and did a bunk with it. She took five hundred grand and fled. I’ve no idea where she is at this moment, but Dean wants his money back. I told him no, I haven’t got it, and I don’t, but Dean says that as I was screwing her, I’m liable for the debt. I work in a lab, and Dean got wind of a valuable, important patent we’re working on. Dean wanted the plans for it and said he’d call it quits. But I couldn’t give him the stuff he wanted. It could change medical care for good, so I refused. He was at my house today, trying to force me to do what he wanted. Now he has Thalia, and if she’s my sister….” Rain broke off with an audible gulp.
“Who was the other guy?” Bear asked.
“Robespierre, he’s a thug. The rumours say he’s behind loads of the disappearances of people who’ve crossed paths with Dean. Robespierre isn’t his real name, but he got the moniker becausehe’s fond of playing with knives and harming victims. Rumour has it he likes to behead them as well,” Rain replied.
“And this asshole has Thalia?” Kelly exclaimed as Callie gasped.
“They have Thalia,” Rain said. “I had no clue who she was, but she jumped straight into rescuing me.”
Shotgun tuned out; he didn’t need to hear anything else. Rain lacked balls and had left Thalia to die, saving his own neck. Now motherfuckers had her. Once again, Hellfire had to save the day.
Her rescue was inevitable. Bear was coming out of his skin. Kelly, Thalia’s best friend, had offered some lame-ass explanation. It didn’t matter; Thalia had Bear snagged, and Shotgun knew they’d ride for her when they had a location.
???
A month later, Shotgun sat at a bar, nursing a beer. He was surprised when someone took the stool next to him. He’d been giving off ‘stay the fuck away’ vibes all night. Not even the bravest bitch had tried to seduce him.
Shotgun turned his head and glowered at the guy sitting next to him.
“Buy you a beer?” he asked, and Shotgun’s eyebrows leapt into his hairline.
“What do you want?”
“I owe you for saving Thalia.”
Shotgun stared at Thalia’s brother, Ourania, or Rain as he preferred. As usual, he wore a button-down shirt, a cardigan, and smart slacks with shiny shoes. Nerd was written all over him. Even his glasses were professor-like.
“Fuck off, I want to be alone,” Shotgun muttered and turned back to his drink.
“No. I owe you, I’m buying.”
Shotgun snorted. “Well, someone found their balls at last.”
“Never lost them, Shotgun. You believe I’m a coward. You might be right. But that formula will save millions. Tell me, the life of one person or millions. What decision would you make? I chose the only course available to me and went to get help. Think what you want, but I don’t regret it and wouldn’t change it.”
Rain stared at Shotgun, and he sensed the guy daring him to judge.
“Even knowing what they did to your sister?” Shotgun fired back.
“Wouldn’t change a single thing.”
“Wow, you’re cold,” Shotgun muttered as he tipped back his glass.
“No, I’m logical.”
“What if it had been your kid?” Shotgun demanded.
“Millions of lives against one. It’s a no-brainer. Of course, I’d have probably killed myself afterwards. I couldn’t have lived with making that choice, but I would have made it.” Rain shrugged and motioned for the bartender.
“Whiskey neat, and whatever he’s drinking,” Rain said.
“The same as him.” Shotgun turned on his barstool and stared at Rain. “You’re more confident.”
“No. Never been any different. That day had been a shitshow. Dean appears, discovering my sisters, Thalia getting taken, then the body parts. I think shit would have rocked anyone,” Rain replied, grabbing his whiskey. He took a large mouthful as soon as his hand met it.
“Possibly,” Shotgun agreed. “What are you doing here, anyway? Did you follow me?”
