Free My Ride is a Bitch (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 13) by Michael Anderle Page A

it?”

    Hirotoshi and Ryu stared at each other. Tabitha pretended she could see the mental mind meld the two must be doing. It was a shame, she conceded, she couldn’t jack into it.

    Or, could she? It was something worth testing.

    Finally, the two broke their staring contest, “There are two,” Hirotoshi answered, “if you permit me, I will ask them personally, but on the side, so their answers might not be considered dishonorable if they do not desire to do this. May I?”

    “Sure,” she agreed. “I’ve learned my lesson before if you seek permission, it is usually an honor thing. Ok, make it so, Number One.”

    Damn, Tabitha thought, she was sure she was going to get Hirotoshi tweaked just a little by calling him Number One. She had spent two weeks setting up the plan to get him to accidentally see Star Trek - The New Generation and now…nothing.

    Dammit!

    “Next question,” she continued, “what do we do with this house.”

    This time, there was no pause. Both men said ‘burn it down’ at the same time. Tabitha shocked, stared at both of them, then first one, then the other. “Burn it?”

    Hirotoshi nodded to Ryu, who spoke, “Yes, there is too much evil and loss in this house. Further, we have not found any secret cache of the drugs used to change people. But just because we have not found it, does not mean it isn’t here.”

    Tabitha pursed her lips, “One second.”

    My Queen?

    What? Oh, Tabitha! Wow, hadn’t expected you to be calling. What’s up?

    Can I get permission to burn down Michael’s house…or rather, my house?

    It’s yours, so you make the decision. However, I’m curious as to why.

    My advisors, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over here, suggest it because it is a house full of evil. And, there is a small possibility of serum still secreted somewhere in the house that we can’t find.

    Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum? Have you called them that, yet?

    Oh, HELL no! I’m Latina, we might get excitable every once in awhile, but we do know there are lines you don’t cross.

    So, what you are telling me is that you are just waiting for the right moment?

    Well, yes. But how did you know that?

    You’re Tabitha.

    Oh. Well, when you put it that way it makes more sense.

    It’s a gift. Is that all you need?

    Yes, thank you.

    And then, Tabitha was alone in her head again. She was a little lonely after she broke the link. Talking like this could become a drug if she overused it, she thought.

    Or, Bethany Anne would give her a mental bitch-slap and her head would ring for days.  

    Never mind, potential issue solved.

    She spoke to her two guys, “Bethany Anne is good with the suggestion to burn this house down. So, I’ll spend the next few hours sleeping, then searching on the dark web. Let’s get your questions about who is going to learn hacking accomplished, and they can start with me tomorrow morning. Have the rest go through the house and let’s pull out what we want to give away, sell and stash the cash or whatever. Plan on us finding new digs and always able to move our headquarters at any time.”

    She looked around, taking in the room one last time, “Let’s do this.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
Chapter 7

    QBS ArchAngel
     
    “What is that?” Bethany Anne asked as she sat down at the table. Scott, Eric, John and Darryl looked down at themselves.
     
    “What?” They chorused together.
     
    Bethany Anne’s eyes narrowed, “That!” She pointed to John’s neck, “The silver trophy pin on your lapel?”
     
    “Oh, this?” John answered so smooth ice wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “These are just, ahh,” he faltered when he noticed her look, “You want to see it?”
     
    Bethany Anne’s face turned happy, “Sure!” She held her hand out, “Let’s see all of them, shall we?”
     
    The other three guy’s eyes darted to each other, perhaps they overplayed their hand?
     
    The men each dropped the little silver symbols into Bethany Anne’s