Page 144 of Bruised MC Bear

“That’s where you and the rest of your men come in. And I will help…with Coco’s assistance.”

Xander registered the excited look on Liam’s face, but focused on Kiera’s proposal. “You do understand you are talking about potentially starting a civil war, correct?”

“It may not come to anything so ominous,” she said with confidence.

“You need to be prepared for that eventuality, Kiera…and the repercussions.”

“If there’s a standoff with the guards, focus your negotiations on Minassus as the common threat inside the Sector…just like the ravagers threaten us from outside. Remind them that your men protect everyone in the Sector from the ravagers, including the guards and their families. That should hold them off or at least divide them long enough for me to work on the Regent.”

“Minassus is evil,” Xander added. “He won’t hesitate to strike where it hurts the most. He will make this personal…against me, to start. His first thought will be that I turned the Chosen against him…which is somewhat true, I suppose.”

“You did not,” Kiera objected. “You may have provided one breadcrumb that led me here, but I take responsibility for walking this path. We’re in this together, because if I don’t act now, I’m dead anyway.”

“Thank you,” Xander said. He was still not convinced she should take such a risk, but what choice did they have? He turned to Liam. “If we go through with this, I need you to send some men to get my mother somewhere safe.”

“I will take care of it right away,” Liam agreed.

“We are on board,” Xander announced to the group. “Let us meet at my cabin tomorrow at dawn. Reena, can you bring the supplies there?”

“Yes,” Reena answered. “But as no one suspects anything yet, I should use the tunnels to bring them to the camp tonight. Liam, can you help?”

“Of course.”

Kiera added, “I will have to stay here with Coco…to work on the Regent.”

“Fine. Try to convince him. Just…be careful.”

“I will,” Kiera agreed. “Before you go, can I show you something…privately?”

“Liam, let’s get started now,” Reena said, probably taking something more from her friend’s meaning.

“See you back at camp,” Liam said with a smirk.

As soon as they left, Kiera took Xander’s hand and pulled him out of the room. She led him back past the underground laboratory, and stopped outside Reena’s small sleeping room.

He took Kiera’s face in his hands and kissed her, then pulled away briefly to whisper, “I am sorry for not trusting you when we first arrived.”

“Forget about it. I understand,” she told him. “What I’m about to try with Coco, to stop the Regent…well, it may or may not work. He is strong, and so far, he has not realized exactly what we are up to. That will all change when he knows, and when that happens…what I’m saying is you and your men will not be at the top of his hit list.”

“Kiera, I—”

“Let me finish,” she urged, cutting him off as he tried to tell her he would find a way to protect her. “No matter what happens, please stick to the plan. It’s the best chance we have to stop the transformation ceremony.”

“I get the feeling this is your way of saying goodbye.”

She smiled softly. “You are more intuitive that you know. We don’t have a lot of time.”

Xander searched her face, then glanced down her body as she loosened the strap at the waistband of her overcoat. She was completely bare underneath. If this were their last time together, he would make it count.