The woman smiled. She realized this was as close as Brownstone could get to saying thank you from the bottom of his heart, so she had to accept.
Shay grinned. “I’m glad the Harriken were feeling so generous, then.”
The rest of the meal flowed pleasantly enough, and if anyone else were watching they would have thought the two were on a date.
Shay accepted that the dinner wasn’t anything romantic; at least not to Brownstone, no matter how much that thought pricked her heart.
“I have to go use the can,” James rumbled.
“Cultured, indeed,” Shay said.
The bounty hunter smirked and headed toward the men’s room.
Shay reflected for a moment on the pleasant evening they were having. She wondered if she could convince James to go out for another fancy meal, or if it’d take protecting Alison against killers again to earn that prize.
She hadn’t told him about the Grayson men. As stoic as the bounty hunter was, she could tell the Harriken bullshit had taken its toll on him. He needed some downtime where he didn’t have to worry about anything other than getting his life back to normal.
Shay had probed around with Peyton’s help and learned that the mercenaries had decided to stay the fuck clear of Brownstone. They’d obviously received her message. Problem solved. All it had taken was slitting two men’s throats in cold blood.
Two blonde women in little black dresses emerged from the hallway leading to the restrooms.
“Did you see that guy?” one of the blondes purred. “Not so hot on the face, but the rest of him was yummy. I’d like to ride that mountain of man-meat.”
Shay’s face twitched and five different ways of killing the women popped into her head as they passed her.
Huh. So this is what jealousy feels like.
By the time James returned to the table Shay had made it up to a sixty-fourth way of taking out the blondes, each more painful than the last.
“Something wrong?” the bounty hunter asked. “You have a funny look on your face.”
Shay shook her head and forced a smile. “Just thinking happy thoughts, Brownstone.”
Epilogue
“Bring it to me,” Grandfather thundered. “I need to see it for myself.”
The junior Harriken kneeling in front of him jumped to his feet and scurried off.
The global head of the Harriken sat in his chair reflecting upon the failures in America; failures brought about because of one man’s vendetta.
Their operations in America had been crippled, and he would have to appoint a new leader to control the area. He wasn’t sure their operations would ever recover after the losses they had taken.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “And all over a fucking dog.”
The other man rushed back in carrying a hinged box. He stepped toward Grandfather cautiously and offered him the box with both hands.
Grandfather accepted the box and opened it; inside was a severed left hand packed in dry ice.
“Ikeda, you manage to disappoint me even in death.”
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Written April 30, 2018
James rubbed his jaw as he looked down at the guy wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. “You want me to say something for your Author Notes?”
“Right!” Michael responded. “I think that since these stories are about you, Shay, and Alison, it would be nice if you said a few things. You know, ‘meet the fans?’”
The Author started sweating; he could feel it on the back of his neck. Writing about James’ exploits and actually looking up at the man were two completely different experiences.
“I’m not sure. That doesn’t sound simple,” James told him doubtfully. “Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate you telling the stories, although having the people come up and offer their barbeque recipes to me from the back of the books was a little weird. However, a couple of those recipes were damned good.”
“It won’t be a problem. Look here.” The Author pulled out his iPhone, put it up to his face so it became active, and started looking for the app. He glanced up a moment later and caught a look of distaste on Brownstone’s face. “Oh, technology…right. Not your favorite thing.”
“It breaks,” he grumped.
“Yeah, but it’s cool, too. See, I’m going to turn on the recorder using an app. I don’t have to carry around a…a…” The Author noticed James’ expression. “Right, you don’t like technology, but you aren’t ignorant about it.”
James eyed him. “Well, that’s true as well, but I was more annoyed that you would even try to pitch me on the use of technology. Which part of ‘I’m not fond of it’ don’t you understand?”
“Frankly, all of it,” Mike responded, sliding the phone into his t-shirt pocket. “It makes my life so much easier.”
“Until the battery dies?” James asked.
“Well, yeah, but that’s why I have chargers by my bed, at my desk…” Michael had started lifting fingers and raised the third one. “And in the car, and I carry a ten-thousand milliampere battery plus a charging case I bought at the uhh…A…uh… fuck. The convention for audio and video.” Michael grimaced. “That fucker cost me $85.00 and probably isn’t worth $15. I was scammed.”
James raised an eyebrow. “So you paid $85.00 for a special case to hold your phone so it didn’t die?”
Michael shrugged. “Well, yeah. They use power. You can’t carry the capabilities of a super-computer in your pocket and not expect to pay a cost in energy.” Michael scoffed.
James looked at him. “How about I don’t pay at all?”
Now Brownstone was just being aggravating. “Fine, ok. Simple life, happy life,” Michael grumbled. “So, what’s your favorite color?”
“Why would I have a favorite color?” he asked, clearly confused. “I could answer black, for shirts and my truck. Maybe a deep red for hiding blood. The white that is coming out in Alison’s hair. Maybe that color on…” James stopped himself.
“Maybe what?” Michael asked.
“Doesn’t matter, and hell no.” He shook his head, “Not allowing anything like what I was thinking in the back of the book. There’s enough of it coming out already.”
Michael blew out a breath. It was a lot easier getting the demon Pandora to do his Author Notes for donuts than getting Brownstone to talk.
“What are your thoughts about the various woods used for smoking?” Michael asked.
James shrugged. “Depends on what type of meat you’re working with. However, just about any properly-seasoned wood will beat any green wood you have if you don’t know how to use it. The effort to burn through the moisture can provide some problems with too much smoke and heat. You will see the professionals with their large pits that can handle the heat use it with no problem. However, for most I don’t suggest it. Now, for general efforts newbies can probably use oak as a good base. It will give you a medium-to-strong flavor that is seldom if ever overpowering. If you want to add some sweet flavor, perhaps apple or pecan. Now, if you are going to smoke a heavier meat like a beef or a pork, you will want to go with a hardwood. If you are going to do a lighter meat, like chicken or fish, you want a lighter hardwood. Don’t ever…”
He looked Michael in the eyes to make sure he was paying attention.
“And I mean ever, use a resinous wood like pine or cedar. You will kill the food, and you run a good chance of ruining your smoker.”
“Ok.” Michael reached up to his pocket to pull out his phone and hit the stop button. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
James eyed Michael. “You recorded all of that?”
Michael nodded, confirming that he’d hit the right buttons and now had the recording saved. “Yup, just have to transcribe it and add it to the end of the book. I’ll tell the fans that we appreciate their support and their reviews, and certainly telling their friends about you guys. From there they can check out the Facebook group for our company and like it.”
“They d
o all that?”
“Well, certainly. Some do, some don’t. It’s ok either way.”
“Huh.” He looked down at The Author, making him squirm just a bit. “So, let me tell you the right way to season wood…”
Michael looked around, hoping something would happen to save him.
—
I’d like to thank James for allowing me to interview him for these Author’s Notes. I have no idea if I’ll EVER do that again.
If you enjoyed it, hit us up in the reviews or over on Facebook or wherever and let us know. I’m sure I can get James to talk barbeque anytime, anywhere.
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
Death Becomes Her
Have you read The Kurtherian Gambit, from Michael (Todd) Anderle?
Available at Amazon
Other Revelation of Oriceran Universe Books
The Leira Chronicles
* Martha Carr and Michael Anderle *
Waking Magic (1) - Release of Magic (2) - Protection of Magic (3) - Rule of Magic (4) - Dealing in Magic (5) - Theft of Magic (6) - Enemies of Magic (7) - Guardians of Magic (8)
The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone
* Michael Anderle *
Feared by Hell (01) - Rejected by Heaven (02) - Eye For An Eye (03)
The Soul Stone Mage Series
* Sarah Noffke and Martha Carr *
House of Enchanted (1) - The Dark Forest (2) - Mountain of Truth (3) - Land of Terran (4) - New Egypt (5) - Lancothy (6) - Virgo (7)
The Kacy Chronicles
* A.L. Knorr and Martha Carr *
Descendant (1) - Ascendant (2) - Combatant (3) - Transcendent (4)
The Midwest Magic Chronicles
* Flint Maxwell and Martha Carr*
The Midwest Witch (1) - The Midwest Wanderer (2) - The Midwest Whisperer (3) - The Midwest War (4)
The Fairhaven Chronicles
* with S.M. Boyce *
Glow (1) - Shimmer (2) - Ember (3) - Nightfall (4)
Books by Michael Anderle
For a complete list of Michael’s Kurtherian Gambit Universe books please click this link.
Kurtherian Gambit Series Titles Include:
FIRST ARC
Death Becomes Her (01) - Queen Bitch (02) - Love Lost (03) - Bite This (04) - Never Forsaken (05) - Under My Heel (06) - Kneel Or Die (07)
SECOND ARC
We Will Build (08) - It’s Hell To Choose (09) - Release The Dogs of War (10) - Sued For Peace (11) - We Have Contact (12) - My Ride is a Bitch (13) - Don’t Cross This Line (14)
THIRD ARC
Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17) - Might Makes Right (18) - Ahead Full (19) - Capture Death (20) - Life Goes On (21)
THE SECOND DARK AGES
*with Ell Leigh Clarke*
The Dark Messiah (01) - The Darkest Night (02) - Darkest Before The Dawn (03) - Dawn Arrives (04)
THE BORIS CHRONICLES
*with Paul C. Middleton*
Evacuation (01) - Retaliation (02) - Revelations (03) - Redemption (04)
RECLAIMING HONOR
*with Justin Sloan*
Justice Is Calling (01) - Claimed By Honor (02) - Judgement Has Fallen (03) - Angel of Reckoning (04) - Born Into Flames (05) - Defending The Lost (06) - Saved By Valor (07) - Return of Victory (08)
THE ETHERIC ACADEMY
*with TS Paul*
ALPHA CLASS (01) - ALPHA CLASS: Engineering (02)
*with N.D. Roberts*
Discovery (03)
TERRY HENRY “TH” WALTON CHRONICLES
*with Craig Martelle*
Nomad Found (01) - Nomad Redeemed (02) - Nomad Unleashed (03) - Nomad Supreme (04) - Nomad’s Fury (05) - Nomad’s Justice (06) - Nomad Avenged (07) - Nomad Mortis (08) - Nomad’s Force (09) - Nomad’s Galaxy (10)
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
*with Natalie Grey*
Risk Be Damned (01) - Damned to Hell (02)
~THE AGE OF MAGIC~
THE RISE OF MAGIC
*with CM Raymond and LE Barbant*
Restriction (01) - Reawakening (02) - Rebellion (03) - Revolution (04) - Unlawful Passage (05) - Darkness Rises (06) - The Gods Beneath (07) - Reborn (08)
THE HIDDEN MAGIC CHRONICLES
*with Justin Sloan*
Shades of Light (01) - Shades of Dark (02) - Shades of Glory (03) - Shades of Justice (04)
STORMS OF MAGIC
*with PT Hylton*
Storm Raiders (01) - Storm Callers (02) - Storm Breakers (03) - Storm Warrior (04)
TALES OF THE FEISTY DRUID
*with Candy Crum*
The Arcadian Druid (01) - The Undying Illusionist (02) - The Frozen Wasteland (03) - The Deceiver (04) - The Lost (05) - The Damned (06) - Into The Maelstrom (07)
PATH OF HEROES
*with Brandon Barr*
Rogue Mage (01)
A NEW DAWN
*with Amy Hopkins*
Dawn of Destiny (01) - Dawn of Darkness (02) - Dawn of Deliverance (03) - Dawn of Days (04) - Broken Skies (05)
TALES OF THE WELLSPRING KNIGHT
*with P.J. Cherubino*
Knight’s Creed (01) - Knight’s Struggle (02) - Knight’s Justice (03)
~THE AGE OF MADNESS~
LIVE FREE OR DIE
*with Haley Lawson*
Unleashing Madness (01)
~THE AGE OF EXPANSION~
THE ASCENSION MYTH
*with Ell Leigh Clarke *
Awakened (01) - Activated (02) - Called (03) - Sanctioned (04) - Rebirth (05) - Retribution (06) - Cloaked (07) - Bourne (08) - Committed (09)
CONFESSIONS OF A SPACE ANTHROPOLOGIST
*with Ell Leigh Clarke*
Giles Kurns: Rogue Operator (01) - Giles Kurns: Rogue Instigator (02)
THE UPRISE SAGA
*with Amy Duboff *
Covert Talents (01) - Endless Advance (02) - Veiled Designs (03) - Dark Rivals (04)
BAD COMPANY
*with Craig Martelle*
The Bad Company (01) - Blockade (02) - Price of Freedom (03) - Liberation (04)
THE GHOST SQUADRON
*with Sarah Noffke and J.N. Chaney*
Formation (01) - Exploration (02) - Evolution (03) - Degeneration (04) - Impersonation (05) - Recollection (06)
VALERIE’S ELITES
*with Justin Sloan and PT Hylton*
Valerie’s Elites (01) - Death Defied (02) - Prime Enforcer (03) - Justice Earned
SHADOW VANGUARD
*with Tom Dublin*
Gravity Storm (01)
ETHERIC ADVENTURES: ANNE AND JINX
*with S.R. Russell*
Etheric Recruit (01) - Etheric Researcher (02)
Other Books
*with Craig Martelle & Justin Sloan*
Gateway to the Universe
SHORT STORIES
You Don’t Touch John’s Cousin: Frank Kurns Stories of the UnknownWorld 01 (7.5)
Bitch’s Night Out: Frank Kurns Stories of the UnknownWorld 02 (9.5)
*with Natalie Grey*
Bellatrix: Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 03 (13.25)
Challenges: Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 04
AudioBooks
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Eye For An Eye: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone Book 3) Page 20