Ryder on the Storm Read Online Free Page B

like these are almost enough to make me give up the Nomad way.” Lucian ran his fingertips across the hood of the bright yellow Hummer.
     
    Ryder stopped and raised an eyebrow at Lucian as he pushed open the door into the back hall.
     
    “I said ‘almost,’ brother.” A throaty chuckle followed as Lucian crossed the threshold, his steel-toed cowboy boots clicked loudly on the hardwood and echoed down the length of the hall.
     
    “I figured you would qualify that statement. Still, there is something to be said for the steady life. I have set myself as a recluse and the wealth of my enterprise allows for such an eccentricity. Not to mention, I can have an ‘heir’ and with a little sleight of hand, reinvent myself every once in a while as necessary.” Ryder shouted down the hall after Rosalee, the only regular housekeeper he’d kept for this life. A rather voluptuous witch with a rocking nightlife, she had a small brood of her very own. Ryder often wondered if Rose even knew the fathers of her children. Rosalee liked to keep their business arrangement quite separate from their personal lives, except for the mornings she rolled in with dark glasses and hair quite askance. Those mornings she regaled her antics from the previous evening and he nodded along as expected.
     
    Rosalee glided around the corner sporting a shocking pink spandex dress that left little to the imagination. Paired with black fishnet tights and shiny black stilettos, it seemed a rather odd choice for a housekeeper. As the light reflected off her shining raven locks, clearly sprayed with glitter and a can of hairspray, three things occurred simultaneously: Lucian whistled, Rosalee exaggerated her hip sway; Ryder elbowed his friend in the gut.
     
    “Lucian, this is Rosalee. Rosalee, my good friend, Lucian. Will you adjust the wards before you leave, I’d like him to come and go as he pleases. You can take off early Rose, it appears you have some sort of engagement this evening.” Ryder hid his disapproval as always, though this evening’s attire seemed worse than her usual. Ryder shook his head as Rosalee sashayed away. Good thing he paid her so well because that woman could be trouble.
     
    “I would stay away from that one, brother. She already has eight children and you are not the fatherly type.”
     
    “Eight you say? Well, that is no great surprise given that get up.” Lucian nodded appreciatively once more. “I need a drink.”
     
    Ryder led his companion through the massive formal dining room toward the study. He allowed Lucian a moment to appreciate the mirror-lined walls and parquet floor, run his hand along the custom mahogany table and chairs, and take in the matching antique chandeliers. Ryder pushed open the doors to his study. Rosalee had lit a fire in the hearth. For all her eccentricities, Rose could be the best housekeeper Ryder ever employed, and one of the more talented witches.
     
    Lucian crossed the study with instinctive knowledge of the liquor’s location. How did he always know? Ryder had long ago made a game of hiding his stash. Lucian had to have heightened sense of smell as a gift. It made sense. The Immortals were forbidden from divulging their unique gifts to other members of the brethren. Unless you stumbled across another Immortal’s gifts by chance you would never know what they were capable of. It not only evened the playing field it protected their secret. Only two of Ryder’s gifts had ever been discovered, one by Lucian, the other by a dead Seer. Ryder shook that memory off and acknowledged the glass Lucian held in front of his face. They settled into the leather chairs opposite each other and sat in silence, sipping a rather expensive whiskey, for several moments.
     
    “It has been a long time, friend.” Lucian’s tone turned very serious. His normal, sarcastic demeanor turned cold. If Ryder did not know the man better he would be concerned.
     
    “About thirty years if memory serves, not by