Page 20 of Their Property
SEVEN
KYRIE
Ishould have expected the tour around Sevier to only showcase the best spots, according to the governor and his nephew. They showed me the cliffs and mountains that were once famous national park sites, and they told me all about how they intended to build hotels and rental cabins to bring tourism back.
In another area, they showed me where they planned to build luxury homes for government officials and their associates, whom I suspected were just more privileged, rich people.
“Can you tell me, Governor,” I asked after the third planned site, a golf resort, “do you have the contractors to build these projects?”
“Ah, yes, our architects are almost finished with the designs. Then we’ll be posting jobs for the construction.” His bushy white eyebrows raised as he leaned toward me. “Why? Does Four Corners have contractors they’re willing to lend us?”
Son of a bitch, I saw that one coming. He knew Four Corners had some of the best tradesmen in the southwest, especially when it came to home builders.
“Perhaps,” I answered with a coy smile. “Our contractors are used to being paid above-average wages. If you post competitive job offers, I’m sure they’ll come. To boost your own economy though, might I suggest you offer it to Sevier locals first. Your people will jump for well-paying jobs, I’m sure.”
The governor waved his hand dismissively as he turned away. “We’ll look at the budget and see what we can afford for wages.”
“Have you established a minimum wage yet?” I asked, following him back to the car.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about that.”
I sucked in a deep breath as I returned to my seat, only releasing it when Grudge touched my shoulder on his way past me. I wished his touch would linger long enough for me to really acknowledge it.
On our way to the next stop, we drove through an area of rolling hills. It would have been scenic if everything wasn’t burned to a blackened crisp. Several miles of charred landscape passed us on either side, looking desolate and alien.
“What happened here?” I asked with my nose pressed to the window. I’d never seen anything like it.
“Controlled burn,” Nathan said, looking amused by my curiosity.
“Oh, like to prevent a bigger fire?”
“Not exactly,” he murmured coyly. “This was a wine-growing area before the Collapse. Uncle Kurtis burned all the grapes when we took back the territory last year. See that there?” He pointed to the remains of a building in the distance, little more than a pile of burnt lumber. “That was where they harvested the grapes and made the wine.”
“But…why?” I stared at him, trying to figure out the logic of it. “A winery could be great for the territory. It’ll bring tourism and create more jobs. You can tax the product—”
“Alcohol should not be accessible to the common man,” he said with a completely serious face. “People with no self-control abuse it, and that’s how we get more crime and filthy vagrants wandering the streets. We made alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana illegal in Sevier on our first day back in power.”
I kept waiting for him to laugh or smirk, but he was completely serious. Oh my God, what the actualfuckhad I gotten myself into?
Did none of these people know what a black market was? It really never occurred to them that making things illegal increased the demand for said things? I had no experience as a diplomat, but Nathan must have had a similar education as me, if not better. This was basic economics.
How was I going to help their normal, struggling citizens with people like this in charge? I rubbed my forehead, tripping over my own thoughts until the car suddenly lurched forward.
“Watch out!” Perry yelled while tires squealed and the car spun. My lunch sloshed in my stomach as our surroundings whipped past the windows. I didn’t even have time to thinkwhat the fuck?when it all stopped.
The car went still, but my pulse and stomach were still reeling from the spin-out. My chest felt heavy, and it was hard to breathe. I looked down and realized Grudge had wrapped an arm around me from behind, holding me pinned to the seat so I wouldn’t get thrown around.
“Sorry, sir. Miss. Is everyone alright?” The driver turned in his seat to look back at us. “I’m so sorry, he just came out of nowhere.”
“Who did?” Governor Perry demanded, aggressively removing his seatbelt before throwing his door open. “I don’t see anyone.”
The rumble of motorcycles drowned out the driver’s reply as the other Sons caught up to us.
“What the fuck happened?” T-Bone yelled over his engine. “That was a crazy fuckin’ spin-out.”
Grudge came out from the backseat and kneeled next to me, lightly running a touch over my face, neck, and arms. My eyes fell closed at the gentle contact, savoring it. He had checked over me just like this four years ago in Blakeworth, right after Mari and I hit the dirt while running for our lives.
And behind my eyelids, just as vividly as in my dream, I saw the armored woman with blonde hair. She held her axe and shield in front of her, knees bent and teeth bared under her helmet like she was bracing for an attack.
