Collision Course

COLLISION COURSE THE EXTRACTOR SERIES BOOK 9 MIKE RYAN WWW.MIKERYANBOOKS.COM Copyright © 2023 by Mike Ryan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover Design: The Cover Collection CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 About the Author Also by Mike Ryan 1 Bridge stood against the wall of the ice skating rink, watching his girlfriend speed around a corner. They were at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, having a scheduled night out. Once Nicole had twirled around a few times, she skated up to Bridge and gave him a peck on the lips. “You’re just showing off now,” Bridge said. “C’mon, you should try it.” “No, you’re not getting me to zoom around this track. I can skate just fine, but I’m not letting loose like I’m Wayne Gretzky and blowing out a tire as I turn a corner and giving everyone a good laugh.” “You’re not even a bad skater.” “I know. And I’d like to have everyone keep thinking that way.” They took each other’s hand, and then started skating around again, at a nice, leisurely pace. This was more Bridge’s speed. After about ten minutes, they went off the ice and took a seat. Bridge noticed that his girlfriend kept moving around, turning her head, as if she were looking for something. “Something bothering you?” “Hmm? Oh, no. Just taking everything in. We don’t do this type of stuff often enough.” “I can agree there,” Bridge said. “Maybe we should start slowing down. Not take as many jobs. Start living the normal life.” “And move out of the hotel?” “Let’s not go that far! That hotel suits our needs perfectly.” “Suits your needs perfectly.” “Nic, let’s not have this conversation again.” “Well if we don’t have the conversation, then nothing will ever change.” “Exactly. And that’s just the way I like it. Things not changing.” “Luke.” “Nicole.” “Luke.” “Nicole. Should we keep going?” “I’m telling you now, if we’re still living in that hotel by the time we reach 80, I’m going to leave you. I’m not living the rest of my life in a hotel room.” “But it’s got all the comforts of home.” “Luke.” “Nicole. Are we back to this again?” “Luke, I’m serious. I really mean it. I’m not going to spend my twilight years living out of a suitcase.” “We don’t live out of a suitcase. There are drawers.” “You know what I mean!” “And what’s wrong with spending our twilight years there? If we don’t move around as well as we do now, we’ve got room service.” Nicole shook her head. He was a tough nut to crack about the subject. But she was never going to give up. She was going to get her way eventually. She just had to break him down a little more. Maybe a few more threats would do the trick. “You’d really choose that hotel room over me?” “You’d really leave over that?!” Bridge replied. “Aren’t relationships about compromise? Doing things for each other. Not being selfish?” Bridge sighed. “That’s what you keep telling me.” Nicole’s shoulders slumped, looking defeated. Bridge had a smirk on his face, enjoying teasing his girlfriend in that manner, but now had the joking out of his system. He grabbed her hand as she looked at him. “I promise,” Bridge said. “At some point, we’ll find a place that’s more…” “Nicer?” “No.” “Suitable for the both of us?” “No!” “Better?” “No. Something more agreeable to the both of us.” “Do you really mean that?” Bridge sighed again, not liking for a moment that he’d have to leave his hotel eventually. But he did know it would probably be for the best. It would definitely be for the best for their relationship. And that was the most important thing. “Yes, I promise. Eventually, we’ll start looking for an actual place.” A huge smile came over Nicole’s face. Then it just as quickly eroded. “Wait, when you say eventually, does that mean like in six months to a year? Or does that eventually mean when the sun finally burns out or the world is overcome by flooding and rising seas?” “Um, I don’t know.” “Luke, I really don’t want to live in a hotel for the rest of time.” “OK, OK. I know it would probably be for the best. Maybe in a few months we can start looking for other places.” The pleased look on Nicole’s face returned. “You really mean it?” Bridge hesitated for a second. “I really mean it.” “I want a house.” Bridge looked up at the sky. “I know. With a yard, and a fence, and two dogs, and three kids all running around.” “Is there something wrong with that picture?” “Crowded.” “I’ll settle for just the house to start with.” “I can deal with that.” “Let’s start skating again.” The two of them got back onto the ice and skated around. Nicole kept her head spinning, though, as if she was still looking for something. Bridge didn’t really notice, though, as he was mostly focused on not falling and making a fool out of himself. He was actually a pretty good skater, but he was a little self-conscious in that environment, as they didn’t go skating too often. Several minutes passed, and Nicole didn’t stop looking around. Bridge finally noticed her behavior. “Are you looking for something?” “No, why?” “You look like you’re looking for something.” Nicole flashed a smile. “Nope. Just taking it all in.” Bridge wasn’t quite sure he believed that, but let