Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
I bow over Channings’ body. “I love you,” I whisper over the rising winds.
A rat tat tat rips the air overhead. A figure in Army fatigues stands in the open side of the helicopter, manning a gun.
The bullets spray the oncoming forces, mowing them down. The gun does four passes, back and forth.
Once the helicopter is low enough to the ground, two figures leap out of the side and stride towards us. They’re carrying machine guns and race across the ground until they’re standing over us, giving us cover.
“Clear,” one barks.
The helicopter sets down nearby, and the rushing wind dies.
“Ms. Sanchez?” The closest soldier offers me a hand. “I’m Rafe Lightfoot.” I recognize the name. This is Channing’s alpha.
“Nice to meet you,” I say but don’t take Rafe’s hand. I don’t dare to move, in case Channing is dying. There’s a little rise and fall of his furry chest.
A blond guy winks at me. “I’m Lance Lightfoot. That’s Deke.” He nods towards his third packmate, a huge guy clad all in black, who’s still pointing the gun. “And Teddy flew us in. Channing, you did good!”
“He’s hurt,” I choke out.
“Cover us,” Rafe orders his brother, who snaps into a serious shooting stance. Rafe leans down, studying Channing for a moment.
“No silver bullets. No crushed skull. He’s fine. He’ll heal soon.” He shakes his head. “Channing, quit freaking out your lady.”
I turn and get a face full of wolf tongue. “Ah!” I cry as he licks my face.
I’m laughing as Channing shifts back. His left arm hangs a little funny, but he pulls me to him with his right one until I’m on his lap.
“You’re hurt.” I squirm, not wanting to lean my weight on him.
“I’m fine.” He slants his head, pulling me in for a hard kiss. Under my butt, his cock stirs. He just took a beating, and he’s still down to bone.
Unbelievable.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Lance whoops. “Yeah boy!”
Channing breaks the kiss, and I lean against him, too spent to care.
“Hannibal,” Channing says, turning his head slowly, like it’s stiff. “Did I get him?”
“He ran away,” I say.
Channing curses.
“It’s okay,” I cup his cheek. “You beat him.”
“He’s not dead. Fucker’s hard to kill.”
“Everything can die. It's just a matter of finding his weak spot.” Rafe sounds like he’s personally going to find Hannibal’s Achilles’ heel and hunt him down. “We’ll deal with that another day.”
“You want me to clear the mansion?” Lance asks. “Deke and I can go.”
“Uhhhh…” Channing says.
“Fuck,” mutters Deke, joining us. “What’s that stench?”
“That’s Buddy.” Channing must be feeling better because he nods easily towards Geo and the SUV. “He was my backup.”
“Buddy?” demands Lance. “Surveillance guy buddy? Doesn’t like to fight, pacifist Buddy?”
Channing shrugs. “He drinks, and he stinks. That Buddy.”
“Consider the mansion clear,” Rafe says. “I’ve called in more air support. I’m thinking a house fire got out of control, destroyed the place. A gas line blew, and it burned so hot, no bodies were found.”
“Tragic.” Channing grins, flashing those dimples I love so much.
“Wait,” I say. “Van den Berg said something about an order. There are more of them. They called themselves Venatores.”
“Venatores?” Rafe strokes his chin.
“We need to get the records. There might be information on the computers or down in the dungeon.”
“Dungeon?” Lance repeats.
“Later,” Channing says. “I want to get my family,” he gives me a heated look, “home safe.”
“Do it,” Rafe says. “We’ll debrief later.”
Channing rises and pulls me to my feet while I fuss over him.
“Careful,” I say, but he dips and tosses me over his shoulder.
I squawk and pound his taut butt until he sets me down. Geo crashes into his uncle, and Channing pulls us into a group hug.
Buddy waves at us from the back seat of the SUV.
“That was epic,” Geo shouts. “You were like rrrrr, and he was like roar! And then I smashed into him—”
“Great work, kid.” Channing thumps Geo’s back. “You did great. Let’s get you a change of clothes.”
Geo pops his head up. “Hey, Mom, can I drive home?”
“No!” I look at Channing, shaking my head.
“I have an idea.” Channing’s dimples reappear. “Have you ever ridden in a helicopter?”
“Please. Can we just Uber?” I laugh.
Channing
In the end, I borrow an armored SUV and drive Julia and Geo back home, after Teddy pulled a bag from the helicopter and gave Geo and me some clothes. Buddy declined a ride, saying he wanted to help sack the mansion.
On the drive home, I get a call from Rafe on a burner phone he handed me. Kylie’s already called dibs on Van De Butt’s computer systems. From what they’ve found in the house, it looks like there’s evidence of a widespread network of Venatores, but we need to know more.
“That’s a fight for another day,” Rafe says. “You did good, soldier. Hold the fort at home. Be with your family. That’s an order.”