Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Shadows flicker around Benny’s hands. He’s holding the cigarette steady. Any moment he’ll decide he’s calm enough to keep on. Time to make my move.
Again, I blur so fast Benny has no time to react. I slam him against the building. It’s so satisfying, I do it again.
“Caught ya,” I say.
The cigarette falls to the ground. “That’s—”
“Impossible? Nope.” I set the sharper end of my makeshift stake at his heart. “Say goodnight, Benny.”
Unconscious, vampires weigh more than you’d think. Even skinny guys like Benny are like fuckin’ concrete slabs. By the time I get back to Fight Club, dawn’s about to break. If Augustine thought he’d get his fangs into Jordy tonight, he’s fresh outta luck. I just have to store this body before light clears the mountains.
A contingent of wolves hang around the dumpster out back. A few snarl when they see me, but they back away when I drag Benny right up to the side of the building.
Trey steps out of the door, eyes flashing. “What the—”
“Need a favor,” I say. “Gotta store this one somewhere for questioning.” I give Benny a kick. He may as well be a bag of blood for all the fight he gave me.
The wolves back away and eye me nervously. I grin at them. Never seen a shifter take down a vampire before?
Trey doesn’t even blink. We may have our differences, but he’s a solid guy.
“Here,” Trey says and flips open the lid of the dumpster. If closed properly, no light will get in and fry the sucker before questioning.
“Perfect.”
After barking to his pack to clear the club out, Trey helps me load the vampire into his smelly coffin.
“Thanks.” I dust off my hands. “I owe you,” I say to him.
He shrugs. “We won a bunch of money betting against you on the fight. You taking that vampire to Frangelico?”
“Yep. Caught him snooping around a shifter slaver site. Gonna bust that ring wide open.”
“Good.” Trey’s eyes flare. “Then we’re even.”
I turn, take two steps, and stumble. My hands hit the gravel.
“Whoa, easy.” Trey’s at my side. He helps me up. “What the fuck, man? You drunk?”
“Nope,” I slur.
Trey’s eyes narrow. “You’re on something.”
My tongue fills my mouth. “Gotta go,” I mumble.
“Sorry, buddy. You’re not going anywhere in this condition.” He slings my arm around his shoulder and kicks open the Fight Club door. The back of the place is empty, so no one sees my walk of shame. My bear cringes at showing such weakness. Next thing I know I’m in a cool, dark cube of a room—the back office—and Trey is leaning over me. “Here,” he offers me a drink of water. “Just take it easy.”
“Gotta go. Gotta get to Jordy—” At least that’s what I try to say. My voice is too garbled to come out in real words. I clutch his shoulder and he puts his tattooed hand over my scarred one.
“No one’s coming in here,” he assures me, misunderstanding. “No one has to know. I don’t kick a bear when he’s down.”
“Jordy—” I try again, but Trey still doesn’t understand. My grip on his shoulder loosens as I fall backwards, sliding into the dark.
Grizz
Jordy! I have to get to Jordy. My female’s gotta be terrified. I suck in a breath and try to orient myself. The memory of Trey bringing me into Fight Club seeps back as I get up.
True to his word, Trey locked the place up. I sneak out, only pausing on the doorstep when light hits me in the face.
What the—
It’s daytime. Judging by the sun, well past noon. Fuck. That means I was unconscious for over twelve hours. And I still feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.
I have to get to Jordy and make sure she’s okay. I pray the three stooges got her safely to my place.
Fuck, I pray she was able to come out of that vamp-induced sleep Benny put her in.
I rally my clumsy limbs and trudge to my bike. It takes me a few tries, but once I’m on and balanced, my body remembers itself and I break every speed limit zooming home.
Chapter 14
Grizz
The second I walk into my home, my bear calms.
Jordy’s waiting at the table, dressed for the day in a skirt and button-down shirt that hugs the curve of her breasts. She rises, her face composed.
“Kit.”
“Grizz.” She’s still standing by the chair, looking me over. “You’re all right?”
“I am now.” I open my arms. Emotions scroll over her face—worry, relief, delight—and then she stops thinking and rushes to me. And as soon as her weight hits my body, her scent rushes over me, and I’m home.
I lift her in my arms, squeezing her tight.
I wasn’t rushing home because Jordy might be upset. I was rushing because I needed to see her. I needed to know she was all right.