by Vella Day
She took off again.
“You won’t get far,” he called, pain lacing his voice.
Move faster. She couldn’t breathe as her chest cramped. Thirty feet to the door. Now twenty. Heavy footsteps sounded behind her and then his fingers grasped the back of her shirt, nearly pulling it off her.
She was no match for the large man. “Help!”
Russ tripped her and the ground rushed up to meet her. A second later, she was on her back with him between her legs, rape clearly on his mind. Whatever it took, she wasn’t going to let that happen.
Adrenaline charging through her, her FBI training kicked in. With her arms straight, she pressed her hands on his shoulders to keep him from getting any closer, and then shrimped out to the side. That twisting motion enabled her to slam a foot on his hip. Lowering her hands to his wrists, she lifted her other foot and planted it on his other side, which made it nearly impossible for him to crawl on top.
“Bitch.” When Russ leaned back to reposition himself, she lifted both feet and jammed a heel into his chin then followed it with a swift kick to his solar plexus and then his groin. With her feet continuing to pummel him, he rolled out of the way.
Scrambling to her feet, she raced toward her car, praying she’d make it before Russ caught her again. Her legs weakened and her vision blurred. If he changed into his wolf form, she’d be torn to shreds.
Chapter Nine
When Riley heard what he thought was Sarah screaming, every animal instinct in him went crazy and he raced to the front of the warehouse. Jerking open the exit door, he ran outside where Russ’s hormonal scent and Sarah’s fear permeated his nostrils. His mate was jabbing the key at her lock repeatedly, while Russ was staggering toward her. The torn blouse and disheveled hair caused Riley to shift.
He growled and charged. Paws gaining purchase on the dirt, he raced toward them and launched himself at Russ. He bit hard on the man’s calf. Russ’s yell split the air, and a second later he, too, was in wolf form.
Killing Russ would raise too many questions, but teaching the man a lesson would be a pleasure. Riley tried to maneuver the fight away from Sarah’s car so she could escape, but Russ had blocked her ability to open her door.
Riley didn’t dare look at her. If he did, he’d let his anger rule, and Russ would suffer greatly. Russ’s eye was red as if Sarah had scratched or poked him, but werewolves healed quickly, so any weakness on Russ’s part would soon disappear. Needing to approach his prey from the side, Riley circled him, forcing Russ to keep his hindquarters toward the car.
As much as he wanted this altercation to end quickly, he needed to show Russ that any further attempt on Sarah could end in death. Crouching low, Riley growled then sprang, aiming for the man’s neck. Russ avoided receiving the full force of the bite, but it was enough to make him stagger.
The passenger side door opened then closed, and a second later, Sarah’s engine started. Good. As much as Riley wanted to make sure she was okay, he had to deal with Russ first.
Snarling, Russ stalked toward Riley and swiped a paw the entire length of his flank. Fuck that hurt, but the sting wasn’t enough for him to stop. Believing he was the superior fighter, Riley lunged at his adversary and the two tumbled and rolled, nipping at each other’s bodies. The warehouse door banged open and they both disengaged at the arrival of another werewolf. They didn’t need a full on fight.
“Hey, you two.” Clay stood with his legs wide and his hands on his hips. “Get back inside.”
Riley almost laughed. Because he and Clay had supposedly been hired from the same company, he doubted Russ would attack if the odds were two against one. Riley shifted, and then Russ changed, too. From the looks of it, Russ better hope Statler wasn’t around to see how poorly one of his men had faired in a fight.
“This ain’t over, Bishop.”
Yes, it was.
* * *
Connolly wasn’t pleased. When Trax called and said they couldn’t watch Michelle and Darnell, he had to give a lame excuse to the men why he needed to leave the warehouse. Some computer expert and her fiancé who worked for the General would be arriving soon to take Michelle back to Florida and care for her. He was good with that—it was Jay showing up at the house that he didn’t need.
Connolly faced Jay. “How are the motel accommodations working out for you?” he asked, needing some time to figure out how he wanted to handle this. His initial plan had been to keep Jay and Riley in the dark about working for the General. By them believing he was one of Statler’s men, Riley would remain cautious and wouldn’t suggest some plan that involved the few of them taking Statler down.
Jay stared at him with his back so straight that Connolly feared he might break his spine. He should tell him they were on the same side, but he needed the tension release of yanking his chain for another minute.
“What are you doing here?” Jay asked.
“Taking care of business. You want to come in? You look like you could use a cup of coffee.”
Jay widened his stance. “I came for Michelle.”
“Then you’re out of luck. I’ve already promised her to someone else.” If he understood the General right, the woman who would be escorting Michelle and Darnell was Jay’s cousin.
Jay’s eyes turned a dark gold, and then he shifted right out in the open as if the world was aware of werewolves. Thankfully, the trees that rimmed the property were thick enough to block anyone’s view.
Oh, hell. He didn’t need to get in a scrap with Jay, so he held up his hands as the feral-looking animal bared his teeth and closed the gap between them. “Only kidding. I work for General Armand.”
Connolly expected Jay to shift back, but apparently he didn’t believe him. The wolf advanced, looking fiercely determined. It was time to stop this. “Your cousin, MacKenzie, and Sam are headed here now.”
Three beats later, Jay was back in human form. Connolly had to chuckle at the look of confusion and anger on his face. Perhaps joking with someone on a serious mission hadn’t been a good idea.
“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t a Statler hire?” Jay asked.
“I had my reasons. Come inside where we can talk.”
Jay scrubbed a hand down his jaw and followed him in. “The General didn’t tell me about you.” His voice sounded like grated glass.
“I asked him not to.” Connolly explained his reasoning.
“Riley and I are professionals. We wouldn’t have gone off half-cocked because we knew you were on our side.” He glanced to his right and his shoulders seemed to relax. Jay inhaled and then faced him. “May I see Michelle?”
“Sure.”
No sooner had they taken three steps than Jay’s cell chimed. He checked the message and his face paled.
“What is it?”
“It’s from Riley. Russ tried to sexually assault Sarah.” The hair on Jay’s face sprouted and his teeth extended.
Holy fuck. He’d pegged Russ as a troublemaker and someone who was ruled by his dick, but he hadn’t expected an assault. “How is she?”
Jay slowly returned to full human form. “She was able to fight him off. Look, as much as I want to see my cousin and her fiancé, I need to—”
“By all means, go and see to her. I’ll ask Trax and Dante to come on back here, so I can fend off any further incident. I’ll talk to Statler about firing Russ.”
“Statler won’t give a fuck what Russ tried to do.”
“We’ll see.”
* * *
Sarah’s hands were shaking so hard she had to work to keep them from slipping off the steering wheel. To make matters worse, the image of that smug bastard standing by her car refused to go away. Everything about the situation burned a hole in her gut. Russ had been waiting for her, and then actually had the balls to attack her in front of where they worked.
She was able to thwart his attempt this time probably because he hadn’t expected her to put up any resistance, but the next time she might not be so lucky. If Ril
ey hadn’t come along, no telling if she’d even be alive. Leaving him in the lot with Russ was the right thing to do, but it also had been the hardest. She’d reasoned that if he’d feared for her safety, he might have been distracted.
She glanced down at what was left of her blouse and fury raced through her. If shooting Russ would actually harm him, she’d buy a gun right now. Damn werewolves and their healing abilities.
Her house appeared and another wave of depression descended. At least Amy wouldn’t be home for another twelve hours, which would give her time to shower and regroup.
Once inside, she locked her doors and called Riley, wanting to make sure he hadn’t been seriously injured. When he picked up on the second ring, relief raced through her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She almost smiled. That was what she’d called to find out about him. “I’m pissed and have a few scratches on my palms, face, and knees, but other than that, I’m okay.”
“I want to come over to make sure.”
Images of him checking out every inch of her body surfaced, causing beads of excitement to form on her skin. “Do I have time to shower?”
“No.” With that, he disconnected.
Even if he left the warehouse this second, it would take him fifteen minutes or more to reach her—assuming he had her address. Needing something cold to drink, she traipsed to the kitchen to brew some tea. Just as she’d poured the boiling water over the loose tealeaves, the doorbell rang. Hmm, Riley must have been closer than she thought.
Halfway to the door, she halted. Russ and Riley had just gone at it. If Russ’s ego had been damaged, he might be seeking revenge. “Who is it?”
“It’s Jay Wagner.”
She let out a breath. Riley must have called him. Sarah looked down at her torn blouse. “Give me a minute, okay?”
“Sure.”
She rushed to her room, slipped off her ruined top, and dressed in one of her running T-shirts. When she pulled open the door, she drank in his presence. “Come in.”
Jay was slightly taller than Riley, and though Jay’s jaw was squarer and his eyes were bit wider, he was equally handsome. All in all, he was a hot looking man.
Jay reached out and when he cupped her chin and twisted her face right then left, her pulse soared. She would have pulled away if his touch hadn’t brought such comfort.
“You’ll need to clean that scrape. Dirt and pieces of rock might leave a scar.”
When he lowered his hand, she brushed the debris from her face. As Jay continued to check her out in what seemed like a very professional manner, his eyes began to turn a deep golden color. If she hadn’t just made love with Riley and noticed what happened when a shifter became excited, she might not have recognized what the hair sprouting on his face meant—he wanted her. Not that Sarah was frightened of the man, but his reaction confused her. “Jay?”
He looked away and shook his head. “Sorry. Got something to drink? I could use a beer.”
She chuckled. “I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for iced tea.”
“That’ll do.” Jay placed a hand on her back as they stepped through the living room to the kitchen, and his mere touch made her insides tingle.
What was wrong with her? Her hormones were still swamping her system from the amazing love session with Riley. Happy to keep busy, she retrieved two glasses from the cabinet and poured the dark liquid over ice then handed him the drink.
“Why haven’t I seen you at the warehouse?” she asked. Jay’s role in this extraction was still unclear. She snapped her fingers remembering something the General had told her a long time ago. “You worked undercover at Statler’s law firm in Florida, didn’t you?”
“I’m afraid so. I was one of his right hand men.” He then told her about his cousin, MacKenzie, and how she’d bested Statler and his minions by freeing her cousin, Clare. “Statler then ran to Canada to continue his scheme of performing experiments on captive women.”
“Good for your cousin. I’d like to meet her someday.”
“You might just get the chance.”
She had no plans to travel to Florida, but she saw no need to mention that. “I’ve been meaning to ask about another couple of your cohorts—Tyson and Ford Summerville. I was wondering how Bailey and her sister Tatum are doing after those two freed them.”
“Quite well, though I haven’t been in contact with the men who are with Tatum.” He leaned back in his seat and stretched out his legs, looking more relaxed than Riley ever would be. “Before I forget, I want you to know that one of the General’s men located Michelle, and she’s healing fine.”
Joy and concern collided. “Michelle’s not dead?” Statler had said she’d left on her own accord, but she’d never believed him. “What happened?”
“Without releasing too many details, Darnell roughed her up a bit, but he’s now in custody and Michelle is on her way to Florida to heal, or rather will be shortly.”
His lack of details implied it would be better for her sake if he didn’t confide in her. “Thank you for telling me.”
Michelle’s fate reinforced Sarah’s need for extra care. “Do you mind if I take a shower and clean up. Even though Russ didn’t get far, I’m feeling just plain nasty and can’t stand the thought of having his scent on me.”
“Sure. I totally understand.”
“Riley’s on his way over, so would you mind letting him in?”
“Will do.”
As she headed into the bathroom to shower, she couldn’t help but compare the two men who were alike in their dedication but different in their intensity level. While Jay seemed focused, he appeared to have the ability to sit back and enjoy life, unlike Riley who seemed driven by some inner demon.
From the two times she’d been with Jay, she’d noticed he smiled more than Riley, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be as sensual and aggressive in bed.
As much as Riley had satisfied her thoroughly, it made her remember how much she loved sex. If making love with Riley had been the best in her life, she could only imagine what adding a hunk like Jay to the mix would do. She’d had a few ménage experiences, but she bet they’d pale compared to making love with these two.
She turned on the water, undressed, and then inspected her injuries. Touching her cheek, she winced. There’d be quite a bruise where her face hit the ground when Russ tackled her, but the scrapes on her palms, forearm, and right knee would heal in a few days.
When the water warmed, she stepped under the soothing flow, blocking Russell Sizemore from her mind. The idea of having to work with him for the next few days sickened her, but as an FBI operative who was on loan to the Pack, she needed to shake it off. Worse things had happened to her and she’d made it through.
As she soaped up and scrubbed between her thighs, Riley’s glorious face came into view, and her inner walls cramped. What was it that drew her to him? His highly competent nature, his take charge attitude, or the fact he reeked of sex appeal? And why did Jay’s touch elicit the same intense reaction?
Because I’m excited by men who are powerful and can handle themselves under extreme pressure.
The next few days would be crucial to taking down Statler, and she couldn’t afford to slip up, which was one more reason for needing a little stress reduction in the form of hot and heavy sex.
The front door bell rang and she hurried to finish, ready to test the waters with both enticing men.
Chapter Ten
Hearing the shower run and picturing Sarah naked almost made Jay lose control. He yearned to run into the bathroom and make wild, passionate love with her, but he didn’t because that would have ruined things before he had a chance to convince her they belonged together. After what happened today, she certainly didn’t need some crazed man coming onto her, and if he announced she was his mate, she surely would have run.
When Riley had texted earlier and said he’d made love with Sarah, Jay had been thrilled. He chose to ignore the rest of the text that
said Riley planned to keep his dick in his pants from now on, and that Jay was free to pursue her. Riley wasn’t that strong. No mate was.
Jay’s friend knew as well as anyone that mates had this incredible ability to draw you in and make you do things against your wishes, but for some reason, Riley was still in denial. Hopefully, with Sarah’s help, Jay would be able to persuade him that the three of them belonged together.
The doorbell rang. Riley was here. Jay pushed back from the kitchen chair and answered the door. Riley stormed in and looked around. “Where is she?”
Blood laced his sleeve. “Russ did that?”
His roommate faced him, his face pinched. “What? How’s Sarah?”
His injury was probably a forgotten issue. “Other than some scrapes and bruises, she’s fine. As you can hear, she’s in the shower. Russ didn’t violate her, but she wants to wash off his stench.”
“Fucker.” Riley bared his teeth. “You have no idea how much I wanted to kill him.”
Jay understood protectiveness, but Riley’s reaction went above his usual care. “She got to you, didn’t she? You ready to do something about her being your mate?”
The water shut off.
“No comment.”
A minute later, Sarah walked out of the hallway rubbing her hair with a towel, dressed in a thin T-shirt and leg-revealing running shorts. “No comment to what?” she asked with such innocence that Jay almost laughed.
She’d heard their conversation from the bedroom? He turned to Riley. He couldn’t wait to hear his answer.
“I refuse to comment about what I’d like to do to Russ.” He moved toward Sarah. “How are you?”
She smiled, but Riley’s stiff posture didn’t change. “Fine, now that I’m home and safe.” She tossed the towel on the sofa and lifted Riley’s arm. “You’re hurt!”