by Nashoda Rose
Well, fuck me—it worked. Guess Hannah loved him. Now for my own disappearing act, which had nothing mystical about it. Jump and run like hell.
A shift of gravel to my left reminded me that the chick was still beside me. She was staring over the edge of the building, her mouth gaping.
“He . . . that woman . . . she’s gone with . . . he just . . .”
“Let her go,” a deep, crackly voice said from behind us.
I slowly turned with a sardonic grin on my face. I was surrounded by at least eight men and eight guns. Nice. I liked a challenge. At least no CWOs were present. Yet.
The woman’s feet moved closer to me and closer to the edge of the roof. So close, her heels were hanging over.
“No.” I latched onto her arm. “You jump, you won’t die. You’ll break both legs and be in a hell of a lot of pain.” Bitch wanted to die; well, I had no intention of giving her that wish. She’d have to suffer and survive what she’d gotten herself into.
“You don’t understand,” she said.
“Do I give a shit?” With one swift movement, I hooked my arm around her neck and pulled her in front of me, knife at her throat. Use or be used.
My chances of making it out of here were close to nil. I knew that going in. My abilities were good, but not that good when faced with this kind of firepower. Odds were a bullet would do me in because, sure as hell, being taken alive was not on my list of things to do. The important thing was Ryker was out. My debt was paid in full.
Her voice cut into me. It was a soft whisper that caressed my skin and dug into my heart like a pitchfork. When I looked into her eyes there was hurt mixed with confusion.
“Your promise,” she said.
“Yeah, well, if you knew me, you wouldn’t trust a fuckin’ thing I say.” I nearly apologized when I saw the truth hit her. It was as if I’d slapped her across the face then punched her in the stomach. I hadn’t expected such a reaction. I felt every vessel pumping, muscles constricting and then . . . then, there were her eyes. Nothing could describe the horror I saw in them. Her dark shades of hazel brown glistened with tears reflecting with the sinking sun.
The guards approached cautiously, their guns cocked and aimed at us. The door burst open again and a tall, lithe man strode out. The guards parted like the Red Sea.
So, this was the King of the Piranhas.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” The man stood with a wide stance, his arms crossed, and a pompous expression.
Dickhead.
The fucker made a tsking sound, shaking his head like he was scolding a five-year-old for not making their bed. “What have you been up to, wife?”
She flinched. Okay, even this chick didn’t deserve to be married to this ass.
“Kilter? Delara and Jedrik are at the north wall. Get out now,” Danni shouted.
Piranha King reached out his hand, palm up. “Come here, Rayne.”
I tightened my grip and whispered into her ear. “Yeah, I’d divorce him, babe.”
“You have no escape,” the pretentious tight-ass said. “Surrender and you’ll live.”
To be his lab rat? “Fuck you,” I growled.
An arrow soared through the air and hit the guard on the left of the anal-retentive husband. Jedrik was right on time. The guards dove for cover looking in every direction, guns aimed and ready but with no target. I made my move and shoved Rayne forward into the distracted guards, and then turned and jumped.
Bullets went wild and I wondered if the woman had gotten her wish after all.
I landed in the grass on my feet and rolled to the side of the building for cover. Two more arrows flew above and I heard shouts and the scrambling of feet on the rooftop.
“Get going, hero,” Jedrik said. “Two above you, the rest have taken to the stairs. Bingo, one above you. Just been spotted.”
I took one step to make a sprint across the grass to the north wall when I faltered. A woman’s scream rose into the air. Shivers coursed down my spine and my heart literally stopped for seconds. For once in my miserable life, I knew I’d been wrong. That one scream said it all.
“Fuck.”
Ice shifted through my veins. Sweet Jesus, I’d just left that girl in the hands of a madman.
Bullets hissed past my head and I slammed my back against the building. It was a hell of a run to the wall, especially with bullets chasing after me. I liked a challenge, but I’d rather be killed by a Grit than a bloody human with bullets. Goddamn undignified.
I ran anyway. Arrows went past me, one after the other as the guards made it to ground level and chased after me. A bullet slammed into the back of my shoulder and I stumbled. Twenty yards. Fifteen yards. I saw Jedrik lying on top of the wall, his hand outstretched and ready to help me.
Ten yards. A searing pain exploded into my leg and it gave out on me. I fell to the ground with a grunt. Jedrik swore. Obviously, they were either bad shots, or they were ordered to keep me alive because I should be dead right now.
I ground my teeth as I unsteadily got up, holding my leg. Another bullet hit my good calf, and my legs gave out completely.
“Get the fuck out of here,” I shouted to Jedrik. “Blow this place sky high.”
“No way, asshole,” Jedrik retorted.
The guards aimed their guns at Jedrik. It was then I saw movement to the west as Keir and Balen came running toward me. Balen threw a grenade and a loud bang sounded behind me, then several animalistic sounds of pain.
With his throwing knives, Keir hit a guard in the forehead who was aiming at Jedrik.
Balen reached me first, grabbed my arm, and hauled me to my feet. I ignored the agonizing pain in my legs as I was pulled forward into a run. Keir and Jedrik gave cover as we staggered to the wall. My legs were fuckin’ useless, and my shoulder was burning like an inferno. Still, I grabbed Jedrik’s outstretched hand and he pulled me onto the wall. Delara stood on the other side waiting.
“Go. Go. Go.” Delara slipped her knife in its holster and stood ready as Jedrik lowered me over the side. She stumbled under my weight but managed to keep the pressure off my legs as she wrapped her arm around my waist.
“Cutting it close, aren’t you?” Delara said. She hauled me forward into a run.
“Is Ryker safe?”
“Yeah. Had a sweet scent of Hannah overhead. Amulet do that?” Delara asked.
I nodded.
“Nice plan. Would’ve been nice to know about it. I’ve scented some strange shit in that compound. Probably CWOs. They’re not wasting any time coming after us with that cowboy stunt you just pulled.”
“He’s safe, isn’t he?” I looked back over my shoulder and saw Balen, Keir, and Jedrik head in the opposite direction. Their never-lead-the-enemy-toward-the wounded tactic. They’d make themselves visible until they were certain Delara had gotten me to safety.
Delara dragged my sorry ass across the open field toward an area where the ground dipped into a valley. Her pace quickened and I felt as if I was going to pass out as my vision blurred. Fuck that, Delara wouldn’t leave me behind, and she couldn’t carry me. And no way in hell was I letting either of us become lab rats to that psycho.
Especially since I knew, one day I’d have to come back for her.
KILTER RAISED HELL, JUST as I fuckin’ expected. The guy was known to do things his way and none too quietly. The good news was the amulet worked. Hannah had brought Ryker to safety. Obviously, Kilter had known what the amulet was capable of.
“Danni, we’re out. On my way. Stay where you are.”
“Can’t really go too far,” she replied.
If I wasn’t running like hell, I’d have laughed.
Jedrik and Keir ran beside me as we weaved our way to the west of the compound toward the cliff. The bastards were trying to get the gates open, which were slow as molasses—not that I was complaining. Delara and Kilter had fallen out of sight over the dip in the hill. They’d be close to the car by now and would meet us at the rendezvous.
> We ran around to the north of the compound and stopped at the edge of the cliff. “Danni, grab the rope.”
“Got it,” she said and I felt a tug.
“Fuck. Gates are opening,” Keir said. “Vehicles moving.”
I hauled ass, pulling Danni up the side of the cliff. As soon as I saw her face, I breathed a heavy sigh. I grabbed her hand and pulled her onto solid ground then wrapped my arms around her.
“Balen. God, I heard gunshots.” She ran her hands over my chest, searching for wounds. It was fuckin’ cute. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, little one. I’m good.”
“Company’s coming,” Jedrik shouted. “One Jeep headed after Delara and Kilter, one coming right at us. Five men. A walk in the park.” Jedrik readied his bow and crouched down at the corner of the compound wall. “Taking out the front right tire.”
I grabbed Danni’s hand and pulled her to the cover of the wall and put her back against it. “Don’t move.”
The smell that came hurtling into me was warning enough to tell me we were in trouble here. I didn’t have to tell Keir and Jedrik as they exchanged how-the-hell-is-this-possible looks.
Jedrik took out the front right tire and the truck skidded on the gravel then came to a halt. Five men jumped out and came running toward us. Keir got two shots off, but it did nothing to slow them down.
“Frig.” Jedrik aimed. His arrow hit one in the chest. The guy’s step faltered as he pulled the arrow from his flesh and threw it aside. “Grit,” Jedrik announced.
“What the hell? They’re all CWOs. Second on the right is a Maggot, smell apples as clear as day.” I had to get Danni out of here.
“Two Grits,” Keir said, taking aim, firing a shot, and hitting one guy in the head. He kept coming. “SOB just won’t die.”
I glanced at Danni, her face pale, but she was holding the gun I’d given her. “That’s my girl.”
A Grit plowed into Jedrik and they flew into the air and landed in a heap. I pulled my knives from beneath my coat and ran at the other Grit. Keir went after the two Maggots, who had the annoying capability of growing back injured limbs. The last guy was a Long Neck—big, burly, and slow—who also had to be decapitated to die. He went straight for Danni.
“Danni, the guy, he’s a Long Neck. Remember what I told you. Aim for his throat.”
I swung my knife at the Grit as the guy came barging into me. The knife went straight into the guy’s stomach and we both tumbled to the ground. I rolled to the side, taking my knife with me. The Grit cursed and grabbed for my leg, wrenching it to the side. I kicked out with my free leg, dislodging the Grit’s grip and rolling away. I climbed to my feet and—
I heard several gun shots, and then Danni’s scream.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the Long Neck grab the gun from her hand and toss it aside. “Danni,” I shouted and threw my knife in her direction. It landed on the ground at her feet and she dove for it.
My line of vision was blocked as the Grit came back at me. I tried to dodge the fierce punch but failed and it sent me flying through the air and into the stone wall.
“One down,” Keir shouted as a head went rolling across the ground and over the side of the cliff.
“Balen!”
Fuck. I couldn’t get to her and neither could the others.
I elbowed the Grit in the face and the guy’s head shot back and his grip loosened. I took advantage and drove an uppercut to his chin, causing him to stagger back.
Ten feet.
I dove at the guy, a cold fury enveloping my body at the thought of anything happening to Danni. I ducked as a fist came swinging in my direction. A kick to the abdomen sent the Grit back another few steps.
Five feet.
My knife did nothing to the Grit since they healed spontaneously. Already the wound to the guy’s stomach was gone. I needed to deliver one more solid punch. I went full throttle at the guy with my fists, but this time, the Grit was ready and managed a kick to my jaw. I staggered back and shook my head to clear my vision.
I heard the scuffling of feet around me, but had no time to see how Keir, Jedrik, or Danni were managing. All I knew was this fucker was going over the edge of the cliff. I ran at him, and then, when we were one foot away from each other, I crouched and swung out my right leg, sending the guy to his ass. I didn’t hesitate as I picked the Grit up by his collar and swung my fist into his nose then pushed him backward as hard as I could. The Grit staggered, trying to gain his balance.
One foot.
His heels were on the edge of the cliff and he teetered there for seconds before I gave one more shot to the head and he vanished over the edge.
Jedrik was holding his own with the other Grit, attempting to do the same thing and getting him to the edge of the cliff.
I turned just as Keir’s Ink left his body and shifted into form. It looked half man and half panther, its eyes solid white, having no sight except what Keir saw. Its huge paw darted out, its claws extending as it hissed and sneered at the Maggot. Keir’s expression contorted in pain as his Ink took over. The animal made a dive for the enemy, hooked him with his front paws, and pulled back in one sharp jerk. The Maggot’s head was now between the Ink’s paws. A low growl sounded and the Ink ingested the head in one swallow. He looked up, hesitated. Then, in a flicker of bright light, the Ink reconnected with Keir, once again a tattoo.
“You okay, man?” Jedrik asked, grabbing Keir’s arm as he stumbled.
Keir nodded.
Using our Ink was dangerous. It could take over our body if we let it, and it was difficult to control.
I nodded to Keir and ran in the direction of where Danni had been.
No Long Neck.
No Danni.
“Which way did they go?” Fear gripped me as I looked around. Fuckin’ Christ. Did she fall over the cliff? Had the Long Neck killed her? No, she was alive. She had to be. I’d feel something if she were dead. I refocused and used my tracking ability, scenting her footsteps in the grass, determining which way they went.
“Back toward the gate,” I said.
I ran. My senses were all screwed up as blood, fear, and pain mixed together, giving me no clear indication of Danni. I heard footsteps behind me and knew Jedrik and Keir were right with me.
It barreled into me as I rounded the corner of the building. Danni. The Long Neck dragged her struggling body toward the gates of the compound. I picked up my speed, everything in my body raging
No. Fuck, no.
CRATER FACE HELD ME against his chest, his hand clamped tight around my neck and I drew in ragged breaths, fighting for air. I kicked backward, hitting his shins, but it was pathetic. The guy was huge like a Mack truck with the smell of rotting garbage. He smelled the same as the guy in the bar when I was attacked in the bathroom.
“Balen.” My fingernails dug into the buzzard hands that closed around my neck, tearing at them, but it only caused him to tighten his hold.
“Right behind you.”
The Long Neck must have heard the running footsteps behind us because he stopped and swung around so I became his shield.
“Let her go.” Balen’s voice was a low growl of fury.
My head swam and my vision blurred from lack of oxygen.
“If she dies, you’ll have no hostage,” Keir said.
The pressure on my neck loosened and I wildly sucked in gulps of air.
“I die if I let her go. I die if she dies,” the Long Neck said. “So, she comes with me and we all live.”
“Not a chance, asshole,” Jedrik said with his bow and arrow ready to pierce the guy’s forehead.
“Danni, I’m going to release Talu, the Ink on my back.”
“The what?”
“Just do as I say. A tiger—”
“A tiger?” I must have heard him wrong.
“Danni, it’s my tattoo, my Ink. It is part of me. The tiger on my back.” Holy shit. “It will come at you both. When you see it, leap and move to the left. Talu will go
straight for his neck. Get out of there. Okay? I can’t always control Talu, so do whatever it takes to get out of his way, baby.”
“For real?”
“Yeah, little one, for real.”
“Umm, okay.” I wondered how on earth I was going to move my head when the hand around my neck was unrelenting. I was also freakin’ out about this tiger he was talking about that he didn’t always have control of. But I’d try anything to get out of the hands of this crater-faced, bulk of steel, even if it meant facing whatever the hell Balen was talking about.
“What the—” the Long Neck said just before a magnificent black and orange form dove for us.
The tiger had piercing green eyes and a magnificent, luscious striped coat. His large paws covered the ground between the Scars and me then leapt into the air with a low growl.
Two screams of panic tangled together as me and the Long Neck struggled to get out of the way of Talu’s long white fangs.
Talu’s front paws hit me in the chest and knocked both me and my captor to the ground. I heard Balen’s voice in the background, shouting at Talu in a language I didn’t understand. With the wind knocked out of me, I struggled to breathe as the tiger stood, massive and magnificent, above us. I felt Talu’s drool drip onto my face, and I froze for seconds, staring into eyes that looked exactly like Balen’s.
I realized this animal was a part of him. They were connected on a level that was beyond any human’s comprehension. I wanted to reach out and touch the beautiful animal, run my hands through its coat and ease the rage that swam in its eyes.
I raised my hand just as I felt my body being dragged out from under the tiger and away from the Long Neck’s grasp. Within seconds, I saw what Talu was capable of, and it horrified me to think that I had wanted to touch him.
The beast made a low-pitched growl just before he sank his fangs into the Long Neck’s jugular. The CWO screamed; his face a mask of terror. With a sharp jerk of his head, Talu ripped a chunk of the flesh away. Blood spurted everywhere and the tiger rejoiced in it as he continued to eat at the Long Neck until his head was decapitated from his body.