Max needed to get to her. His mind raced to stall Gorman so he had a fighting chance. “I’m surprised, Gorman. It’s rather chicken shit of you, doing this through a camera. I see why it is you haven’t elevated in your ranks.”
Gorman’s arm tensed, his eyes swayed to the camera focused on him.
Max kept talking. “Then again, it’s like you to keep your enemies far away. We wouldn’t want your men to see how inept you are in a fight... Would we?”
He dropped her chin and walked toward the camera. “You want to be close enough to smell her fear?” One cheek lifted in a leering smile. “That can be arranged. First, you need to call off your dogs. Starting with your brother parked across the street.”
Max did his best to keep his surprise at bay. “And?”
“Once I know you’re not being followed I will call you.”
“How do I know you won’t harm her?”
Gorman turned to his prey, his back to the camera. Max watched as the bastard walked straight up to Janet and raked his hand across her breast. “Oh, I’ll harm her, Ritter. If you’re lucky I’ll wait until you can stand as witness. When I’m done, she’ll be my bitch. Not yours.”
“Hurry!” Janet pleaded.
“Tick, tock... The sun is setting. Run along now and do as I said.”
****
“Don’t follow me,” Max demanded, doing his best to hide the gnawing fear in his gut.
“It’s a set up and you know it,” Richard argued.
“Gorman wants to get to me. If I can hold him off until I get there I have a chance of saving her.”
Richard glared at his brother. “Call me when he gives you an address.”
“Have the others track when the moon rises.” Max turned to leave.
“I hate this!” Richard yelled after him.
Instead of turning around and adding a comment. Max ran to his car and took off.
Before long a dark non-descript four-door sedan followed Max’s trail. His phone rang.
“Let’s see how well you follow directions, Ritter.”
He listened while Gorman gave him a set of directions and an address.
Grateful to have something, Max breathed a small sigh of relief before turning onto the freeway and hitting the gas.
“One more thing,” Gorman said before hanging up.
“What?”
“Toss your phone out the window. Make sure my man can see you or the deal is off.”
Shit! Max slowed down until Gorman’s goon practically kissed the bumper of the Ferrari. He rolled down the window, waved his arm on the outside of it, and then dropped the cell to the pavement.
Once he was cut off from Gorman, Max opened up the Italian sports car and sped to his destination.
He only had an hour.
****
Racking her brain to find the hidden meaning in the words that were said, Janet clung to the chains that bound her to the wall.
Gorman paced the room, somewhat oblivious of her presence. His demeanor reminded her of every psych patient she had ever taken care of. His eyes twitched, his hands shook and the mumbling of meaningless phrases that escaped his lips kept Janet’s mouth shut. The last thing she needed was for him to go off.
Even his clothing was crazy. A three-piece, pin-striped suit stood out of place in the filthy room. It reminded her of every bad mafia movie she’d ever seen. The only thing missing was a horrible accent and an Italian name.
Max knew this man. They were enemies with a score to settle and somehow she was caught in the middle of their feud.
He should have told her the danger she was in. Then again, maybe Max had used her to bait Gorman. She tried to change her thoughts, tried to believe Max incapable of such a horrible deed. But she couldn’t.
Janet wanted to weep with the injustice of her position. She had trusted Max, in less than two days found comfort in his arms with a desire to stay with him. If she didn’t know any better, she would swear she had let a small portion of her heart love him. Now her foolish behavior had her chained to a wall, her life threatened by the man pacing the room.
Stupid! I’m so damned stupid.
Gorman suddenly stopped and stared out the small window. Tremors spiked up her spine.
The sun was low on the horizon that brought a new fear to the surface. Once darkness fell, the basement would be pitch black. Janet remembered the full moon and was thankful that at least the glow of it would illuminate some of the space.
“He’s here,” said Gorman.
How he knew, Janet couldn’t tell. She saw and heard nothing.
He swung at her and bent close to her ear, his breath, foul. “I think I’ll give you two a minute to talk.” Gorman disappeared up the stairs.
The sound of skidding tires outside caught her attention. She heard her name yelled.
Max. Her shoulders slumped in relief despite her earlier thoughts. He was her only hope.
“In here,” she screamed. “I’m in the basement!”
The sound of wood splintering as Max barged in the house above wracked her head. Her heart pounded and her breath was once again difficult to control. She knew Gorman watched and wouldn’t let them walk away. But perhaps Max could break her free of the chains and give her a chance to escape.
Tears streamed down her face when Max appeared at the top of the stairs. He bounded down them in two leaps before coming to her side.
“Get me out of here,” she pleaded.
Max lifted his hand to her cheek and wiped at her tears. “Oh, Janet. I’m so sorry.”
“Not now, Max. He’s watching.”
Max pivoted around the room searching for his enemy.
“The chains!” She rattled her arms, bringing his attention back to her.
Max reached above her head, grabbed the links with both hands and with his feet braced against the wall pulled with all his weight. Surprisingly the bolt gave slightly.
“Hurry.”
Max yanked again, bringing small chunks of cement down on her head.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Gorman stood at the top of the stairs with a gun in his hand.
Max stopped and placed his body in front of her. Janet froze.
“Let’s take this outside,” Max suggested.
“And miss the expression on her face when the sun sets? I don’t think so.” Gorman slowly moved down the steps. “I don’t think Miss O’Brien has any clue as to who she’s been sleeping with.”
“What is he talking about?” Janet asked.
Gorman laughed and continued toward them. “This is so much better than I imagined it would be. Thank you for suggesting you join us, Ritter. I look forward to seeing the light in her eyes fade when you turn.”
“She’s mine.” Max backed into her, his hands were at his side. Janet felt the outline of something hard press against her stomach. She remembered the gun he held at her house, and knew he was trying to guide her to his weapon. She renewed her struggle with the chains.
“Back away.” Gorman waved his gun in the air.
Max didn’t move.
“I said, back away.”
“By the time your gun can do me harm, you won’t be able to use it.”
“Ah, but it will work on her.”
Janet searched the eyes of an insane man, at the same time tugging against the chains.
“You’ll have to get through me first.” Max flattened his frame against hers, her view of Gorman cut off.
Suddenly both men glanced out the window above her head. The last rays of the sun melted.
“It looks like you’re going to get your fight after all, Ritter.” Gorman tossed his gun to the floor.
Max wheeled around to her. “Trust me,” he said, before dropping to the ground.
Everything moved in slow motion. Janet stared on in deep horror as both men hit the floor of the basement. Angry sounds of bones popping and clothes tearing filled the room. Unable to look away, Janet gaped as Max’s head changed shape, a
nd hair grew all over his face and hands. His neck shook and ears emerged. His clothes fell away from his half-human form.
She wanted to scream but the sound never came. Snarling, Max emerged from the transformation in less than a minute. Leaping out of the rags which only a moment ago were his clothes, he attacked Gorman who wasn’t completely turned.
Dumbfounded, Janet watched as her lover turned from man to wolf. Rex. Her head started to swirl and her eyes wanted to close. If she hadn’t seen it, she would never have believe it.
Max was a wolf, and he was viciously fighting Gorman who had also changed.
Outside the howls of others filled her with dread. More were coming.
She snapped out of her trance, and with renewed energy heaved and yanked against the wall, this time climbing it with her feet and using every last ounce of strength she had to free herself.
The wall started to give. She screamed in rage and yanked over and over. Blood started to fill her hands as the chain dug into her wrists. With one final shrill, the bolt gave way. She fell to the floor, the chain dangling from her arms.
Ferocious growls came from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder; Max in his silver coat had Gorman pinned to the ground. Gorman yelped, his gaze turned and settled on her.
With one eye on the barking animals, Janet scurried to where Max’s clothes sat in a pile. She shuffled through them until she found the gun.
It was cold and foreign in her unsteady hands. She pointed it toward her enemy, but Max stood over him. Afraid of missing Gorman and hitting Max, she aimed the gun at the ceiling and squeezed the trigger.
The blast landed her on her butt. Parts of the house above her rained down. Both wolves stopped their attack. Max backed up to stand between her and Gorman, his teeth bared, his snarl threatening.
Gorman wasted no time and lunged at them both. With a clear view, Janet leveled the gun again, this time aiming at the enemy.
The shot ran home, catching Gorman in mid air. Janet rolled on the ground to avoid his dead weight.
Shaking, Janet dropped the gun and watched as wolf turned into man. With one final breath, Gorman stared at her with hate in his eyes.
Her hand wiped at her tears, clearing her vision. Howls returned from above. Max nudged her hand with his nose. Janet drew back from his touch.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she cried, pushing Max away.
Max backed up, the barks outside grew louder. He bounded up the steps only to reappear in a few seconds.
He barked in warning and nudged the gun back to her side.
“There are more of you? Aren’t there?”
Max let out another bark in answer.
Janet jumped to her feet, the chain still keeping her hands close together. She took the gun, glanced at the dead man by her side and started to move.
Max hurled himself in front of her. The house was vacant of any furniture, not one light shone to guide her. Max grabbed the dangling chain and led her out of the house.
Outside the moon illuminated the landscape, giving her the light she needed to see where to go. His Ferrari was parked with the engine still running, the driver side door opened.
Barks and howls sang from every direction. Scared, Janet ran toward the safety of the car. As she rounded the hood, another wolf, this one black and larger than Max, stared at her and blocked the way. Without thinking, Janet aimed the gun at the animal and fired.
She missed, but the wolf backed off. She inched closer to the door, never looking away from the red eyes that stared at her.
Standing by the door of the car, she yelled at Max. “Get in!”
Snarls and yelps came from behind her. Max shook his head and stepped back.
“What are you doing? Get in.”
He shook his head again, this time he pushed at her leg with his head.
His blue eyes swirled with grey.
Out of nowhere, the black wolf pounced on Max. Needing no further encouragement Janet jumped into the car and slammed the door.
Another wolf landed on the hood bringing a scream from her throat. Jolting the car into reverse, Janet punched the gas and squealed out of the dirt driveway.
The lights of the car hit Max and his newest enemy. Beyond them through the light of the moon, she saw them all. Black, white, grey and brown, wolves of every imaginable size and shape were everywhere.
Several wolves stood by Max’s side as if in unity. They approached their enemy slowly until all hell broke loose.
Behind her, a truck pulled up along side the car. Inside a middle-aged man rolled down the window and shouted at her.
She opened her window slightly to hear his words.
“Get out of here. Do you have a death wish or something?”
Janet glared at the fighting pack. “I can’t leave him here.”
“Max can take care of himself. You’re a distraction, Janet. Go.”
She stared at him in surprise. “How do you know who I am?”
Annoyed with her questions, the man yelled again. “Go!”
Torn, Janet glanced at the mayhem unfolding all around her. Wolves fought and tore each other to pieces.
She reached for the door, thinking she could somehow help. The muzzle of one wolf slammed against the glass, teeth bared. Swallowing hard, Janet put the car in drive and tried her best not to look back.
Chapter Eight
James let her in the gate and met her at the door. He took one look at her and then ran to the garage to retrieve a pair of bolt cutters and removed the chains.
He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t comment. He simply went about getting Janet the supplies she needed to bandage her marred wrists.
She went to her room, and walked straight to the shower. Clothes and all she got in and set the water on high, trying in vain to wash away the horrible images of the night.
Tears flowed and her body shook as she yanked the clothing from her skin. She rubbed her skin raw, soaped it up and scrubbed it again and again.
Exhausted, she put on a loose pair of pants and a large sweatshirt. With her hair drawn back in a ponytail, she walked to the kitchen for coffee.
James handed her a cup and suggested she join him in Max’s study. It was only midnight. They had hours to wait.
Janet walked into the study for the first time. A bank of monitors took up the entire wall. Cameras pointed in every imaginable direction throughout the house.
“Do you sit here every month?” she asked James.
“Most months, Miss.”
“How long have you known that Max is a...” Oh, God. What was she suppose to call him?
“A werewolf?”
A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “Yeah, I guess that’s what he is.”
“I’ve served his family for the last thirty years, Miss.”
She put her coffee down. “Why?”
James moved away, his eyes distant. “They saved my life.”
Not knowing what else to say, Janet sipped the hot brew and resigned herself to wait.
****
Alarms and buzzers woke her from her restless sleep. She focused her fuzzy gaze over to James from her perch on the couch. He spoke to someone at the gate. She read the relief in his face.
The images on the monitors showed several trucks overflowing with wolves coming onto the property. They were home.
Within minutes, the living room filled to capacity with the pack that had fought by Max’s side. Blood-marred hair clung to half of them, their wounds evidence that their fight had been vicious.
Despite her trepidation, Janet searched them all for Max. Unable to locate him amongst the pack had her spinning in circles and renewing the effort.
Finally, Richard walked in with Max at his side. He stopped in his tracks, their eyes caught and held.
James approached from behind and handed her an armload of blankets.
“What’s this for?” she asked.
He pointed to the horizon. “The sun is coming up.”
; As he said the words, the room filled with deafening howls and everyone started to change.
The sea of hair quickly changed to a sea of naked people. Men and women, alike.
Understanding, Janet started covering those who were closest with the blankets.
Janet rushed around the room and realized the scene was becoming a massive triage. Several of the wounded needed immediate attention.
“Richard,” she called bringing looks from several of those who already walked about.
Richard turned to her side.
“I’m going to need sterile gauze, hydrogen peroxide, betadine and tape.” Janet narrowed her eyes at him when he didn’t move. “Now!” she yelled.
Richard jumped back to gather what she demanded. Janet knelt down to the woman at her feet. The gash on her chest was deep, the bleeding significant.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” she told the moaning woman. “Hold this.” She placed the blanket to her side and pressed firm.
Looking up, Janet saw another man with a bite to his face. She rushed to his side to see how bad it was.
Two hours later, several people had been taken to local hospitals, while others left for home.
Exhausted, Janet sat down and rested her head in her hands.
“Here.” Max came up behind her and set a cup of coffee in front of her. “You look like you could use this.”
She sat up and met his eyes. He had made himself useful during the ordeal of cleaning up his family’s wounds, but he hadn’t said a word to her since he changed.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He sat down. “You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“You didn’t give me a chance, Max. You lied to me.”
“I never lied to you.”
“Omitting the truth is the same as lying, and you know it!” He tried to place a calming hand on her shoulder. She shook him off and backed away. “I trusted you. Do you know how difficult it is for me to do that? What other dark secrets do you have?”
His jaw tensed. “My being a werewolf is enough, don’t you think?”
“Your secret almost cost me my life.” Janet stood and started to pace.
“I know,” he murmured.
Before the Moon Rises Page 6