by Ashlyn Chase
“Fine. I’ll leave then.”
Finally. Anthony schooled his features so he wouldn’t look too relieved. “Very well. Have a nice evening, Ruxandra.”
She headed toward the back door. Anthony wondered why she’d want to go out the alley way, but at the moment he didn’t much care. As long as she was gone.
***
Mr. B. was doing that nodding off and snapping to semi-consciousness thing that Nick hoped meant he was about to fall sound asleep. Little Katie’s breaths were lifting and lowering her sleeping bag in long, slow motions, so she seemed to be sleeping too. Now if he could just be sure Brandee was out, he could shift. His smaller paws would slip out of the ropes, but his wolf body would hurt like hell bound in his present position.
Nick really didn’t have any better options. Even if he broke a shoulder, he’d heal quickly. He glanced over at Brandee. Her head lolled to one side. She could be asleep. Mr. B. started snoring and Brandee didn’t seem to notice.
It’s now or never.
Nick gritted his teeth and steeled himself for the inevitable pain of a shift. He concentrated mainly on his wrists. The minute he was able to slip his bonds, he’d do so and hope for the best.
His muscles began to change and pop. The sound of his bones grinding could have awakened Mr. B., but he continued to snore. Nick breathed his way through the sharp pain and continued.
A gasp came from his right. He had no choice but to complete his shift. If Brandee or Katie had seen him, at least they hadn’t screamed.
At last his left paw slipped from the ropes and he was able to spin toward the pole, yanking his right paw out. He lay on the floor for a few moments, panting and waiting for the pain to ease.
When he raised his furry head, he saw Brandee staring at him—her eyes so wide he could see white all around the irises. He couldn’t blame her. He bet it wasn’t every day she saw a wolf in people’s clothing. Shit.
***
“Angie!”
Anthony had to raise his voice to be heard over the din of the crowd. She held up one finger. “Be right there.” On her way to see what he wanted, she dropped off the bottle of Corona Tory had been patiently waiting for and gave him a smile.
She ignored a customer who called to her as she walked by because Anthony was drumming his fingers on the edge of the bar. “Hi, boss. What’s up?”
“Have you heard from Brandee yet?”
“No. I’ve left three messages.”
“Is she apt to ignore her messages for a while?”
“No. In fact her phone beeps every five minutes if she misses a call.”
“How long has it been since your last call?”
“Hours. This isn’t like her. I’m really, really worried.”
Anthony raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m going to look for her. Any idea where she might go?”
Ruxandra strode in from the back hall and slammed her fist on the bar between them. “I knew it!”
Angie just about jumped out of her skin. Everyone sitting around the bar halted their conversations and stared in Ruxandra’s direction. The owner’s psychotic ex-girlfriend was about as subtle as a brick through a window.
“I knew you were having an affair with that redheaded slut.”
Thank God I’m a blond. Angie backed away slowly, leaving Anthony to deal with something that obviously didn’t involve her.
“Ruxandra. Lower your voice.” Anthony’s lips thinned, and for once, he looked like he wasn’t going to mollify her.
“Why? So people won’t know you’re a lying, cheating dog?”
“I don’t have time for this.” Anthony strode out the front door.
“Come back here!” After waiting several moments, Ruxandra must have realized Anthony had ignored her and was gone. She shrieked, picked up a stool, and smashed it over the bar. Angie squealed and ducked behind the cash register. She couldn’t see what was happening, but she heard several more loud crashes and curses. Not all of them from Hurricane Ruxandra.
When items stopped flying and smashing, Angie peeked over the register. Ex-NFL player Tory and Kurt, an ex-marine, had Ruxandra firmly in their grasps.
“Put me down, you Moorish, boorish bastards!”
Kurt jerked his head toward the back door and Tory nodded in silent agreement. Ruxandra screamed and struggled, but she was no match for the two strong, black men. They lifted her off the ground and carried her wriggling body to the back.
Tory called over his shoulder, “Angie, honey. Would you kindly get the door? We have our hands full.”
She was starting toward them when Ruxandra threatened, “If she comes near me, I’ll break free just to gouge her eyes out!”
Angie halted, unsure what to do.
“I’ve got it,” Kurt said. He squeezed Ruxandra’s arm with one big hand and opened the door with the other. Together the men tossed her into the alley and slammed the door shut. Tory twisted the dead bolt but continued to hold on to the handle while it shook. Ruxandra sputtered curses from the other side until, at last, she seemed finished with her tirade.
“One of us better stand guard here for a little while,” Kurt said.
Tory nodded. “I’ll hang out by the front door—just in case.”
Angie reached for the wall telephone and said in a shaky voice, “I’ll call the cops.”
Tory vaulted over the bar so fast she didn’t see him coming. He gently pried her fingers off the receiver and replaced it back in its cradle. “No need to do that, Angie. She’s gone, and we’ll keep an eye on the place. If Anthony wants to report it later, he can. I doubt he will, though. Blue lights outside are bad for business, you know?”
“So is Ruxandra.”
“Anthony will know how to deal with her better than the cops.”
Angie took a deep breath and let it out, willing her calm to return. “Yes. I guess you’re right.”
“That’s a girl. Don’t worry. We won’t let anything happen to you.” He smiled in that soft way that meant he was genuinely fond of her.
Angie relaxed a little more. “I believe you.”
***
Oh, my Little Red Riding Hood… What just happened?
Nick had turned into a large dog. Or a wolf. Or some version of both…or neither.
Brandee’s head began to spin. She suddenly realized she had taken in a huge gasp of breath but hadn’t let it out. Breathe, Brandee, breathe!
The doglike creature was free and looking up at her with soulful eyes.
What now? Should she try to get Lassie to untie her? Could he? She could barely wrap her head around whatever kind of trick this was.
The only thing she knew not to do was make any noise. Mr. B. snorted a little like he might wake up, then smacked his lips and returned to snoring.
The dog—wolf, whatever he was—struggled to his paws and watched the snoring man for a moment. Then he glanced back toward Brandee and Katie. He seemed as confused about what to do as she did.
Is this some kind of magic gone wrong? Is he cursed?
At last he seemed to make some kind of decision. He crept over to Mr. B. and gently worked the gun out of the man’s loose grasp. She held her breath, hoping Mr. B. wouldn’t wake up and shoot the dog.
As soon as the dog had the gun in his mouth, he trotted over to Brandee and hid behind her. She heard a couple of metallic clicks as if he’d laid the gun on the floor. Then the same noises that woke her came from behind her—popping and grinding.
She wished she knew what the hell was going on, but as long as Mr. B. slept, she wasn’t going to say a word. She was just happy he no longer had a weapon he could put his hands on. Speaking of hands, she felt warm fingers on the back of her neck and Nick’s voice whispering in her ear. “Stay quiet, sweetheart. I’ll have you out of here in no time.”
She nodde
d and waited anxiously while he worked on the knots binding her to the pole. Before long, she could move again. She pulled her arms forward and the ropes fell away. She wanted to jump to her feet and throw her arms around his neck, but any sudden movement or noise could wake Mr. B.
She rose slowly and tiptoed over to Katie while rubbing her tingling arms. Nick held the gun trained on Mr. B. while Brandee woke Katie with a gentle wiggle to her arm. When the girl opened her eyes, Brandee held a finger to her lips and whispered, “Shhh…” She unzipped the sleeping bag as slowly and quietly as she could, then peeled back the top layer.
Mr. B. snorted and adjusted in the chair.
They waited an anxious second, and when he returned to his rhythmic snoring, Katie crept out and stood on her bare feet. Brandee wondered if her cousin should take the time to put on her sneakers but decided against it. She just picked them up and gave them to Katie to hold. Then she looked to Nick and he tipped his head toward the staircase.
The girls glanced at Mr. B. while silently padding their way over to the stairs.
Nick followed behind them. He stopped Brandee with a hand on her arm and whispered, “Wait for me at the top.”
She nodded and stepped in front of Katie. If the little girl had an adult on either side, hopefully, she’d be safe.
The three of them crept silently up the stairs. Nick maneuvered around them as soon as they reached the top step. “Stay behind me until you see an opportunity to get outside, then take it.”
They both nodded. Brandee held her breath, wondering what he had planned.
He threw his whole weight against the door. His body smashed clear through and broke the lock. He shook off the door and checked behind him. Brandee suddenly realized he was using himself as a shield to get them to the outer door.
“Hey!” Mr. M. charged out from the office with a gun. Mr. B. had awakened and was swearing as he dashed up the stairs.
“Run, girls,” Nick yelled.
She grabbed Katie’s hand and rushed toward the outside door. A shot rang out and then another. Someone swore loudly, but she didn’t stop to see who it was. She yanked open the door and ran out of their prison, holding Katie’s hand.
Brandee didn’t stop running until they reached the end of the block and rounded the corner. She leaned over, panting, and her hair covered her face. “Call the police,” she yelled to no one in particular. Then she bumped into a tall, dark, solid body.
Looking up, she saw her boss. “Anthony?”
He braced her with his hands against her arms. “What happened?”
“Nick needs help.” She pointed to the alley.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
When Anthony rushed down the alley, she called out to stop him. All she wanted him to do was call the cops, not go running into gunfire.
“Oh, my stupid bravery!”
A young couple neared them, took one look, and began to cross the street.
“Wait. We need your help. If you have a cell phone, call 911.” The couple just rushed off faster. “Please!”
***
Nick had managed to disarm Mr. M. without getting shot, but now he was wrestling both thugs for the gun. He shoved Mr. B. against the wall, hoping to knock him out, but that only happened in the movies. Mr. B. got right back up and jumped on Nick’s back as Nick fought with Mr. M. He landed a good blow to Mr. M.’s chin and stunned him for a moment. Just long enough to flip Mr. B. off his back.
A good right hook to Mr. B.’s diaphragm knocked the wind out of him and temporarily stopped him from getting back up. Nick saw an opening and kicked, aiming for Mr. M.’s knee. The guy cried out and crumpled to the floor.
Anthony rushed through the back door at that moment and took in the scene. “Looks like you’ve got things well in hand.”
Mr. B. jumped up and said, “That’s a little premature, asshole.” He rushed Anthony, but before Mr. B. could land a blow, Anthony stepped aside and the criminal ran right past him and bounced off the wall.
“Let me,” Nick said. He grabbed Mr. B. by the hair and slammed his head against the wall again. This time Mr. B. slid down the wall into an unconscious heap. “He won’t give us any trouble for a while.”
Nick was panting, heavily. “Are the girls safe?”
“Yeah, they’re at the end of the block. I told them to wait for me there. Why don’t you step outside and catch your breath,” Anthony suggested.
“First, I’d like to know who hired these guys and why. I have the feeling someone else was having them do his dirty work. Someone who knew about the little girl’s ability.”
“I’ll mesmerize them and see what I can find out. I’ll meet you and the girls as soon as I clean up in here.” He gazed at the two goons. “I’ve been a little hungry lately.”
Nick chuckled. “Be my guest. These are Misters B. and M. Don’t be surprised if they taste like shit.”
With that, Nick stumbled out into the alley and enjoyed the sound of Mr. M. begging for his miserable life. Anthony probably wouldn’t kill them. He’d just weaken and glamour them so they wouldn’t remember being bitten and, hopefully, wouldn’t remember kidnapping anyone. Nick just hoped Anthony would get more information from them before he was through. Nick might have saved Katie, for now, but to keep her safe, he had to find whoever was behind this.
Chapter 6
Nick didn’t see the girls and had a sick feeling they were calling the cops. He had no control over which cops would show up. If one of his fellow werewolves answered the call, he’d be able to explain the situation, but if not…
He charged out into the street where a drunk was stumbling along. “Two girls. Where are they?” Nick asked, winded.
The guy slurred, “Whaz in it fer me?”
“How about, I let you live.”
Anthony exited the building and quickly strode to Nick, who was sniffing the air to catch the girls’ scents. Just as he locked on a direction, Anthony joined him. Nick pointed toward a nightclub. “That way.”
Nick could run faster than a normal human, but the vampire ran so fast he seemed to disappear. The drunk gasped and said, “I gotta quit drinkin’.”
By the time Nick caught up, Anthony was already escorting the girls out of the nearby nightclub. He had interrupted them just as Brandee was about to call the cops on a borrowed phone.
“But we have to call the police,” Brandee said. “Oh, my obstruction of justice. There are kidnappers, and Katie’s parents need to be notified, and—”
Nick strode over to her, cupped her face, and focused her attention directly on him. “I was hired to keep the police out of this, Brandee. She’ll get home much faster if I take her myself.”
“But—but, the kidnappers! What about them?”
“They’ve been dealt with,” Anthony interjected.
“How?”
Nick and Anthony stared at each other. At last Nick answered. “I knocked them both out. Anthony tied them up. Later we’ll make an anonymous phone call to the police.”
She seemed mollified.
Anthony said, “Now, let’s get you home. Your roommate is worried sick about you.”
“She must be. Angie and I always tell each other if we’re spending the night somewhere else. Hell, we tell each other everything.”
Nick pulled Anthony aside and whispered so softly that only a vamp could hear him. “I hate to ask, but can you glamour her? She saw me shift. She thought I was a dog, but can you erase her memory of seeing an animal at all?”
Anthony nodded.
“Thanks. One less mess to contend with. I really care about her and I wish I could tell her more, but the code…”
“I understand,” Anthony said. “And I have more to tell you later.”
“Brandee, go with Anthony. Let Angie see that you’re all right so she can get some sleep. I’ll come over
to your place later and check on you.”
“But…what if I’m asleep too?”
Nick set his hands on his hips. “Are you really apt to go right to sleep after all this? It’ll take me fifteen minutes to take Katie home and get to your place.” He frowned, almost daring her to defy him.
She sighed. “You’re right. Just let me say good night to Katie.”
He nodded and stepped away so she and her cousin could hold each other for a moment. When Brandee let go of Katie, she said, “As soon as you’re safe and things are back to normal, we’ll have a girls’ day out. Shopping. A movie. Whatever you want. Okay?”
Katie grinned and nodded. “Okay.”
Brandee ruffled the white hair on her cousin’s head. “See you soon, kiddo. You were very brave back there.”
“You were too.”
With that, Katie took Nick’s outstretched hand and he escorted her to a taxicab.
***
Anthony let Brandee watch until they pulled away. As soon as she turned to look at him, he snared her gaze. Her jaw went slack and he knew he had her.
“You saw nothing unusual tonight. You were not kidnapped or tied up. You did not see a wolf or a dog anywhere. All you remember is having a wonderful night out with Nick.”
Brandee nodded, and reiterated, “…a wonderful night out with Nick.”
“Very good. Now I’m taking you home, because Nick got called away on business. But he said he’d come over to your place later.”
“Okay. Why?”
“He cares about you very much.”
Brandee nodded, smiling. “And I care about him.”
***
Back in her apartment, Brandee rubbed her wrists and wondered why they were sore. She didn’t want to turn on a light, however, because that might wake Angie.
She tiptoed to her bedroom, but before she got there, Angie’s bedroom door flew open and her roommate stood there in her flannel pajamas with a baseball bat cocked and ready to swing. As soon as she saw Brandee, she dropped the bat and rushed to hug her roommate.
“Brandee! Oh my God, I thought you had been kidnapped, raped, and left for dead.”
