Page 39

PUCK

Locking the deadbolt, I pulled out my key and shoved it into my pocket. As I turned to head for the SUV, I froze. Panic speared through me as a man with red hair and a scraggly beard lunged for Wren, a knife glinting in the building’s lights.

I shouted and jerked into action, running for Wren, but it was too late.

She struck out with a roundhouse kick, sending the blade clattering to the pavement.

The man cursed and lifted his hands, shifting into a fighting stance, a sneer on his face. “You think you can take me, submissive? I can smell your weakness on you.”

It was probably the dumbest thing someone could say to Wren, but she didn’t let her rage show; she used it like Ender had instructed, letting it fuel a jab to his jaw.

The man’s head snapped back with a vicious crack, making him curse again. He was quicker this time, striking out with a hook. But Wren was too fast for him. She ducked the punch and answered with one to his ribs. “What do you want?” she growled.

The redhead’s lip curled. “There’s a price on your head, and I’m here to collect.”

Hell. The last thing we needed was the dark corners of the supernatural community trying to collect Wren for a reward.

She didn’t really appreciate it either because she hit him with a blow to the face that ended in a sickening crunch.

The man doubled over, cupping his face. “You broke my fucking nose.”

“You’re lucky that’s all I broke,” she snarled, sweeping in behind him and holding him in a choke hold.

The guy clawed at her arm, trying to get free, but it was useless. In a matter of seconds, he went limp. She dropped him to the pavement, barely even breathing harder than when it all started.

I looked from her to him and back again. “I guess you really didn’t need me, after all, Birdie.”

She grinned at me. “I could use your help getting him into the back.”

I chuckled, beeping my key fob to open the hatch. “I’m at your service.”

Wren grabbed the man’s feet while I lifted him from his armpits, my nose wrinkling at his stench. I could scent the drugs running through his system. No wonder he was out for money. He needed to score another hit.

“Let’s go,” Wren muttered, shoving him in. “He’ll only be out for thirty minutes or so.”

I slammed the back hatch. “I’m rolling down all the windows so I don’t upchuck.”

Wren chuckled and patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, buddy. We can get you some ginger ale for that sensitive stomach when we get home.”

I flipped her off. “You get locked in a car with his stinky ass, and you’d be vomming, too.”

She grinned as she hopped in, but her nose wrinkled almost immediately. “Okay, you’re right.”

“Told you.” I started up the SUV and rolled down all the windows. As I backed out of the parking spot, I hit the phone icon on the wheel. “Call Kingston.”

The phone rang through the speakers. A second later, King’s voice filled the SUV. “Everything okay?”

“Just fine and dandy, but can you have everyone meet us in front of the house in ten? We’ve got something to show you.”

“What?” King growled.

“It’s a surprise,” I said, grinning at Wren. She just shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“What. Kind. Of. Surprise?”

“One you have to wait for.” I hit end on the call before King could go all alpha on me.

Wren turned to face me. “You know he’s gonna kick your ass for that.”

I shrugged. “Worth it.”

I made the drive as quickly as possible without risking getting pulled over because it wasn’t like I’d be able to explain the dude in the back.

As we approached the gate, Wren reached over and clicked the remote. The gates swung open, and we sailed through. By the time we got to the house, the rest of the guys were ready and waiting, a mixture of expressions on their faces. Pissed the hell off. Annoyed. Curious. And some mix of the three.

I slowed to a stop, and Wren slid out of the passenger seat. As I climbed out, I saw King stalking toward her, his gaze sliding over her face. “You’re okay?”

“I’m great,” she said with a smile. “We’ve got a little something for you in the SUV, though.”

“What?” King asked warily.

“The fox shifter who tried to grab Wren,” I answered helpfully.

Brix’s expression went as cold as ice, pure silver bleeding into his eyes. “You mean the fox shifter who’s about to have his skin peeled from his body?”

“Oh, goody,” I cheered. “The psycho twins at work again.”

“Show us the shifter,” King growled.

Locke moved into Wren’s space. “You sure you’re okay?”

She nodded and gave him a quick kiss. “Just peachy.”

“Birdie kicked his ass,” I informed them.

“Good,” Brix growled, prowling toward the back of the SUV as the hatch opened.

Ender was right there with him, his amber eyes now a brown so dark they were almost black. He surveyed the pathetic shifter in the trunk. “Who’s ready to remove some organs?”