Page 24

“A wolf doesn’t just survive the storm, she becomes the storm.” — unknown

Gwen

Everything hurts, but most of all, the humongous bump on the back of my head. Did I fall two stories yet survive? I wiggle fingers, toes, ankles, and arms. Fuck, my right wrist aches like hell, my ribs ache, and I can’t breathe out my nose.

My musings end when Lewis shouts in my ear, his spittle hitting the side of my face. “Where is it?”

Gritting my teeth, I try like hell to open my eyes. Once a lid lifts, I quickly lower it back down. It doesn’t matter. The negative image of crazed, bloodshot eyes remains.

Axel, where are you? I remember falling toward the barbed wire, then rolling off something soft. It had to be my G-man. I am sure of it. So, what happened to him? He would never leave me alone with this madman unless…

My God. Is he dead? What about Lilac? Her baby? Suds and Sam? The rest of my friends? I must survive to tell their story. Otherwise, who will care for my daughter? I wish I had never met Dolly, fed her cats, or tried to find her.

Tears well. Unable to face reality, I allow the darkness to overtake me. The next time my lids rise, Lewis is no longer in my face. Instead, his eye socket remains glued to a microscope, focused on a creased, soggy greenback.

Turning my head, I realize I’m not lying in an infirmary cot but an underground bunker. Disoriented, I wonder how long I have been unconscious. Is it day or night?

“You’re awake. Excellent. The microdot, where is it?” The survivalist leader picks up the pistol on his desk, then points it at my chest.

All my adrenaline depleted, I have no more shits left to give. “Why would I help you to launch Armageddon?”

Smirking, the slick weasel stands, walks to the door, and says to whoever is out there. “Bring him in.”

It takes two men to drag in my severely beaten husband. Even with both eyes swollen, he regards me with so much love, I sob.

Finger on the trigger, Lewis’ gaze narrows as his voice tightens. “Tell me where you hid the dot, or he dies.”

“Don’t do it, babe.” Because of his bruised mouth, the words come out garbled.

Throwing away my well-thought-out plan, my mind races to find another. “Listen, doctor, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I nearly died climbing the tree. I gave you the bill. What more do you want?”

More animal than human, he roars as he shoves the wet C-note in front of my face. “See those fingernail marks? You removed the dot. Stop lying.”

Before I can respond, the madman aims the gun at my spouse. My ears ring from the deafening blast, and I cry out as splinters of the cave floor ricochet, some cutting my arm.

Axel? Lord have mercy. The terrorist shot him. As blood oozes from a hole in my silver wolf’s jeans, the asshole raises the barrel to my man’s forehead. “The next one goes through his brain.”

Through clenched teeth, my husband catches my eye. “Don’t do it, Gwen. I’m only one man. He’s going to bring down the whole damn world.”

Holy shit. I have no plan. What do I do?