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“I think we all have to fight the werewolf within us somehow.” — William Kempe

Axel

Thank God, the lunatic only grazed my thigh. The blood may appear life-threatening, but I’m not leaving this world anytime soon.

“I love you, babe.” My head throbbing, I roll toward Gwen and groan.

“I love you, too. Don’t you dare die.” As tears run down my baby’s face, she turns to Lewis. “The dot never left the safe, asshole. Now, call him an ambulance.”

If what she says is true, the bluff was fucking amazing. My woman’s audacity makes my chest swell.

On the other side of the cave, the cult leader’s face changes from red to purple. Turning to a Goliath of a man in his twenties, he shouts, “We have to get her back upstairs.”

“Sir, we can’t. The building is crawling with Feds.” The guard stares at the only other one in the room, who shrugs.

Still drenched from the storm, two jacks shy of a full deck, crazy James leaves a trail of water as he stomps toward the underground room’s door to open it. “Grow some balls. We need that dot.”

While we wait for the youngster to respond, fucking Dolly DeClaire’s voice resonates in the tunnel. “Dr. Lewis, tell your people to drop their weapons. Inside. Now.”

Mr. End-of-the-World raises his arms, pales, and returns to the dimly lit room. After a short hesitation, he glances at his men. “Do it.”

“Tie wrap their hands behind their back.” Once her demands have been met, she saunters into the room, taking a moment to size up the situation.

“Special Agent Wulf, I trust you can handle things from here. Your better half and I are going to find the dot.” If her voice is any indication, the spook will kill us all to achieve her goal.

Gwen, terrible at reading people, rushes to my side. “Give me a second, Dolly. That madman shot Axel. I want to stop the bleeding.”

When my wife reaches for my belt buckle, I close the gap between us. “It only grazed me, but keep going. I need to tell you something.”

Biting her lower lip, my wife’s eyes tear as she notices the pool of blood under my leg, “It’s a lot worse than you’re making it out to be.”

I scoot forward so she can tug the leather free of the loops. “Go ahead. Cinch my upper thigh. Not too tight.”

She gives me a confused expression but, for once, follows my instructions. When finished, she glances up at Dolly, now frowning at us. This lady has done nothing but leave us in the lurch. I have no doubt she’s about to do it again.

Needing my wife on the same page, I catch her gaze. “Do not trust DeClaire, you hear me?”

After Gwen bobs her head, Ms. Mata Hari approaches. “Enough. Dr. Wulf? Time to go.”

“Not without me.” Determined, I rise and take a step forward on my wounded leg.

As it buckles under my weight, the spy cocks her head. “We don’t have time for this. Once the dot has been found, Gwen will be free to go.”

My spouse pats the top of my head, much like she would Bear. “It’s okay, honey. You stay here. I’ll be right back. I promise.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely not. Babe, put your arm around my waist.” Gritting my teeth, I limp to my partner, wife, and my everything.

Fingering her weapon, DeClaire scowls. “I can’t allow you to slow us down. I need her. She’s necessary for the success of this operation. You? Not so much.”

Guinivere glances down at the pistol pointed at me. Face pale, she presses a gentle kiss to my sore lips. “I got this. Trust me.”

“Remember what I said.” I catch her gaze and pray she does nothing to put her life in danger.

“I have a plan,” she says.

God help me. Of course, she does.