Page 13 of Knotty Pumpkin

There’s some muffled noise in the background before the line crackles and sirens start up, blaring down the line.

“You got anything on you? This guy is dangerous, Corey.”

“Just my baton,” I confirm, dropping my torch and pulling it from my utility belt. Flicking it out towards the ground, before pulling it back up, I let inertia lengthen it, and move into the strike stance we’d been taught. “What do you mean, he’s dangerous? Did you ID him?”

“Sure did. Twisted motherfucker. Found him through the omega’s files once you gave me her name this afternoon.Can’t say more than that, it’s protected information. Stay alert as you head back to the guard station. I’m on my way.” The line disconnects with a click, and I pocket the phone, scanning the tree line again.

Protected information? That usually means a case has details that haven’t been made public knowledge. This must be big. Bad.

Fuck.

Did Noah and I underestimate the danger our omega was in the night we me met her? Should we have made a civil arrest? Done more to stop the fucker from running?

Bile rises in my throat as I wonder if we left a monster to roam free in our town. A monster who might have hurt our scent match. I don’t know Saylor yet, but I’m drawn to her, and I like her sassy, who gives a fuck, attitude. My alpha wants to protect and claim her as my own, as part of our pack.

The thought that she might be in danger quickens my pace as I continue along the gravel path towards the security office, baton still raised and sense on high alert. Twigs snap a few yards into the dark woods, the foul scent ofhimfloating to me on the breeze.

The urge to enter the trees, take the fucker down and bring him to Hudson consumes me, but I grit my teeth and keep walking. I don’t know him, or what he’s capableof, and I can’t protect Saylor if he gets the upper hand, and I end up injured. Much better to wait for him to come to me out on the open path than to go to him blindly.

The night suddenly seems quiet, deserted, even the wind seems to stop its gentle breeze. My jaw aches as I clench my teeth as I push one foot in front of the other, waiting for the fucker to make his move.

The crunch of gravel sounds behind me, and I spin, ducking and swerving his fist as it swings directly for my nose. Swinging my baton through the air, I strike him in the side, winding him.

“Motherfucker, you’ll pay for that,” the slimy alpha yells, his voice almost as repulsive as his scent.

“I don’t think so,” I growl, dodging his fist again and spinning so that I’m behind him. Kicking out, I hit the back of his knee, causing his legs to buckle. He lands hard in the gravel and I’m on him instantly, pushing him to the ground, my knee in the centre of his back, and my heavier bulk keeping him down.

The sound of sirens announces Hudson’s arrival seconds before two headlights turn off the road and make their way toward us. The alpha beneath me bucks, his scent taking on a sickly burnt edge, tickling my nose and nearly causing me to gag.

Leaning forward, I press my forearm against the back of his neck, pushing the left side of his face into the gravel.

“What do you want with Saylor?” I growl into his ear.

He laughs, the sound grinding on my ears like nails on a chalkboard.

“That bitch is mine. I have big plans for that spicy omega and her juicy cunt. She owes me so much. It’s about time I take it from her.”

My fist collides with the exposed side of his face at the same time Hudson pulls up beside us, cutting the engine and exiting the car with his gun raised.

“Get up. Slowly,” I bark, the command ringing through the air as I lift my arm and sit back on my knees, then pushing to my feet.

At first, it seems like the piece of shit obeys, slowly lifting his hands and pressing his palms against the gravel to push himself up. A smug grin crosses my face a split second before he kicks out, his foot colliding with the back of my ankle and knocking me on my ass. Pain shoots up my spine at the sudden impact and I curse loudly.

He’s up and running before I can even scramble onto all fours, moving faster than I’d have thought possible.

“Stay down,” Hudson shouts, and I drop to the ground, keeping my head low as I glance over to where he stands beside his cruiser.

A loud shot cracks through the night air, Hudson’s aim directly in line with the man running back into the safety of the trees. Finding him in there will be nearly impossible, and that’s exactly why he’s making a run for it.

The bastard stumbles, dirt flying from where Hudson’s shot just misses its mark, and for a second, I think he’s about to go down. But he doesn’t, disappearing into the trees.

“Fuck,” Hudson shouts, running back to his cruiser, reaching in and yanking out the radio. “Macca, mate, north side of Linnara Lake, near the woods. Need a search and retrieve party for a Luke Nelson, wanted on an OSA. Thanks.”

As I push to my feet, I pull my cell from my pocket and call Noah. He might still be with Saylor and if he isn’t, we need to go to her and find out what the fuck is going on, and make sure this Luke psycho doesn’t get to her.

Chapter Nine

Closing the apartment door, I engage the locks before turning around and pressing my back to it. Sweat prickles my brow as I slide down the length, wrapping my arms around my knees as I curl in on myself.

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