Page 109 of Toxic

Gunfire split the air, as if to answer my question. Daryl’s teeth flashed in the darkness as we huddled together. Rather, I was cuddling close to his side and he was nice enough not to shove me out of his personal bubble.

“That’s him giving ‘em hell right now. Don’t worry about Boone, he’s got this under control. He’s a lot more dangerous than his playful nature lets on.”

Nodding, I picked my shotgun back up and faced the front door, my back pressed to Daryl’s. But they weren’t stupid enough to come through the same door twice. Not with their friend’s dead body lying in the entrance.

I let out a low yelp of surprise when the window in the living room shattered. I’d like to be able to say I made it through this fight being stoic and brave, but I was really just doing my best not to wet myself. If Isla was here, she’d probably be laughing in the face of danger.

Daryl shot the man who threw himself through my window. My poor house. He’d joined his friend lying on the floor. I listened hard as the gunfire got further away. “Are they leaving?”

“Boone’s leading them away from us.”

I nibbled my bottom lip. “Should we-” My shotgun jerked as movement came through the front door. I gasped in horror as I recognized Eris’s shadow. Pointed ears came trotting up happily to us. “Oh my God!” I clutched my heart. “I could have shot you,” I hissed at her, but pulled her into my arms as soon as she got close enough, and buried my face in her fur. “Are you okay?”

“Do you expect her to answer?” Daryl asked with a chuckle.

His statement dragged a laugh out of me. If I wasn’t careful I’d start laughing, then it would turn into hysterical sobbing. None of us needed that right now. I needed to be brave. These two men, and even my dog, were being strong in this situation. I could do the same. I dealt with obnoxious, thousand pound animals on a daily basis. I could handle this.

Eris struggled in my arms, ran to the door, then looked over her shoulder at me. I frowned.

“This dog Lassie or something?” Daryl muttered, getting to his feet.

“Huh?”

“She wants us to follow her.”

My eyes widened in the dark. “Toxic,” I gasped, scrambling to my feet. I held the shotgun close as I crossed to the front door.

Daryl grabbed hold of me before I could barge through.

“He must need our help,” I insisted.

“I know, but you can’t just go running out there. You’ll get shot.”

Right. The bad guys. I waited while he stuck his head out and looked around. “Stay as low as you can and follow me.”

The three of us slunk across the open area that separated the house and the barn. By the time we got around to the other side a sliver of moon was starting to rise, giving us just enough light to see.

Four men were yelling, and they were clustered around in an arc shouting angrily about something. Toxic. He was standing nearby with his hands in the air. We crept a little closer, sticking close to the fence line so we could see what was happening. “What do we do?” I asked.

“I can circle in behind them, but…” Daryl shook his head.

Hot breath blew over my hair and I looked up and over my shoulder. My eyes widened. My massive bull, Gus, was standing on the other side of the fence, blowing his hot breath all over me. Gus had impeccable bloodlines, and he was playful with me, but he hated strangers.

He must have busted through the fences between here and the field the heifers were in. The gunshots had probably agitated him. He blew out another snort as Daryl and I eyed him. Looking over at Daryl, I gave him a shaky smile. “I have an idea.”

“Let me do it,” he hissed my way a minute later as I started creeping toward the group of men.

“I’m smaller,” I insisted. “Besides, Gus knows me. He won’t trample me to death.” I hoped. “Wait here.”

Keeping low, I crept over to where the gate was. We were standing behind the four men. I could see Toxic, scowling at them as they barked orders at him. There wasn’t any more time.

“Just kill him. Then we’ll find the girl,” the leader of the four said.

I reached up and slowly, to keep from making noise, pulled the latch back and opened the door. “Eris,” I whispered.

The snap of teeth was drowned out by the enraged bellow coming from Gus. I pressed myself against the fence as the huge body flew past, racing toward the men out in front of us. I could only hope that Toxic managed to get out of the way in time.

Gripping my shotgun, I ran behind Gus, Eris at my side, ready to shoot any of these assholes who tried to hurt my biker, my soon to be father-in-law, or my animals. I’d had enough of people threatening me and those I loved. They were going to pay for it.

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