Page 49 of Darling Wildfire
I risked a glance behind me and wished I hadn’t. He was too close.
I reached the landing before the second set of stairs and a weight slammed into me, sending us both to the ground. Panic overwhelmed me and for a moment every single defense move I’d ever been taught left my head. His hand came around to cover my mouth and I realized I was screaming,
Then it was like a calm stole over me and everything Theron and Graham drilled into me came rushing back. I got out of his hold, slamming my knee into his groin. Gaining my feet, I raced the rest of the way up the stairs.
The second floor was mostly tables and chairs in front of a small cafeand multiple lounge areas with a water feature and greenery. I threw down a potted tree into the man’s path, causing him to stumble as I raced across the space, throwing chairs as I crossed into the cafe area. He reached me and grabbed me from behind, pulling me to him with a growl.
“I was warned you’d be a spicy one,” the man panted.
I stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the face. He let me go.
I ran into the kitchen, bent on finding a weapon but he was right on my heels and we crashed into the prep area and into a massive shelf of pots and pans. The sound was deafening as everything fell around us. I scrambled across the floor and a hand curled around my ankle, dragging me backwards. I clawed at the slick floor, looking for anything I could use. I saw the knives had been spilled across the tile, mixed with the pots and pans. I grabbed one, just as he flipped me onto my back.
“You’re lucky Vetticus said not to kill you because you’re really testing me, bitch.”
In answer, I sat up and brought the knife down. He was quick and deflected it so that instead of his neck, it bit into his shoulder. He cried out but didn’t let go of my calf, instead, his jaw clenched and he yanked me towards him hard with a growl. His hand closed around my neck while the other yanked the knife out. He replaced his hand on my neck with the blade, pressing down until I hardly dared breathe for fear of it digging into my skin.
“Be sure to share with Kraven what happened here,” he sneered. “Compliments of Vetticus.”
My breath was painful gasps as his other hand fumbled with my jeans. I fought him with my hands and kicked out at him. He slapped me so hard my ears rang and I whimpered as the knife bit into my skin under my jaw.
Our combined strained breathing was the only sound as he finally unbuttoned my pants. I struggled again and just as he was about to hit me for a second time, there was a gunshot and blood exploded over me. The man’s body knelt suspended in place for a moment before it toppled forward on top of me. I shrieked and scrambled out from under it, twisting to see who’d shot him.
A pair of familiar grey eyes the intensity of a raging storm met mine as Theron stepped into view.
My exhale of relief turned into a sob as I got to my knees, taking deep breaths to calm the panic before I could even think about getting to my feet. He grabbed my arm, helping me stand, and I clutched at him, burying my face in his chest. He dug his fingers into my hair and held me against his beating heart that felt as erratic as mine.
“How did you—? Did Graham—?” I couldn’t finish any of my sentences as I pulled my face away enough to look up at him.
“Graham called me when your call dropped,” he said. “Are there others?”
I shook my head.
“Graham’s coming.” He must have had a comms unit in because a moment later Graham rounded the corner of the kitchen, his own gun out and ready.
“Wyatt is dead,” he said to Theron.
“Who?” I asked.
“I had a man on overwatch—sniper across the street—” he said when he saw my confusion. Theron gently pushed me towards Graham and he held me just as tightly.
“Fuck, beautiful. Thank god you called me,” he said.
I was rapidly collecting myself and with the drop in adrenaline came my anger at the situation. I pushed away from Graham and held out my hands, closing my eyes briefly to grab onto the thoughts raging through my head.
I opened my eyes and looked directly at Theron. “Who is Vetticus?”
He was good at hiding his surprise, except I knew him so intimately I saw his jaw clench and annoyance briefly crossed his features.
“An old enemy,” he said.
“Well, that man told me this was a message from him,” I said and watched Theron’s eyes grow black with intensity. “He used your name ‘Kraven,’” I added. Graham and Theron exchanged a look and my eyes narrowed. “Okay, I need to know what’s going on and I need to know right fucking now.”
“It’s complicated,” Theron said.
“It’s complicated?” I echoed. “It’s complicated? That’s all you have to say? After someone broke into my house and now nearly raped me? It’s fucking complicated?” My voice had slowly risen until I was definitely yelling the last few words, my chest heaving in fury.
My jaw dropped when Theron had the balls to take out his phone and make a call. I looked over at Graham, who ran a hand over his face like he was just as frustrated.
