Page 38 of Falling for the Grumpy Orc
“Now, why don't you show me your city inspector credentials?” My voice comes out as a low growl. “Chief Inspector Millings, is it?”
The way his eyes dart toward the stairs tells me everything I need to know.
"I'll have to follow up with those later." He edges toward the stairs.
I grab his shirt. "You're not leaving until the sheriff gets here."
The troll's lip curls into a sneer, his mottled blue-gray skin darkening with anger. "Take your hands off me, you brute. This is official city business."
"Like hell it is." My fingers tighten in the fabric of his shirt.
"Wait a minute.” Cassidy’s voice catches my attention and her small frame comes at my side. "Mr. Millings, if you're really an inspector, you won't mind waiting for the sheriff to verify your credentials, right?"
Smart girl. Her voice only trembles a little as she pulls out her phone.
The troll's face twists. "I don't have to prove anything to you."
"Actually, you do." Cassidy's thumb hovers over her phone. "Because I just remembered something. Inspector Martinez told me there was no need for another inspection when he left."
Cassidy keeps her hazel eyes steady on the troll as she makes a call. "Hello, sheriff's office? I need a patrol car sent to the Saltwater Lodgeimmediately. There's a man here whom I suspect is impersonating a city inspector to get into my home…"
The troll's composure cracks.
Everything happens fast after that. The troll twists away, his shirt ripping. His meaty hand shoots out, knocking Cassidy to the ground and sending her phone clattering a few feet away. She yelps and something in me snaps at the sight.
Before I can get a better grip, he snatches up a loose board from a pile lying next to the wall and swings at my head. Pain explodes across my forehead as wood connects with bone.
Blood trickles into my eye as I burst at a sprint after him through the basement and up the stairs, my boots thundering against the wooden steps. The troll's scent of fear leaves a trail I could follow blindfolded. Ahead of me, he crashes through the front door, nearly taking it off its hinges.
My muscles burn as I charge after him, rage fueling each stride, but he has enough of a lead on me that I know I won’t catch him. My claws itch to tear into him, to make him pay for threatening what's mine.
Cassidy's scream pierces the twilight air, high and terrified. "Gerralt!"
I skid to a stop, gravel spraying as the silver sedan flashes down the driveway and onto the road.
I turn back to the house, forgetting about him entirely. "Cassidy!"
She stands on the porch, arms wrapped around herself.
"He hit you so hard." Her voice cracks with unshed tears. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I reach for her without thinking, my hands settling on her shoulders, then I pull her against my chest. She's trembling inmy arms and the surge of possessiveness and protectiveness that rises inside me is totally feral.
"Stay here. I'll check the property, make sure no one else is here."
"Don't leave." Her fingers curl into my shirt. "Please. Stay with me until the police come."
Something in my chest clenches at the vulnerability in her voice and I nod. I keep her like that, nestled against my chest as we wait for the police. We don’t have to wait long. We hear the sirens before we see the flashing lights painting the walls in alternating red and blue.
Sheriff Wolfsbane lopes up the drive, his powerful frame moving with predatory grace despite his police uniform. His ears prick forward as he approaches, and his nostrils flare, no doubt catching the lingering scent of the troll. The werewolf is good at his job and his senses are the perfect asset for it.
"Everyone alright?" he asks, green eyes scanning the property before settling on Cassidy.
"I'm fine," Cassidy says, though her voice shakes slightly. "But he tried to tell me the electrical was unsafe, that I'd have to rewire the whole building or be condemned. He wanted me to leave the house immediately."
The werewolf turns to me and a low growl rumbles in his chest when he spots the blood on my forehead.
“When I asked for his credentials, he bolted. I tried to keep him here, but he hit me with a wood plank and it gave him just enough of a lead to get away."
