Page 97 of Red Fury
But instead of opening the window, she shakes her head and gestures that she can’t. That’s when I can see the heavy-duty locks and bolts securing the windows from the inside.
Shit.
She looks at the door and gestures for me to be as quiet as possible by putting a finger over her mouth. I nod once.
Then I pull out the glass-cutting device from my tactical kit – a small laser tool provided for situations exactly like this. I use a suction cup on the section I plan on removing. The beam cuts through the reinforced glass like butter, creating a hole just large enough for me to slip through. I bring the piece of glass inside, placing it on the thick woolen rug.
As soon as I do, Shadow throws herself into my arms. “I can’t believe you came,” she whispers against my chest. “How did you find me?”
She smells like soap and fear, but underneath it all, she still smells like Shadow. Like everything I’ve been craving.
“You need to leave,” she whispers, pulling back to look at me. “Right now. He’s dangerous, Fury. He’s not human. He’s—”
“I had hoped you’d show up,” Kozlov says as he opens the door to the bedroom.
He stands there in jeans and a white T-shirt, looking completely relaxed despite the fact that I just broke into hispenthouse. His eyes glitter with amusement as he takes in the scene.
“Leave him alone!” Shadow yells. “You have me. You don’t need—”
“Oh, but I do need your friend. I had hoped you would take the bait and come running. Now I have both of you to auction off.”
I push Shadow behind me even though I know she won’t like it. Then I move into a fighting stance, my dragon snarling inside me.
“Let her go,” I growl. “Your business is with me. You don’t need her.”
Kozlov laughs. “How cute. So, the two of you are together. Is it a budding relationship? Are you still in that honeymoon phase? Since you’re willing to die for one another, I would say it is the case.”
“Let her go,” I repeat.
“Not happening.” He shakes his head. “I—”
I don’t give him a chance to say anything else. I launch myself across the room, intent on tearing his throat out with my bare hands.
He meets my charge with a right hook that hits like a sledgehammer.
The impact sends me flying backward into the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. Pain explodes through my ribs, and I taste blood in my mouth.
“He’s not human!” Shadow shouts as I push myself back to my feet.
No shit.
A human couldn’t hit like that. Kozlov advances on me with inhuman speed, his eyes taking on a reddish tinge that makes my dragon rear back in alarm for a split second. His canines elongate into fangs that gleam in the lamplight.
What the fuck is he?
His face is a mask of rage and terror. He’s a fucking monster.
Good thing I am, too. If he thinks I’m going down without one hell of a fight, he’s wrong.
He swings at me again, but this time I’m ready. I duck under his fist and drive my knee up toward his solar plexus. The punch connects, but it’s like hitting a brick wall. He grunts and surprise flares in his eyes.
Yes, fucker! You picked the wrong battle.
His return punch catches me in the jaw, snapping my head back and filling my mouth with more blood. I stumble, my vision blurring for a moment.
“Leave him alone!” Shadow screams, launching herself at Kozlov from the side.
He backhands her, sending her flying across the room. She hits the floor hard and doesn’t get back up. Instead, she groans and pulls herself up onto her elbows. Why is she so weak? What’s going on?
