Page 66 of Savannah Royals
Gasping, I wrench away with enough vigor that hair rips from my scalp. I pull in a second desperate breath as I lean around Craig.
Abe is struggling again, trying to rise and fight. He’s quickly pushed to the ground, this time with a blooming black eye to match Paul’s. The man above him rears back and lands a harsh kick to his ribs. Abe curls around his gut. The brute steps back for another go, and I turn to Craig.
“Call him off,” I rasp.
Another grunt from Abe.
Craig yanks my hair, tugging my head back. “What’s it worth to you?”
“You know exactly what it’s worth.” I narrow my eyes but play along, sliding my arms around his neck. Abe takes a third kick as I do.
“Call. Him. Off.” I hold Craig’s eyes.
He waves his hand, and the man abusing Abe stands down. Craig pushes me back, then forces me onto the low counter of the bar.
I scan the room. The four men without guns aren’t really threats. They’re clustered loosely around the room, leering at me with interest. Two of them sit on the tables, completely at ease. The man guarding Abe is similarly lecherous, and his gun hangs limply by his side.
Unfortunately, Abe is on the floor with his eyes squeezed shut, his breaths coming in shallow pants. The other problem—the most pressing problem, really—is the man guarding Paul. The revolver is still trained firmly on his forehead, and that trigger can be pulled in an instant.
“Are you watching, Paul?” Craig taunts.
When he climbs on top of me, I realize we’re not getting out of this alive. Not any of us. I’m collateral damage, useful to hurt Paul, but once Craig is finished, he’ll kill us. One by one. Letting him have his way bought us time, but I haven’t changed the outcome.
Not yet.
I’ve accomplished my first job though. Craig thinks I’m submissive and helpless.
But he’s wrong. I am neither.
I am a wolf.
I turn my head to Paul, and he meets my gaze. We’ve never needed words. His dark eyes flick to my right. All the knives, the ones they stripped from the guys, lie behind me on the counter. Ripe for the taking. One of Paul’s is closest. A corner of my mouth lifts, liking the irony.
“I’m going to fuck you so hard,” Craig murmurs. His lips move sloppily across my neck. “I’m going to fuck you harder than he’s ever fucked you in his miserable life.”
Target acquired.
I burn my eyes into Tony’s now, making sure he’s ready. He tightens his mouth and crosses his arms. Three fingers appear on his shirtsleeve. I try to bend my neck to spot Abe, but there’s no way to warn him. I can only hope his eyes are open. Or at least his ears. He’ll need to move quickly.
Tony drops a finger.Two.
I wait.
One.
When his last finger falls, my hand darts overhead, grip closing around Paul’s knife.
“Abe!” I scream as I swing my arm around and plunge the blade deep into Craig’s back. It’s a clean stick, angled under his ribs on the left side. One and done, exactly the way Paul taught me long ago.
You gotta come at them quick and hard, Kitty-Kat, because they’re always gonna be bigger than you.
Craig slumps on top of me. I kick him off, rolling his carcass to the floor.
Across the room, my wolves move in synchronicity. Paul ducks in his seat as Tony grabs a glass whiskey bottle. He swings hard, shattering it into a million shards against the bearded man’s face. The gun goes off, but it fires wide before clattering to the floor.
On the ground, Abe kicks out with his right leg, sweeping the feet from under his attacker. I move to his aid, but a stray Magpie with a knife rushes me. I duck his wild swing and plunge my blade into his gut. He drops to the floor.
Abe is still on the ground, but so is his attacker. The gun lies several feet away, forgotten. They’re tussling for position on the floor, but Abe quickly loses and gets pinned. He’s wheezing, badly hurt. I’m behind the Magpie in a flash, and with a flick of my wrists, I snap his neck. Shoving him aside with a grunt, I crouch over Abe.
