Page 69 of Tossed into the Mob
“There's no need for this.” Treyton unhooked Lua and handed her to Dad. I blew her a kiss, hoping she’d remember my scent for always.
“Oh, there is,” Gasper snarled. “Your meddling cost me a profitable operation, and I’ve had little else to do but plan how to get my revenge.”
Lua had quieted a little in Dad’s arms, and he was whispering how much he loved her and the toys they’d play with at bath time. Dad’s hands trembled, and I mouthed, “I’m sorry,” through my tears. Emilio had kept Dad away from the mafia and La Luna Noir, and I’d dragged him back into it.
“Please, the baby’s hungry. I need to feed her.” I thought of all Grandpa Arnie’s jars of food and wished I could ram one down Gasper’s throat.
“She sounds like a healthy baby.” He smirked. “There’s a market for babies just like her.”
Treyton roared, and Lua cried. Dad screamed, and I must have moved closer to the other guy. I didn’t remember it but suddenly I was in his face, yelling that if he touched my baby, I'd have his head.
He sneered and his nostrils flared, saying he’d like to see me try. He cracked his knuckles. “Do it and I’ll tear your heart out and eat it for breakfast.”
Lua began to cry again, probably at me shouting, and Dad was trying to soothe her, but his voice was shaking. This was my fault, trying to prove myself to the pack. We should have left town and gone home, leaving La Luna Noir behind.
I put a hand to my head because there were so many sounds hurtling around me. There was a thump that reminded me of a heartbeat. Treyton was telling Gasper if he wanted a fight, to go ahead but to leave me out of it.
“I was the one who insisted my mate get involved in the shifter business. He begged me to leave him out of it, but I forced him.”
There was screaming inside my head, but I didn’t know where it was coming from. My mate was taking the blame for me, but it was Lua who needed protecting.
“Do not move,” the other guy spoke as if he was underwater. My head hurt so bad, and I scratched my arms, wanting to tear my skin off. Treyton and Gasper were snarling, and they were crouched, ready to spring at one another, but they still had their skin.
I had to do something, but the world was spinning and the edges were blurry. Please gods, no. I couldn’t faint. With my last breath, I had to protect Lua. I lurched to my right and then left, and the trees, the bad guys, my family, and my baby were hazy. I was failing and couldn’t protect Lua from people who wanted to steal her away as payback for what I’d done.
The darkness crept in until only a tiny point of light remained and everything went black.
There was pounding in my ears and the scent of Treyton’s wolf. We’d been on a walk. Did I take a nap afterward? Lua must be ready for her bath. I opened my eyes and blinked at the sun. The smell of blood taunted my senses, and I almost gagged.
I turned my head. Treyton was holding Lua and he was naked. He had an arm around Dad, and both of them were staring at me, their expressions one of shock. Did I faint? And if so, why weren’t they attending to me?
“Hey.” Treyton reached out to touch my face. “Everything's okay.”
I tried to sit up. Oh gods, had I run a marathon? My body ached, and I was covered in mud and grass seeds.
“What happened?” I reached out and stroked Lua’s hair.
The memories returned in a rush. Gasper and another guy. They wanted to take Lua and hurt us. “Where’s Gasper?”
Treyton jerked his head at a mangled body. “My wolf took care of him.” He helped me sit up.
“And the other one?” I doubted Treyton’s wolf could have taken them both down, but he was fierce, so maybe.
My mate and Dad shared a glance. He’d run off, and we wouldn’t be safe until he was found.Dad glanced over his shoulder, and I followed his gaze. There was a body but no head. He’s been decapitated.
“You did that?” I stroked the cut on Treyton's brow that was healing quickly. “I’m sorry I fainted and didn’t help. You were the one who saved us and I did nothing.”
He gulped. “I didn’t kill guy number two.”
I glanced around, looking for Flint and the others. Treyton must have gotten word to them, but we’d left our phones in the house.
“My beast killed Gasper, but the other one was trying to snatch Lua away from Niles.”
“Then how?” My head was fuzzy, and there was something they weren’t telling me. I looked at my hands and the rest of my body. I was naked.
“Treyton, who decapitated that guy?”
“You did.”
