Page 34 of Liar For Hire (For Hire 1)

The woman sprang toward Janessa, but Janessa jerked backward. Her chair overturned, and she crashed down to the floor. Pain shot up through her butt as she bruised her tailbone. The woman landed on top of her, crouching and baring teeth that were jagged like an animal’s. Janessa screamed.

Every head swiveled in their direction, and the man who had been watching her apartment zipped over to them to drag the woman off Janessa. Patrick barked an order, and two more women came for Janessa’s attacker. She was taken somewhere out of Janessa’s sight.

Patrick appeared above Janessa. “Come with me. It seems it’s time for me to tell you the truth. If you know what you’re dealing with, you’ll realize it doesn’t do you any good to resist.”

“Doubtful. I’m very stubborn, and I don’t back down until I get my own way. I’ve always stood up for myself, and I don’t care what you threaten me with. Whether Declan is by my side or not, I’m not going to bow my head to you and your crazy followers. Get that through your head.”

He stooped beside her, amusement lighting his eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

He held up a hand as if to show it to her.

“Go ahead and try it. If you hit me, I’m going to use all my strength to claw your stupid face apart.”

“I assure you, I wasn’t about to hit you. I meant to show you something.”

“Show me what?”

Several whispers rose amidst the people behind him. At least one person protested aloud. Patrick ignored them all.

And just like that, his hand changed from a human’s to an animal’s. Scaly skin, curved black claws, all the hallmarks of a… She swallowed, sick to her stomach. Darkness edged her vision, and she tried to blink it away. Her head dipped and swayed. She had to face the truth even as all the blood left her head.

Declan and his people were truly dragon shifters.

Chapter 13

Janessa moaned and rolled over. She buried her face in her hands, but the absence of light did nothing to stop the images flitting across her brain. Over and over, she saw Patrick’s hand change into that of a dragon’s claw. Then his whole body morphed into a great dragon. Of course the body thing was just in her dreams. In real life, Patrick stopped at his hand. It was enough of a change to convince her.

She sat up and took in the room around her. Somehow she ended up on a couch in someone’s office. From the distant clink of dishes and the sound of voices, she assumed after she fainted, someone carried her here.

She tiptoed over to the door and tried it. The knob turned easily enough, and she breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as she opened the door, the scent of steak and fresh bread hit her nose. Her stomach churned with hunger. What time was it now? She reached to check her phone in her purse, but her purse wasn’t there. Nor was it anywhere in the room.

If she was quiet enough and with a little luck, she might be able to escape. Then once she was on the road, she could flag down a policeman or a helpful person with a phone. The problem was, how would she know if the person was human?

Silver eyes.

“Stupid, how can you tell before they’re up on you whether they have silver eyes or not?”

“Don’t worry. We’re all shifters here.”

She jumped a mile as Patrick stepped into the hall from another room. Her mouth fell open, and he chuckled, gesturing for her to return to the room she just vacated. Hopelessness descended as she sank down onto the couch.

“What do you want with me? Declan and I aren’t even friends anymore, and if you’re worried he’ll get involved with a human, forget it. He’s seeing someone else. She’s one of you.”

He raised his eyebrows, but she couldn’t figure out if he was surprised or didn’t give a crap.

“Maybe you know her. Her name is Roxie. I mean, I’m not sure how many of you there are in the world and if you all know each other… Wait, that sounds racist. Species-ist?”

He smirked. “For your information, there aren’t many of us. So, yes, I do know most. I’m hoping to gather all of us that were scattered throughout the world. I believe I’ve uncovered every pocket, every branch.”

“Good for you. What does that have to do with me?”

“It’s simple, but just a moment.” He looked toward the door. “Carl.”

The door opened, and the man who had been watching her place stepped into the room. “Sir?”

“Bring her something to eat. She looks wobbly. I don’t want her passing out again. Humans are so fragile.”

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