Page 33 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“Do you see that?” someone called out.

“What is it?” another person answered.

“Scales. It’s scales.”

Murmurs all over the restaurant erupted. Gerard sent one man after another flying. Sirens blared in the distance, along with the rumbling horn blasts from a fire engine. Lachelle imagined they were headed toward the sight of the bomb.

Gerard reached Lachelle, allowing her to see now that he was barefoot. God, this crazy weirdo, she liked him so much. He reached for the man who thrust her between himself and Gerard. What a coward. She had the feeling Gerard was about to rip the guy’s arm off and didn’t want anyone to see such a violent sight.

The ends of Gerard’s fingers were like claws. Even while it made her nervous to touch his hand, she covered it with her own anyw

ay. “Gerard, don’t kill him.”

The rage-filled eyes turned from the enemy to Lachelle. “He touched you.”

“I know, but he’s backing off now, right, loser?” She looked pointedly at the guy’s hand on her arm, which had already gone slack—probably in fear.

“Y-yeah, yeah.” He let go of Lachelle and stumbled backward.

“We have to go.” Gerard grabbed her hand to tug her behind him, but she resisted.

“My sister. Come on, Janessa. Let’s get out of here.”

Soon they were on the street running. Janessa’s rounded eyes and pale skin worried Lachelle. She had the feeling her sister felt far more vulnerable with a baby to protect. “I never wanted to deal with this mess again. I was safe with Declan. I’m going to be sick.”

“Where’s your car?” Lachelle held her sister close to her side, trying to will strength and comfort to her through their touch.

“Back at the restaurant’s lot,” Janessa moaned. “I ran without thinking, and I left my bag and purse.”

“Lachelle slapped her forehead. “So did I.”

“Oh God, I don’t want to go back there.”

“I can fly all three of you,” Gerard offered.

“Heck no!”

Both Lachelle and Janessa answered him at the same time.

When they stopped to catch their breath—although Gerard wasn’t breathing hard at all—Lachelle checked to see if anyone followed them. No one pursued.

“How about this?” she said to Gerard. “Why don’t I stay here with Janessa and the baby? We’ll hide, and I’ll give you my car keys so you can drive it back here.”

“I don’t drive.”

“Okay so… You don’t have a car, but you know how to drive, right?”

“No, I don’t know how.”

She blinked at him. “Where have you been living all this time, in the jungle?”

He colored but didn’t answer.

Lachelle paced. “I don’t know what else to do at this point. We could get a taxi, but I don’t want to stand here any longer than we have to.”

Three black SUVs turned the corner at the end of the block. Lachelle’s world tipped upside down. The adrenaline she had felt earlier began to wear off to be replaced by shock, fear, and exhaustion. The bad guys had sent in backup, and even as strong as Gerard was, he couldn’t fight them all off, especially if they had guns.

When Lachelle’s emotions flared, Gerard laid a hand on her lower back. His scales appeared on his face and arms, but the expression on his face remained passive. “Don’t worry.”

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