Page 37 of Bite Marks

The man kept the bullets flying across the room. He gave a steady defensive warning as he pulled her toward the exit. Nunzio's heart began to race at the implication. Kidnappings didn’t usually have happy endings.

Ginger, Cap, and No Neck positioned themselves around the shooter. They tried to cage him in, but his reflexes were sharp. Firing his last bullet, he threw the gun at them, quickly extending his deadly claws,

He pressed the tip to Vanessa’s throat, and she quieted. Her fear caused Nunzio to growl. He struggled to stand, fueled by the desperate need to protect her. His body was weighed down like lead.

He pushed harder, forcing his limbs to find their strength. His mate needed him. All it would take is one slip of the gunman’s hand, and he would lose her forever. His heart seized, the cold claws of fear pushing him to the edge. His wolf fought for control.

He could feel a wall blocking his body from accepting the change. He wasn’t strong enough to shift. He cursed that coward. Sneaking up behind him like a fucking rat. The thought of losing her unleashed a bloodlust he had never felt. He wouldn’t just kill him; he would enjoy it.

“Careful now, or this one …” the bear gripped Vanessa by the hair, jerking her forward for emphasis, “... may pay the price.”

He disappeared through the door, taking Vanessa with him. No Neck and Cap gave chase while Ginger made his way to Nunzio. The vibration of metal hitting the smooth ground let Nunzio know the bullet had already been pushed out. Ginger gripped Nunzio's hand and pulled him onto his feet.

Nunzio growled a savage cry, a warning of what was to come to everyone that laid their hand on her. His muscles knotted together, all traces of the gunshot disappearing from his flesh. He stretched his shoulders, moving them in small circles. Bullets may not kill him, but they sure as hell slowed him down and regeneration tended to make the body stiff.

If you’re going to try to kill a man, at least have the fucking balls to look him in the eyes while you do it.

No Neck and Cap came running back in, their faces grim. No Neck nodded at him, and he nodded back, letting him know he was okay. They needed to find Vanessa quickly if they wanted him to stay that way.

"Anybody get a look at that fucking asshole?" Nunzio asked.

“It’s that fucking mook, Lenny. I got a good look at him when he was busy threatening Vanessa,” Ginger said.

"When the fuck did he come home?" Cap asked.

"What am I, his wife?" Ginger replied. " He wasn't supposed to be out for at least another three years … if he made parole, that is, but I told you what I heard about him planning to escape."

“He must have busted out,” No Neck chimed in.

“Why would he want to come after Nunzio?” Cap asked the question they were all thinking.

“That's obvious. Lenny used to be in charge of this area. He was probably expecting to come out and slide back into his old position. Must have felt pissed when he found out he’d been replaced,” Ginger said.

"And now he is coming to take it back," No Neck said, looking at Nunzio.

This was his fault. If it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have been targeted. His mind traveled through the darkness he lived in. Nunzio thought about what happened to people caught in the crossfire of wars. He clenched his fist, claws breaking through this skin. Sticky beads of blood glued onto his plans, and he ignored them. The pain grounded him.

"First, we need to find Vanessa," Nunzio said. All three men turned to him, giving him their full attention. “Someone has to know where Lenny’s hiding. Spread out and start asking around. No one rests until we find where this sick fuck took her.”

Nunzio left without another word. Every second counted. Lenny didn’t seem like a man with morals. Having him alone with Vanessa for any length of time wouldn’t end well. He jumped into the Roma and drove straight to the center of town. Wherever Lenny was, he wouldn't be hiding for long.

Nunzio knew exactly where to go to get the kind of information he needed. While he didn't deal with drugs, in his line of work, it helped him to be familiar with the dealers and their customers.

The things he could find out from society’s unseen never ceased to amaze him. That was the good thing about the city. There were always eyes watching. If Lenny was out, someone would have heard about it.

He remembered hearing stories of Lenny. A mean man with a cold reputation. If Nunzio were being honest with himself, he could see the similarities between them.

Both men worked their way up from nothing. Dedicating years of their life for the good of the family. Nunzio’s hands were stained long ago like the other man's, but that was about where their similarities stopped.

He thought about what the Don had said to him. How important it was to have a good balance. The family and your personalfamilia. It was part of being a real man of character.

That was the problem.

There were too many men like Lenny who only cared about power. But power erodes. Before long, you become addicted to keeping your place above the others. Once you were there, everything and everyone became an enemy. Then that glittering life you created became a deadly game.

Nunzio understood what replacing Lenny meant. He would always have a target on his back. But that was just life. The higher up you went, the more people wanted to see you fall. He had never thought about it this way. He was a nobody with nothing to lose and everything to gain. He didn't put much stock in things others considered dangerous. Always running headfirst into the fire. That was how he became a man worth the Don's attention.

But that was before Vanessa. Before he had someone to protect. Seeing her taken right out of his club with him unable to do anything about it made all the pieces click into place. There was nothing more dangerous than a man protecting his family.

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