Page 100 of Stealthy as a Wolf

Then we’d be screwed.

“What the hell?!” The sheriff stopped in the doorway, a thunderous expression on his face. “What the fuck is going on here?”

I nearly sagged in relief when I saw the lawman and a dozen other officers standing behind him. I gave the gorilla a trembling smile, then nodded toward my prisoners. “You wanted proof that we’re being targeted. What better proof than catching them in the act?”

“Shift!” The gorilla roared, and the tiny snakes exploded outward into a dozen or more very naked men. The officers who accompanied the sheriff were quick to cuff the intruders and haul them away.

“We’re safe. You did it.” Burke ignored the chaos and turned me so I could see nothing but him. He cupped my face and pressed his forehead against mine. “You can let go now. It’s nowourturn to protectyou. It’s time for you to let go.”

Drowning in his blue eyes, I allowed myself to fall and trusted him to catch me.

I released my hold on the snakes and slumped against him when the pressure on my brain vanished. Truthfully, I didn’t actually have enough strength to hold myself up any longer. I discreetly swiped a trickle of fresh blood from my nose, not wanting the guys to fuss.

Boone stormed toward the bars, grabbing them in his fists, and shook them so hard that I swore they rattled. “Let us out of here now. Take us to Simba.”

The gorilla paused, his muscles tensing. “The president—”

“Arrived this morning. Tell him Burke and Boone are here to see him. Our cousin will be expecting us.”

I stiffened in Burke’s hold and pulled away. “Cousin?”

Chapter Twenty-eight

BOONE

My grip on the bars was so tight that my knuckles ached, but I just couldn’t seem to pry my hands away, afraid I’d be tempted to snatch up my mate and just run.

Fuck the Summit.

Fuck the gods-be-damned snakes.

This was not how things were supposed to go. My mate was not supposed to get hurt because of me and some stupid job. We were supposed to be the ones protecting her, yet once more, she’d been the one put in danger by protecting us.

I didn’t want to bring my cousin in on our mess, and no doubt, Burke would be furious. This job was supposed to be our chance to prove ourselves. We would finally have enough money to buy our freedom, but I no longer cared about that anymore.

Maggie needed help now.

I would give up everything if it meant keeping her safe.

The sheriff took his sweet ass time returning. When he unlocked the cell, I stalked toward Maggie, intent on picking her up and never letting her go. But when I reached for her, she swatted away my hand and snapped, “I can walk.”

I slumped in defeat, the hope that she might have missed what I said going up in flames. I trailed behind her, begging for attention like a lost puppy at her heels. “I can explain. We—”

“Now is not the time or the place,” she hissed, not even bothering to look my way.

She was right, but I couldn’t help but wince, the sting of rejection cutting me to the quick. I reached for the connection with my mate, needing to feel close to her, and I was gutted when I discovered she had somehow managed to block me.

It felt like I’d lost a piece of my soul.

My shoulders drooped, and the rest of the guys shot me commiserating looks as we were led down some hallway. I dragged my feet, casting a look at Maggie every few seconds, but she refused to crack.

In fact, she refused to acknowledge any of us.

It was all I could do not to shift into my tiger form so I could hide from the pain.

I needed to find a way to make this up to her somehow, and I wasn’t sure orgasms were going to be enough this time. No, I needed something special.

Maybe I would let her tie me up and punish me.

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