Page 18 of Savage Hunter

“Keep her there.” Fat fingers crush my upper arm. But it’s the gun at my head that keeps me on my knees.

Wolfe fights off the guards. Landing punches and taking them. Five against one are not odds I would go up against, but my lover is built for fighting.

Bones crunch, and men scream in agony.

“Stop!”

My mother’s command is obeyed instantly.

A hulking Wolfe, breathing harshly, comes to stand in front of her. “I knew you were a fucking bitch. I didn’t realize you were a fucking monster, too.”

The remaining guards still breathing pick themselves up and pull their guns. Three guys with two guns each are worse odds than fighting off five with your fists.

“Wolfe, stop,” I urge him. “You won’t win. She’ll kill you.” I can’t stand the idea of him dying for me.

“I’ll die if I have to, Harmonia.” He’s talking to me, but has his eyes on my mother.

“Aw, how sweet. I feel all mushy inside.” Mother snaps her fingers and Brutus smacks the back of Wolfe’s head with the butt of his gun. Wolfe falls to his knees clutching at the back of his head. His hands come back bloody.

“You’ll have to kill me if you want to take her.” He struggles back to his feet, falters slightly. Brutus comes in again and aims to land a blow to his ribs, but Wolfe is prepared. A fist meets Brutus’ face and Wolfe doesn’t stop until the other man is bleeding on the ground and unconscious. The surrounding men look stunned by the brutality.

Lethal hunger shines in Wolfe’s eyes when he turns back to my mother intent on seeing her life end. I have no doubt about it.

“Wolfe, no. No!” I fight off the man’s hold on my arm and sprint across the courtyard. I didn’t expect to get far and I was right. I’m caught around the waist and this time I’m carried to the back of a white van I didn’t take notice of until now.

“If you want her to survive the night, you’ll kneel before me like the mutt you are.”

“I’ll kneel over your dead body. That is the only way you’ll get me on my knees.”

Wolfe grips my mother’s throat and looks every bit the hunter ready to off his prey. My protector.

“Where is your society now? I don’t see anyone here trying to protect you.”

Just as the words leave my mouth the stranger from her office steps through the crowd, a phone raised.

“I see we have ourselves a standoff.” Is his accent thicker or my ears are clogged? The Russian holds a phone up and whatever is on the screen has Wolfe’s face to turn pale.

“What have you done to her?”

“Wolfe? What’s going on?” I thrash and fight to be freed, but this time the guard is prepared and only clamps his fist around my upper arm harder.

The van rumbles to life, and the back doors throw open in front of me. Inside, I see chains attached to the empty cavern.

“What is this?”

“I’ve arranged a new deal, dear. Good news, you won’t be married off tonight after all. But we will put you to good use.”

Wolfe still hasn’t let go of my mother’s throat, but he hasn’t snapped her neck either. What does she have on him? What is he seeing on the screen?

“They have my sister.” Gut-wrenching pain and disbelief slithers through his words to match the poison of death dripping from his tone. Death wants to use him to deliver justice and Wolfe is struggling not to give in to his demand.

Wolfe has a sister?

“Let her go.” In no universe will my command be obeyed. I know this. So I tip the scales. No one else will die because of me.

“Let his sister go and I will do whatever it is you want, Mother.”

“I know you will. Ever the obedient daughter.”

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