Page 64 of Savage Hunter

Dragon is a protector by nature, just like Wolfe. I look up into his eyes to find his beast pulling at the chains, thirsty for blood. He wants to join Dragon but he won’t leave my side.

The argument seems settled when high beams flood the living room just as Mace, Casanova and Blaze burst through the door, slamming it behind them.

“We didn’t get all the fuckers, but they are tearing down the gates as we speak, Prez. Shit is about to get real and fast.”

Casanova is gasping for air, and Mace doesn’t look to be doing any better. Blaze, a former Marine, looks at home in the middle of a shootout.

Rounds thunder against the door and bulletproof glass windows. It’s not been a month since Ares and Nova had the compound fixed after Asena’s father and connected henchmen used the place as target practice, too. And now it’s happening all over again.

I grab the extra gun off Wolfe’s side and help Kendra to her feet. “Come on, we gotta go.” Piper is slowly getting her feet under her and I help them both into the basement. Ares built this place on top of an underground garage.

“Get to the sub-basement.”

Wide eyes look up at me and I want to hug them and tell them this really isn’t the worst thing that can happen in life.

“What about you?”

“I have to help Nova. Get the cars started and the doors open. We have to be fast. Hurry!”

I run back up the basement stairs to find Wolfe and Ares barreling toward me. They drop bags at my feet and I toss them down the stairs—money and weapons.

“The girls went to the sub-basement. They are preparing our exit.”

Ares gives me a stiff nod and slings more duffle bags my way. Rinse, repeat.

Through the kitchen window, I saw the glow of orange seconds before the blast slams into the back side of the compound. What feels like a five on the Richter scale moves the foundation like they built the place out of twigs and paper mache.

“Doc’s place—”

“—is gone,” Wolfe howls, and he’s moving me toward the basement off the side of the kitchen.

“Incoming!”

Through the hallway leading to the living room I see Dragon wrap himself around his baby girl and pull Asena to the floor just in time to see a rocket hurling toward the front of the compound.

“Oh, shit!” I’m on my knees with Wolfe as a shield around me. The explosion is massive. The floor beneath us shakes violently. Ares can put in all the reinforced steel walls and all the bullet proof glass he wants but eventually this place will fall.

“What was that?”

“Someone with a rocket launcher.”

Obviously, reading my mind, Ares pulls Nova off the floor and toward the basement stairs telling everyone, “She will hold long enough for us to get out.”

Wolfe moves us to the entrance of the basement. Ares puts a hand on my shoulder and stops Wolfe. “Just a minute.”

He turns to everyone else. “Get to the cars. Don’t stop until you have the women in New Orleans. Mirsha, Luther and Viper are waiting for you. Anyone fucks with you on the way, level them. You hear me? Sound off! We drive all night. Use cash, no cards. Secure lines only for communication.”

“You got it, Prez.” Dragon grabs another couple of duffel bags loaded with weapons off the living room floor and Asena falls in behind him with their baby girl. Riot pulls Persephone off the couch and Mace helps Rage.

Someone with a flamethrower torches the surrounding woods. Smoke quickly fills the air. Off in the distance, another big burst of fire and smoke fills the night. Dragon’s place. I guess that takes care of the bodies but I can’t help but feel heart sick at all the destruction.

Ares flexes his fingers over Wolfe’s shoulder and turns his attention back to us. “I see you with my charge. You want to protect her? It means with your life. Nothing less.”

Ares never plays with his words.

“She’s already mine to protect. Every drop of my blood is hers. Always has been” Wolfe’s arm around my middle turns from protective to possessive within a single breath.

I can tell there’s more Ares wants to say to that. Like what the fuck do you mean always has been? It’s like watching the gears turn and the machine spit out lines of questions. But Ares wisely pushes the questions to the back burner while we run for our lives.

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