Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
The party bus shakes with a six-bear roar.
The guy holding Maisy jerks his gaze in the direction of the rocking bus where a man screams.
I leap, shifting mid-air, slamming the gun to the ground with a giant bear paw.
I take a bullet in the shoulder from Lou as he yells, “Get the girl! Don’t let her get away!”
Maisy doesn’t let out a peep. She enacts what looks like a practiced self-defense move, breaking the pinky finger of the guy still holding her in a headlock, squirming out from his grasp, and stomping on the side of his knee to cripple him.
I tear his head off with one mighty swipe of my paw and throw it at Lou, who, based on his horrified expression, caught up to the fact that I’m no longer human. I’m a bear wearing the shredded clothes of a man, and I’m out for blood.
I pick up my mate by the waist, shielding her body by gently tossing her over the hood of the bus as Lou empties his chamber in my back. She understands, rolling and sliding across it to duck behind the other side in safety.
My brothers burst from the bus, spilling out into the alley with roars. I lift my snout to the sky and roar, giving my bear free rein. The scent of blood and urine from the terrified thugs reaches my nostrils. My brothers seem to understand the kills belong to me because they catch and release, toying with the men, making a game of it until I end every single one of them with my claws through their hearts, their heads severed from their bodies, and their blood soaking the pavement.
“It’s over.” Teddy drops a hand on my shoulder. He’s back in human form.
I roar, wanting to kill them all over again.
They. Touched. My. Mate.
“I know,” he says, as if he heard my bear’s rant. “But your mate needs you now. Shift back, brother.”
My mate…needs me now.
My mate! I whip my head around to find Maisy.
“Matthias?” She emerges from behind the bus.
I instantly shift back. “Maisy!”
Canyon hands me a towel, and I use it to wipe the worst of the blood off my face and hands as I jog to her.
Fate, I hope she’s not afraid of me now.
“Maisy, are you okay?”
She barrels straight into my arms. Thank fuck. “Maisy. You were so brave.” I stand and rock her, swaying from side to side like she needs soothing. Really, I’m the one who needs soothing. I need to hold my mate. Know she’s safe. Reassure myself.
My bear still wants blood. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over seeing a gun pointed at her head. If anyone touches my wife, they won't be long for this Earth.
“Where did you learn those moves?” I ask, trying to sound normal. Like I didn’t just turn into a beast and execute four men in front of her.
She lets out a puff of laughter. “I took a self-defense class.” She tips her face up to mine. “What’s a martial artist’s favorite beverage?”
I can guess the answer, but I let her tell me. “What?”
“Kara-tea!”
Chapter Nineteen
Maisy
“Let me see you.” Matthias carries me from the party bus inside the mansion.
After he ripped Lucky Lou and his men apart, he bustled me inside the party bus while his brothers made quick work of cleaning up the scene.
Teddy said they would spread the word that it was a drug deal gone bad. Axel said someone named Kylie would plant texts on Lucky Lou's phone to point to an active branch of the cartel in this area to give the authorities a trail.
Allen was on the bus, shaking and freaking out because he’d seen men turn into bears. He’d peed his pants. It was disgusting. I realized there was nothing more I ever wanted from him. I didn’t need to have a relationship. Didn’t need to believe he cared.
I just. Don’t. Care.
What a relief. My pathetic relationship with him has clouded my entire life. It feels great to have it over.
Matthias asked how I’d like them to handle him, and I said I didn't want to see him again. Ever.
"If that's what you want, beautiful, consider it done. He doesn't get to breathe your air," Matthias said.
I heard Teddy tell Matthias he’d need to have his mind wiped. I don’t know exactly what that means, but I added, "Can you make sure...he doesn't hurt anyone anymore?"
Matthias had nodded. “We can make that happen.”
He carries me into the en suite bathroom and gently sets me on my feet on the floor. We’re both covered in blood. He turns on the shower.
“I need to examine you. If he left one fucking bruise…”
“You’ll tear his head off?” I try to make light of it by quirking my eyebrow up because if I don’t, I’ll probably hyperventilate.