Howl For It
Page 74
Not a lying killer whod just wanted to use her.
Someone had to see your wounds, she told him. Not just the bullet woundsthe burn wounds from the silver. Thered been too many other hunters in that holding room. Someone would have noticed his burns. All your lies are about to come out.
Curtis glanced nervously between them. Boss . . . I, uh, I thought I saw some blisters on you
Shed been punching me. The flesh was red from her attack. Lyle gave a little shrug with his uninjured shoulder. Ill probably bruise later.
Bullshit, Kayla called.
Curtis shifted from one foot to the other. I . . . I know the difference between blisters and punch marks. He peered at Lyles neck again. Yes. He was getting suspicious.
Pull back his bandage! Kayla urged. This would do it. Check out the bullet wound at his shoulder, because I bet its already healed, too. Curtis was starting to believe her. This would work. Shed get out of there and together, she and Curtis could take Lyle down.
Youre so desperate, Lyle said, sighing, as a frown pulled down his mouth. When did you become like this? Did Gage make you this way?
If Lyle had been just a few feet closer to the cell, she would have attacked. But he wasnt heading toward her. Lyle was closing the distance between him and Curtis.
I dont want you to doubt me, Lyle told the hunter. He wasnt wearing a shirt. Just a heavy white bandage around his shoulder. A loose pair of sweat pants. If this is what it takes to prove the truth to you . . . His hands rose to the bandage.
Curtis nodded. He leaned forward. I just need to knowKaylas always been so
Lyle grabbed him by the head.
Kayla screamed.
And Lyle broke Curtiss neck in one powerful swipe of his hand. The hunter never even had a chance to cry out.
Lyle let Curtiss body drop to the floor. Curtis hit with a thud. Shaking his head, Lyle stared down at the hunters twisted body. You shouldnt have doubted me, kid.
Ice filled Kaylas veins. Horror and nausea spun in her gut, and she could taste bile rising in her throat. Dead. You bastardwhy?
He looked up at her. Frowned. Its your fault that hes dead. You should have just kept your damn mouth shut, and hed still be breathing.
Only Curtis wasnt breathing. He was dead. And how many more would fall before Lyle was done?
How many had he killed over the years? When shed thought that the hunters had been protecting humans, fighting the monsters . . .
Oh, God, we were the monsters.
Lyle grabbed the body and dragged Curtiss limp formover to the cell. Lyle dropped him near the bars. There. When the bodys discovered, everyone will just think you killed him. Curtis got too close, and you attacked him. We all know how lethal you can be.
Her hands wouldnt stop shaking. She couldnt stop shaking. Tears burned her eyes.
He got too close, trusted the wrong person, and you snapped his neck. Lyle snapped his fingers. Just like that.
Her knees wanted to give way. She stood only because of her desperate grip on the bars. What do you want from me? Curtis. Dead.
I want your wolf.
She shook her head. Hes gone. Gage isnt coming back. Lyle smiled. Well see about that. Then he turned away and headed back toward the door. Was that psycho actually whistling as he walked away and left her with a dead body?
Gage chose his pack! She cried after him. Not me. Thats why he left! He went to keep them safe.
Gage wasnt coming back.
Lyle glanced over his shoulder. Then I guess youll be the next one to die.
When he left, the metal clang of the door seemed to echo through the whole room, through her. She looked over at Curtis. So still. His eyes were closed, his head turned toward her.
Hed been a good man. He hadnt deserved this . . .
She let go of the bars and her knees buckled. She slipped to the floor and her fingers, still stained with her brothers blood, rose to cover her eyes.
Were the monsters.
Why hadnt she seen the truth sooner?
Gage tracked silently through the compound. He knew where Kayla was, of course. Her scent was one hed never forget. So he eased through the hallways, slipped around the corners, and tracked back to her as quickly as he could.
Outside of her new holding room, he paused. Inhaled. Kayla wasnt alone in there. But the one with her . . .
Shit.
Gage used the key card hed borrowed from the guard station and swiped it across the electronic lock. The lights flashed green, and he shoved open the heavy, metal door.
Kayla was in the cell, on the floor. Her hair fell in a curtain around her. A hunter was slumped close to her. His neck was twisted, and his hands were stretched out on either side of his body.
I didnt do it, she said, without looking up. I swear, I didnt kill Curtis.
Sweetheart, you dont have to tell me that.
Her head whipped up. Her eyes widened. Youyou shouldnt be
He glanced back down at Curtis. Theres something you should realize, though . . . He made sure the door was shut behind him. Curtis isnt dead.
Someone had to see your wounds, she told him. Not just the bullet woundsthe burn wounds from the silver. Thered been too many other hunters in that holding room. Someone would have noticed his burns. All your lies are about to come out.
Curtis glanced nervously between them. Boss . . . I, uh, I thought I saw some blisters on you
Shed been punching me. The flesh was red from her attack. Lyle gave a little shrug with his uninjured shoulder. Ill probably bruise later.
Bullshit, Kayla called.
Curtis shifted from one foot to the other. I . . . I know the difference between blisters and punch marks. He peered at Lyles neck again. Yes. He was getting suspicious.
Pull back his bandage! Kayla urged. This would do it. Check out the bullet wound at his shoulder, because I bet its already healed, too. Curtis was starting to believe her. This would work. Shed get out of there and together, she and Curtis could take Lyle down.
Youre so desperate, Lyle said, sighing, as a frown pulled down his mouth. When did you become like this? Did Gage make you this way?
If Lyle had been just a few feet closer to the cell, she would have attacked. But he wasnt heading toward her. Lyle was closing the distance between him and Curtis.
I dont want you to doubt me, Lyle told the hunter. He wasnt wearing a shirt. Just a heavy white bandage around his shoulder. A loose pair of sweat pants. If this is what it takes to prove the truth to you . . . His hands rose to the bandage.
Curtis nodded. He leaned forward. I just need to knowKaylas always been so
Lyle grabbed him by the head.
Kayla screamed.
And Lyle broke Curtiss neck in one powerful swipe of his hand. The hunter never even had a chance to cry out.
Lyle let Curtiss body drop to the floor. Curtis hit with a thud. Shaking his head, Lyle stared down at the hunters twisted body. You shouldnt have doubted me, kid.
Ice filled Kaylas veins. Horror and nausea spun in her gut, and she could taste bile rising in her throat. Dead. You bastardwhy?
He looked up at her. Frowned. Its your fault that hes dead. You should have just kept your damn mouth shut, and hed still be breathing.
Only Curtis wasnt breathing. He was dead. And how many more would fall before Lyle was done?
How many had he killed over the years? When shed thought that the hunters had been protecting humans, fighting the monsters . . .
Oh, God, we were the monsters.
Lyle grabbed the body and dragged Curtiss limp formover to the cell. Lyle dropped him near the bars. There. When the bodys discovered, everyone will just think you killed him. Curtis got too close, and you attacked him. We all know how lethal you can be.
Her hands wouldnt stop shaking. She couldnt stop shaking. Tears burned her eyes.
He got too close, trusted the wrong person, and you snapped his neck. Lyle snapped his fingers. Just like that.
Her knees wanted to give way. She stood only because of her desperate grip on the bars. What do you want from me? Curtis. Dead.
I want your wolf.
She shook her head. Hes gone. Gage isnt coming back. Lyle smiled. Well see about that. Then he turned away and headed back toward the door. Was that psycho actually whistling as he walked away and left her with a dead body?
Gage chose his pack! She cried after him. Not me. Thats why he left! He went to keep them safe.
Gage wasnt coming back.
Lyle glanced over his shoulder. Then I guess youll be the next one to die.
When he left, the metal clang of the door seemed to echo through the whole room, through her. She looked over at Curtis. So still. His eyes were closed, his head turned toward her.
Hed been a good man. He hadnt deserved this . . .
She let go of the bars and her knees buckled. She slipped to the floor and her fingers, still stained with her brothers blood, rose to cover her eyes.
Were the monsters.
Why hadnt she seen the truth sooner?
Gage tracked silently through the compound. He knew where Kayla was, of course. Her scent was one hed never forget. So he eased through the hallways, slipped around the corners, and tracked back to her as quickly as he could.
Outside of her new holding room, he paused. Inhaled. Kayla wasnt alone in there. But the one with her . . .
Shit.
Gage used the key card hed borrowed from the guard station and swiped it across the electronic lock. The lights flashed green, and he shoved open the heavy, metal door.
Kayla was in the cell, on the floor. Her hair fell in a curtain around her. A hunter was slumped close to her. His neck was twisted, and his hands were stretched out on either side of his body.
I didnt do it, she said, without looking up. I swear, I didnt kill Curtis.
Sweetheart, you dont have to tell me that.
Her head whipped up. Her eyes widened. Youyou shouldnt be
He glanced back down at Curtis. Theres something you should realize, though . . . He made sure the door was shut behind him. Curtis isnt dead.
