Howl For It
Page 76
Or maybe that beheading . . .
Curtis told him, Lyle found her body, so he said. And he promised that hed help me find her killer.
Only Gage figured that Lyle had been the killer.
He promised me that, too, Kayla whispered. He swore wed stop the wolf whod hurt my family.
I cant forget her, Curtis said and the pain hardened his voice. Her throat was sliced open. Hed . . . clawed her. Torn her open. I-I just wanted to find the shifter and make him pay.
Rage was something Gage could understand. So was vengeance.
Kaylas glittering stare told him that she understood just as well.
Dont worry, Gage promised as they headed for the door. Get out. Get the pack safe. Then destroy. Well make the bastard suffer. Theyd make him burn.
Kayla knew they couldnt leave. The SUV was there, just about twenty feet away. The perfect escape. But . . .
But she couldnt do it.
Jonah. Dammit, there had been so much blood pouring from his wound. Was her brother okay?
Did Gage really think that she was just gonna race out of the compound and leave him behind?
Leave Jonah . . . and the others?
Cant get to Jonah while hes in the med unit. Thered be too many eyes and ears on him then. But while Jonah and the other hunters were getting stitched up . . .
We can save the wolves.
Theyre in containment, she softly revealed to Gage. She wasnt looking at him yet because she was still plenty furious. Hed hurt her brother.
The guy would pay for that, but now wasnt the time to go at him for her pound of flesh. Now was the time for fast action.
Curtis wasnt with them. He was off getting ready to steal that sweet ride of an SUV that seemed to just wait for them.
Crouching, staying low behind a line of boxes, Gage turned to look at her. What? Whos in containment?
The breath she sucked in felt cold in her lungs. Were the monsters. Time to be something else. Better. Your wolves arent dead. She wasnt a cold-blooded killer. Neither were the other hunters. They were doing their jobs. Or what they thought had been their jobs. Theyre in containment at this facility. I dontI dont think theyve been transferred out yet.
Shipped out to a far more secure locationone that no one had escaped from since shed been in Vegas. The hunters werent just attacking supernaturals blindly. They had a . . . hit list. Of sorts.
Most of their orders came from Lyle, but he was on a leash, too. Or at least, shed always thought he had been. The hunters were tied to good old Uncle Samor maybe not-so-good. The government sent them outon missions that normal channels just couldnt cover.
When they caught their prey, they turned them over to the federal agents for holding. Or for extermination.
So the story went. Only now she wondered just how many exterminations had truly been necessary?
Her gut clenched. How much blood was on her hands? And could she ever get it the hell off? She was afraid that no matter how hard she scrubbed, the stain would always remain.
We can get them out, Kayla said. They had to get them out. Now that she knew the truth about Lyle, leaving the two wolves behind wasnt an option for her. We just have to move fast.
Before Lyle realized that Curtis wasnt dead and that she wasnt still locked in her own cage.
Gages eyes hardened. When were you gonna tell me they were still alive?
Uh, now? Okay, yes, she should have mentioned it earlier. Would have if it hadnt been for the whole drugging and gun-in-her face thing. Jeez. She was doing her best.
Both of them? He gritted out. Shamus and Faye?
Yes. And, well, theyd been mostly all right when she last saw them.
Before shed headed out to say her I dos with Gage, Lyle had told her that the wolves werent due for transport for another two days. So as long as those plans hadnt changed, Theyll be in Block B. Sequestered. Monitored. Getting inside that area would be tricky, but they could do it.
She wanted this blood off her hands.
Curtis hadnt returned yet. If they were going, they needed to move, now. Theyd get the shifters, then haul ass back for that SUV. If luck was on her sideyeah, right, since when?theyd bust out of this place before any trigger-happy hunters could spot them.
Come on. She barely breathed the words. She had her hair shoved under a black cap and shed donned the black uniform of a hunter, just like Gage. The better to try and blend in with everyone else. That blending would last only for so long.
But most of the hunters were in the infirmary or out on a mission. Only a skeleton staff walked the hallways and with Gages enhanced senses, they would be able to dodge those guys easily enough.
He always knew when someone was coming. From what she could tell, Gage seemed to smell the hunters long before she heard them. Such a handy talent.
He nodded, and the hunt started.
Adrenaline raced through her blood, keeping her tense and edgy. But this wasnt her first op, and she knew how to hold on to her control. They crept soundlessly down the stairs that led to Block B. The transport area. The prisoners housed here were all due to ship off for continued confinement.
Curtis told him, Lyle found her body, so he said. And he promised that hed help me find her killer.
Only Gage figured that Lyle had been the killer.
He promised me that, too, Kayla whispered. He swore wed stop the wolf whod hurt my family.
I cant forget her, Curtis said and the pain hardened his voice. Her throat was sliced open. Hed . . . clawed her. Torn her open. I-I just wanted to find the shifter and make him pay.
Rage was something Gage could understand. So was vengeance.
Kaylas glittering stare told him that she understood just as well.
Dont worry, Gage promised as they headed for the door. Get out. Get the pack safe. Then destroy. Well make the bastard suffer. Theyd make him burn.
Kayla knew they couldnt leave. The SUV was there, just about twenty feet away. The perfect escape. But . . .
But she couldnt do it.
Jonah. Dammit, there had been so much blood pouring from his wound. Was her brother okay?
Did Gage really think that she was just gonna race out of the compound and leave him behind?
Leave Jonah . . . and the others?
Cant get to Jonah while hes in the med unit. Thered be too many eyes and ears on him then. But while Jonah and the other hunters were getting stitched up . . .
We can save the wolves.
Theyre in containment, she softly revealed to Gage. She wasnt looking at him yet because she was still plenty furious. Hed hurt her brother.
The guy would pay for that, but now wasnt the time to go at him for her pound of flesh. Now was the time for fast action.
Curtis wasnt with them. He was off getting ready to steal that sweet ride of an SUV that seemed to just wait for them.
Crouching, staying low behind a line of boxes, Gage turned to look at her. What? Whos in containment?
The breath she sucked in felt cold in her lungs. Were the monsters. Time to be something else. Better. Your wolves arent dead. She wasnt a cold-blooded killer. Neither were the other hunters. They were doing their jobs. Or what they thought had been their jobs. Theyre in containment at this facility. I dontI dont think theyve been transferred out yet.
Shipped out to a far more secure locationone that no one had escaped from since shed been in Vegas. The hunters werent just attacking supernaturals blindly. They had a . . . hit list. Of sorts.
Most of their orders came from Lyle, but he was on a leash, too. Or at least, shed always thought he had been. The hunters were tied to good old Uncle Samor maybe not-so-good. The government sent them outon missions that normal channels just couldnt cover.
When they caught their prey, they turned them over to the federal agents for holding. Or for extermination.
So the story went. Only now she wondered just how many exterminations had truly been necessary?
Her gut clenched. How much blood was on her hands? And could she ever get it the hell off? She was afraid that no matter how hard she scrubbed, the stain would always remain.
We can get them out, Kayla said. They had to get them out. Now that she knew the truth about Lyle, leaving the two wolves behind wasnt an option for her. We just have to move fast.
Before Lyle realized that Curtis wasnt dead and that she wasnt still locked in her own cage.
Gages eyes hardened. When were you gonna tell me they were still alive?
Uh, now? Okay, yes, she should have mentioned it earlier. Would have if it hadnt been for the whole drugging and gun-in-her face thing. Jeez. She was doing her best.
Both of them? He gritted out. Shamus and Faye?
Yes. And, well, theyd been mostly all right when she last saw them.
Before shed headed out to say her I dos with Gage, Lyle had told her that the wolves werent due for transport for another two days. So as long as those plans hadnt changed, Theyll be in Block B. Sequestered. Monitored. Getting inside that area would be tricky, but they could do it.
She wanted this blood off her hands.
Curtis hadnt returned yet. If they were going, they needed to move, now. Theyd get the shifters, then haul ass back for that SUV. If luck was on her sideyeah, right, since when?theyd bust out of this place before any trigger-happy hunters could spot them.
Come on. She barely breathed the words. She had her hair shoved under a black cap and shed donned the black uniform of a hunter, just like Gage. The better to try and blend in with everyone else. That blending would last only for so long.
But most of the hunters were in the infirmary or out on a mission. Only a skeleton staff walked the hallways and with Gages enhanced senses, they would be able to dodge those guys easily enough.
He always knew when someone was coming. From what she could tell, Gage seemed to smell the hunters long before she heard them. Such a handy talent.
He nodded, and the hunt started.
Adrenaline raced through her blood, keeping her tense and edgy. But this wasnt her first op, and she knew how to hold on to her control. They crept soundlessly down the stairs that led to Block B. The transport area. The prisoners housed here were all due to ship off for continued confinement.
