Wolf with Benefits
Page 121
Ricky Lee took off after that car, dodging through the vehicles of pissed-off New York drivers as he sped across the street when the car turned a corner.
The car turned again, and Ricky continued to follow, pushing people out of his way and ignoring the rude things they were screaming at him. The car made several more turns until it ended up in an alley.
The engine still running, the vehicle sat there. Moving slow, Ricky eased up to the car until he could look into the windows. It was a late-model Mercedes. Really nice with darkened windows. Leaning in close, Ricky was about to press his nose to the space between the window and the door to see if he could scent anyone inside. But he stopped before his nose could touch anything when the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of his neck.
You sure are fast, kid, a male voice said from behind him.
And to prove the man right on that point, Ricky turned fast, caught the mans wrist with one hand, and rammed his free hand into the mans elbow.
The bone snapped and ripped the skin apart as it jutted forward.
The man started to scream, so Ricky slapped his hand over the mans mouth and slammed him against the wall.
Let him go. A woman. Another gun.
Then another, as a male voice said, Now.
Ricky knew he had one chance at this. If he blew it, he was not leaving this alley alive. Since he had plans for the weekend, he decided that wasnt an idea he liked much.
So, still moving fast, he ripped the rest of the mans arm off and used it to slap the woman in the face. She shrieked and ducked as blood blinded her. Then Ricky tossed the screaming man into the other and scrambled up onto a Dumpster, caught the bottom of fire stairs, and headed up.
By the time he was standing on the roof, the woman was trying to wipe all that blood off her face while the man was trying to find Ricky. He didnt look up, because it never occurred to him that anyone could get up the stairs to the roof that quickly. So these people were definitely not aware theyd become involved with shifters. But, they were definitely government. Which government, Ricky had no idea. Not yet.
Ricky waited until the remaining couple placed the now-one-armed man into the backseat. The woman got in with him, screaming that they had to get to a hospital. But Ricky got the feeling that the other man had no intention of bothering with that as he tossed his partners arm into the front seat like he was tossing in an old bag of laundry.
The car pulled out of the alley and sped off, and Ricky took his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans. His eldest brother answered immediately.
Whats up? Rory greeted him.
Track down Dee-Ann for me.
There was a long pause and then Rory sighed out, Well, thats never a good way to start a conversation.
Nope. It sure wasnt.
When Ricky arrived back at his truck, he found Toni still holding her brother, flanked by Vic and Roy, who were warning off the full-human students and professors just by being themselves. Ricky could tell that the full-humans wanted to help. But they didnt, and he knew why. They were terrified of the predator holding the child more than they were of the much larger and scarier-looking predators surrounding her. Because at the moment, Antonella Jean-Louis Parker saw everyone as a threatand there was nothing more deadly than a predator female who felt one of her own was in danger.
Ricky stepped in front of her to block her glower from the full-humans nearby. Why dont you put him in the truck, darlin?
You dont have a child seat.
Something told him it wouldnt matter if he did; she didnt want to let her brother go.
She held her phone in one hand and raised it. I didnt call nine-one-one. I should, though, right? I should do something.
We dont need the cops. He reached for Freddy but Tonis grip tightened.
Its all right. Give him to me.
After a moment, she released the boy and Ricky took Freddy from her.
I want Mommy.
I know. And were going to get you home right now. Ricky pulled open the back passenger door and placed him in the seat. While he buckled him up, Ricky told him, You were so smart, Freddy. The way you handled that. You should be real proud of yourself.
The little boy gave a brave smile. Toni taught me what to do.
And you listened. Good boy. Now Vic heres going to sit in the back with you. He leaned in and whispered, Ask him to show you his claws. Theyre huge.
Really?
Yep. Isnt that right, Vic?
Enormous. Vic got into the SUV beside Freddy. You wanna see?
Yeah!
Ricky closed the door and stepped closer to Toni. She leaned up against the SUV. Her entire body was tense, ready to strike like a cobra.
Were gonna take care of this, Ricky promised her.
It was them, wasnt it? The ones who were in our house.
Ricky nodded. The scents matched, yeah.
Government?
Probably. Dont think they were after Freddy because of what he is, though. They didnt know what that was.
If we hadnt been watching out for him, Ricky
We were. Hes safe. And were gonna keep him safe. Lets get him home.
And then what?
The car turned again, and Ricky continued to follow, pushing people out of his way and ignoring the rude things they were screaming at him. The car made several more turns until it ended up in an alley.
The engine still running, the vehicle sat there. Moving slow, Ricky eased up to the car until he could look into the windows. It was a late-model Mercedes. Really nice with darkened windows. Leaning in close, Ricky was about to press his nose to the space between the window and the door to see if he could scent anyone inside. But he stopped before his nose could touch anything when the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of his neck.
You sure are fast, kid, a male voice said from behind him.
And to prove the man right on that point, Ricky turned fast, caught the mans wrist with one hand, and rammed his free hand into the mans elbow.
The bone snapped and ripped the skin apart as it jutted forward.
The man started to scream, so Ricky slapped his hand over the mans mouth and slammed him against the wall.
Let him go. A woman. Another gun.
Then another, as a male voice said, Now.
Ricky knew he had one chance at this. If he blew it, he was not leaving this alley alive. Since he had plans for the weekend, he decided that wasnt an idea he liked much.
So, still moving fast, he ripped the rest of the mans arm off and used it to slap the woman in the face. She shrieked and ducked as blood blinded her. Then Ricky tossed the screaming man into the other and scrambled up onto a Dumpster, caught the bottom of fire stairs, and headed up.
By the time he was standing on the roof, the woman was trying to wipe all that blood off her face while the man was trying to find Ricky. He didnt look up, because it never occurred to him that anyone could get up the stairs to the roof that quickly. So these people were definitely not aware theyd become involved with shifters. But, they were definitely government. Which government, Ricky had no idea. Not yet.
Ricky waited until the remaining couple placed the now-one-armed man into the backseat. The woman got in with him, screaming that they had to get to a hospital. But Ricky got the feeling that the other man had no intention of bothering with that as he tossed his partners arm into the front seat like he was tossing in an old bag of laundry.
The car pulled out of the alley and sped off, and Ricky took his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans. His eldest brother answered immediately.
Whats up? Rory greeted him.
Track down Dee-Ann for me.
There was a long pause and then Rory sighed out, Well, thats never a good way to start a conversation.
Nope. It sure wasnt.
When Ricky arrived back at his truck, he found Toni still holding her brother, flanked by Vic and Roy, who were warning off the full-human students and professors just by being themselves. Ricky could tell that the full-humans wanted to help. But they didnt, and he knew why. They were terrified of the predator holding the child more than they were of the much larger and scarier-looking predators surrounding her. Because at the moment, Antonella Jean-Louis Parker saw everyone as a threatand there was nothing more deadly than a predator female who felt one of her own was in danger.
Ricky stepped in front of her to block her glower from the full-humans nearby. Why dont you put him in the truck, darlin?
You dont have a child seat.
Something told him it wouldnt matter if he did; she didnt want to let her brother go.
She held her phone in one hand and raised it. I didnt call nine-one-one. I should, though, right? I should do something.
We dont need the cops. He reached for Freddy but Tonis grip tightened.
Its all right. Give him to me.
After a moment, she released the boy and Ricky took Freddy from her.
I want Mommy.
I know. And were going to get you home right now. Ricky pulled open the back passenger door and placed him in the seat. While he buckled him up, Ricky told him, You were so smart, Freddy. The way you handled that. You should be real proud of yourself.
The little boy gave a brave smile. Toni taught me what to do.
And you listened. Good boy. Now Vic heres going to sit in the back with you. He leaned in and whispered, Ask him to show you his claws. Theyre huge.
Really?
Yep. Isnt that right, Vic?
Enormous. Vic got into the SUV beside Freddy. You wanna see?
Yeah!
Ricky closed the door and stepped closer to Toni. She leaned up against the SUV. Her entire body was tense, ready to strike like a cobra.
Were gonna take care of this, Ricky promised her.
It was them, wasnt it? The ones who were in our house.
Ricky nodded. The scents matched, yeah.
Government?
Probably. Dont think they were after Freddy because of what he is, though. They didnt know what that was.
If we hadnt been watching out for him, Ricky
We were. Hes safe. And were gonna keep him safe. Lets get him home.
And then what?
