Page 26 of Stryker

“Tell me about the kidnapped girl,” I said.

“She’s a full-grown woman. A very rich debutante, with parents prominent in society.” He didn’t sound impressed and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Why can’t you find her?”

“We’re not sure. It’s part of the reason everyone is on edge. Losing her makes us all look bad, but she just fucking… disappeared.” His voice lowered to a growl of frustration and I found myself wishing I could help.

It bothered me to think how much everything kept changing. I’d found out how much I had to fear from the people I thought would help me. I’d found myself fin the arms—and bed—of a dragon, and I didn’t’ know how much longer I could hold on in the face of all this adversity.

I’d traded one hot mess of a life for a different dumpster fire of an existence.

What the hell would happen next to totally turn my world on its head? Because I was tired of the surprises.

14

Stryker

Igently shook her awake and her eyes locked on me.

“It’s time.” I hated everything about this. This was one thing I couldn’t protect her against; my own kind.

She sat up and threw the blankets off herself. With trembling hands, she tied up her hair into a messy bun that left wild strands trailing down her back. Somehow, she managed to look beautiful, sexy, and innocent all in one.

Her wide, troubled eyes met mine and I lifted the blindfold. We’d talked about this beforehand and I wound it around her head now, tying it tightly but not so much so it would hurt her.

“Can you see?”

She shook her head and I laced my fingers with hers and led her out into the living room as the air pressure increased. The static tingle on my skin told me they were close. I’d sat up all night to keep an eye out. I knew they’d come. So I’d waited for them.

And now they were here.

I led her outside carefully and waited for them to come.

The second they landed, they shifted. Every single large male, the finest of the finest males of our generation stood before us, shifting until there was an entire semi-circle around us. I hadn’t even met everyone yet, since I was still fairly new myself.

Draco had taken me under his wing, but ours were such a private group many chose not to meet new members within the first few years. Partially because a lot of new recruits washed out and some got killed. Nobody wanted to deal with that shit, so they kept their distance until the newbies proved themselves.

The front man stepped forward and I gently moved Kat behind me but didn’t let go of her hand.

He spoke, his rough voice echoing off the trees and mountains around us. “We’re not a charity.” With his black hair shaved on the sides and the rest pulled up into a knot, he looked fierce. His thick black beard wasn’t long, but it looked well cared for and his bright blue eyes reminded me of Draco. An actual blood brother? I wasn’t sure; Draco seemed a lot more refined than this brute.

I didn’t say a damn word; I wanted to know how this would play out.

His right-hand guy stepped forward, a slightly smaller man with green eyes and blond, shoulder length hair he had half pulled back. “Was she made to sign the wavers?” There wasn’t an ounce of warmth in his eyes.

“No.” My voice rang out and she winced.

The leader spoke up, spreading both hands and holding them out to his sides. “Then she’s a risk to our way of life, our safety, everything and she must be destroyed.”

Her hand went clammy in mine and I could feel her trembling. I wanted nothing more than to shift, scoop her up and fly to the ends of the Earth with her. I wanted to find a place to hide her, to keep her safe until the world ended. But they’d never stop hunting us. I knew this.

“She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t see your faces.” I stepped aside to show I’d protected their identities with the blindfold.

“It’s not enough.” The leader spoke

“She’s not a threat.” I stepped forward, keeping her fingers laced with mine. As I moved, the leader leaned toward me, adopting a threatening fighting stance and I stopped in place. I didn’t want to provoke him. “When I saved her, she said something that resonated with me.”

I studied every face. They were listening, but I doubted I could move them. Still, I’d give it my all. “She asked me why she would betray the man that saved her life. She’s not a threat to us. She’s not going to say anything. She’s grateful for her life. Plus,” I said, turning to face her without removing her blindfold. “Would you, Kat Hudson, sign a waiver that swears you won’t speak of us, that you’ll keep anything you learn about any member out of the hands of anyone you know, including your close family members, loved ones, etc?” If that’s all it came down to, it was an easy fix.

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