Page 61 of Hers to Claim

She swayed a bit, leaning into him for support. “That was incredible.”

“As soon as you’re settled, I need you to call Rio and ask him where they are.”

Shit. How had she forgotten about the ambush? She nearly fumbled her phone out of her purse.

“Hey, beautiful,” Rio said after only one ring. “You home?”

“Yes, where are you? There are some cars at the bottom of the road. Cisco thinks they’re setting up an ambush.”

“We’re on Flamingo over by the park.”

She relayed the location to Cisco while Rio told Dante about the situation ahead of them.

Cisco touched her arm. “Find Kima and tell her what’s going on.”

Mari nodded as Tilly and Cisco both surged into the sky together. “Cisco is on his way to you now.” She bent to unstrap her heels. “I’m headed to find Kima.”

“We’re slowing down to let Cisco find us.”

She jogged toward the barracks barefoot. “Remember what I said about being angry?”

“Whatever they’ve got set up is expecting three of us, not the whole crew.”

“Just bring you and Dante home safe. I love you.”

“Love you too. We’ll see you soon.”

She hung up and picked up her speed. When she reached the door of the break room, she was panting.

Inside, Kima sat at the table playing cards with Samar and the twins. Karma was nearby reading a book. All of them looked her way when she skidded to a halt.

“Rio and Dante are on Flamingo on the way back in a car. Cisco is headed there right now. On the way back, Tilly saw some cars at the bottom of the drive that shouldn’t be there.”

Kima took a handful of seconds to process what she said, then nodded. “Dash, go round up as many guards as you can find. Rest of you, arm up and meet me at the front in two minutes.”

They all broke in different directions at once without saying a word. Kima stopped in front of Mari, checking the chamber of one of her guns and then the other before holstering them at her sides.

She pulled a radio from her cargo pocket. “Everyone on duty meet me at the front. Grab anyone you see.” There were a handful of replies before she stowed the radio. “Not going to be able to convince you to lock yourself in your room, am I?”

“No.”

“Then come on, stick to my ass and don’t wander.” Kima looked her over skeptically. “Where the fuck are your shoes?”

“I was out on a date. I was wearing heels.”

Kima grumbled. “We’ll stop by the pool house.”

Two minutes later, Mari was lacing up her sneakers at the front door as guards filed into the hall.

Kima scrolled through a tablet that had the security camera feed. She looked up at the assembled guards. “Three cars at the bottom of the drive, just outside the range of the wards. We’re moving out now. You’re cleared to shift if that’s how you feel most comfortable fighting.” She watched the guards begin to file through the door and then tapped her earbud. “Go for Kima.”

“She’s here,” Kima said and met Mari’s gaze. “Cisco says go to the pool house.”

Mari shook her head.

“She says no.” Kima winced. “Don’t growl at me.” She hung up. “He’s your problem to deal with after this.”

Mari followed the lion shifter outside. Out front, the guards were forming themselves into groups. Some of them shucked out of their clothes. The huge forms of the shifted hellhounds already bounced and growled, calling to their friends to join them. As she watched, Karma, Samar, and a handful of others transformed into their shifted forms.

---