Page 70 of To Keep A Wolf
I climb out and hurry to catch up as she stalks toward the door. Darting glances left and right, I look for movement, but there’s nothing. The street is strangely empty.
“I can’t believe he doesn’t have guards posted—” I start.
“He does.”
A body drops from above me.
I jump back, just barely avoiding a collision. Out of the corner of my eye, I see another and another do the same. Guards. On the roof. Smart.
My mom yells at me to put them down and get inside. My heart registers the danger and possible adrenaline, and then my instincts kick in with years of training, not just to fight but to react calmly in the face of a threat.
I inhale.
Exhale.
Then I look up and smile when I see who’s left their perch to try and stop us.
“Hello, Gregario.”
CHAPTER20
Ibare my teeth at the monster who is second only to Jadick on the list of people I want to kill today. He looks back at me like I’m his number one. My attack is instant, absolute, and lands a right hook against his jaw hard enough to send him reeling. He recovers and comes for me, using all his body weight like a linebacker. I spin aside and shove him, sending him against the house.
A shot rings out, and Gregario’s body jerks forward, careening into me. He grunts, a crimson stain blooming on his shirt where a bullet has torn through the back of his shoulder. But as he slams into me, I know the injury isn’t enough to stop him. He’s using its momentum to get to me, and by the time I know it for sure, I’m pinned beneath him.
His shift to wolf is slow, thanks to the bullet, but his bones pop and fingernails give way to claws that rake down my cheek in our struggle.
Pain slices into my skin and then heat.
Blood.
The idea that he’s drawn first blood fuels me. He’s still human with otherworldly claws protruding from gnarled fingers. Avoiding their sharpened points, I bring a knee up and into his groin. He groans and goes limp. I push him off me then roll, slipping my arm around his throat until it’s locked tight enough to cut off his oxygen. He thrashes, struggling, but I don’t loosen my grip.
Another shot.
I watch as another of the guards is brought down by the small, near-silent gun my mother carries. One more to go.
Gregario continues to kick and fight.
My mother drops the third guard and then looks over at me.
She tosses me a gun, but I ignore it and, instead, release his throat long enough to grab a blade one of the others dropped during the fight. With my fist wrapped tight around the hilt, I drive it into Gregario’s throat as he lunges up at me.
Gregario gasps and falls back as blood leaks from the wound around the buried blade. Then he goes limp.
I finally let him go and scramble to my feet. My mother walks over and aims her gun at his head.
“He’s already—”
He gasps for air, so suddenly, I let out a strangled scream.
My mother pulls the trigger, putting a bullet through his brain. He falls still again.
Dead. For real this time.
I exhale, wobbly, relieved, dumbstruck.
“Let’s get the witch and get the fuck out of here.”
