Page 87 of (Sur)real
Eighteen
JIM…
I reached for the phone, wondering who would message Gabby's phone when everyone in the group knew Olivia was using it.
The text was from an unknown contact. I opened it, and my gut clenched at the three images she’d received.
One of Olivia and me at the bakery. One of us outside the store where we’d purchased her dress and swim suit. And one of us sitting at this table, taken from just outside the window. I stared out at the people moving along the sidewalk.
Sam, are there any Urbat near us?
None. Gabby’s been keeping an eye on you.
The phone chirped with a new message.
I’m coming for what’s mine. Blake.
I swore under my breath.
Blake sent three pictures of me with Olivia,I sent Sam.His men have to be near us.
“What is it, Jim? What’s wrong?” Olivia asked.
There aren’t any near you. Gabby checked,Sam sent back.
That didn’t make any sense. We hadn’t been at our table long. There still should have been an Urbat nearby.
“How close is Blake?” I asked Olivia.
She turned toward the east as if looking for him.
“Closer than he was, but still hours if not a day away.”
“He sent three pictures of us, and a message. He said he’s coming for what’s his.”
All trace of color left her face.
“No. No,” she whispered slowly. “It’s too soon.” She gripped the table, her panic rising as she turned her head to look around.
“Gabby said there aren’t any Urbat near us.”
She turned and pinned me with her dark gaze.
“They are all around us. Warn the rest.”
Olivia thinks they’re all around us,I sent Sam.
The message had barely formed when Olivia’s head whipped to the side, and her eyes widened slightly. I followed her gaze to see a man shove his way through the restaurant’s door. He reached across his body for something hidden under his shirt. The shape of the object was unmistakable.
Rage clawed at me, and I stood as he began to pull the gun free.
“Die werewolf!” he screamed.
I launched myself over the table, wrapping my arms around Olivia as the idiot fired. The momentum of my collision tipped her back into her chair. Her gasp of pain enraged me further. As did the bite of the bullet into my calf, where my chest had been a moment before.
Twisting mid-air, I tried to position us so I took the brunt of the impact. With a light kiss on her forehead, I left Olivia on the floor and sped toward the gunman before he could fire another shot. The man never saw me coming. Closing one hand around his throat, I ripped the gun from his hand with the other then tossed him into the nearest wall before he could hurt anyone else. He sailed through the air, his scream echoing throughout the bar.
Without slowing, I turned and rushed for Olivia, not forgetting that she’d said they were all around us. She lay where I left her, her eyes open and watching for me. I scooped her into my arms and didn’t slow on my way through the window.
