Page 12 of Gripp

He could hear April throwing another guy around. He had to give it to her. She was able to keep up, that was for sure. But there would be more, and they wouldn't last long.

He threw a guy against the wall, knocking him just enough to fall off center, before he clawed through his chest, ripping him the shreds. The smell of blood filled the room.

"Look out!" April yelled, and he turned to see a guy running at him with a knife. He moved aside just in time for the man to miss.

April, however, was quicker. She grabbed a stapler off the desk, unfolded it flat, and slammed it into the man's forehead. He screamed as she pushed a staple into his skull, blood traveling down his forehead. She repeated this four more times.

The man dropped, and Gripp stared at April, amazed. He wouldn't have thought to use a stapler like that. He also wanted to know what brand of stapler it was to take such a beating. Though maybe now wasn’t the time to admire the quality of office supplies.

They both turned as they heard someone stumble back. One guard ran down the hall, getting away and calling for backup.

"We need to stop him," she said, ready to go after him. "He’ll wake the rest. We can't let him get away."

He shook his head, knowing they didn't have time. There would be others, and his job was her, nothing else. He knew it was selfish, but he needed to get her out of there. He couldn't worry about the kids or anything else.

Once he got her out of the situation and he got himself free, he would come back and shut this place down. He would personally slaughter each and every last man who threatened the kids.

He pointed his head toward the window. "We need to get moving before they find us and bring their guns next time." He grabbed the bag holding his clothes with his mouth, not bothering to shift. He didn't know who they would run into outside the building.

April had already secured her gear and headed to the window. She looked at him, then at the open door. "Are you sure? What about the kids?"

He nodded. "Yes, we need to move. The kids will survive until I return." He knew this, or he could only hope.

SEVEN

APRIL

When they reached the orchard, April was winded, and her mind was in chaos. She was still taking in Gripp shifting in front of her, but she was more stunned that he was entirely naked.

She leaned on her legs and tried to catch her breath. She checked the straps on her bag before she pulled herself up. She looked at Gripp still in his panther body.

He was amazing, and she found him elegant with black fur, and the cat stood twice as large as a normal panther. He was certainly someone you wouldn't want to fuck with, and she was more than happy to have him by her side.

When the feline dropped the backpack at her feet, she figured he wanted her to dig out his clothes. She wondered if she should turn around for him to dress in privacy. He clearly was fine stripping in front of her, but would he want her to see him donning his clothes? She held his garments up as he shifted back into his human form.

"Thank you for pulling out my clothes." He grabbed them, not embarrassed at all, even though he was completely naked with everything hanging out.

She turned slightly, looking around the orchard. "Neat trick." She rubbed at her arms, not sure what to say. "I was really wondering why I was getting a strip show before they came running through the door. Sort of an odd time to just throw caution to the wind and free Willy."

He snorted at her, shaking his head. "I guess I just take after the ancient scouts. I prefer to fight without clothes. I'd rip them anyway, and I figured you would rather I wear clothes while we travel."

That she could agree on, but she had to admit that he was packing in more than one way. She didn't want to glance below his waist, but hey, a girl's eyes wandered.

"I can see that," she said instead, allowing him a few moments of her back while she surveyed the area.

"Where are we headed now that we are out? Do you have a plan in mind?"

She turned to him, watching him pull his shirt on. The muscles along his chest and arms rippled. She clamped her mouth shut and tried not to stare.

"I have a boat stashed a couple islands away. We have to walk, but we should be there soon." He slipped his army boots on, tying them. "Our first task is to get off this island and as far from here as possible. We don't want them following us. So, we need to get moving right away." He pulled himself up. "Are you good to walk?"

She nodded, taking a deep breath in. She could survive walking. Walking was easy compared to what she had just endured. After a beating and almost death, walking was simple. She allowed him to lead and kept a few steps behind him. She was tired, but she knew they needed to move. The guards from the mine were still looking for them, and she and Gripp needed to gain as much distance as they could.

They headed down the coast, neither saying much. She listed everything she had in her mind. She thought about the file filled with information from when she was handed the case. She had scanned over it on the plane, trying to remember every detail.

April thought about her camera and the pictures she had of the boys. Anger and sorrow filled her recalling how terrible the children looked and the condition of everything around them. They weren't treated like human beings.

She thought about the recorder and what the boys had said. Tears built when thinking she had left them there. They were scared, and they missed their families. She needed something to move her mind away from that. She needed not to think about them at the moment. It wouldn't do her any good.

---