Beautiful Moves(Shifting Steel Book 3)(23)

"I should've known. I'm not meant to have a normal, happy life," Ella sobbed under her breath.

"What?" Char asked. "Ella where's the booze. You need a drink, girl."  Char opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay. "Here."  Char pulled the cork then shoved the entire bottle at Ella.

Ella grabbed it with shaking fingers, and took a giant gulp. Nothing was  falling off the walls or down from the ceiling, but it still felt like  the world was tumbling down around her.

Get it together. Sabine's depending on you, Ella berated herself.

Ella paused as a crazy idea resurfaced. Back when she was trying to come  up with money for college, she'd entertained a wild idea. Ella had  dismissed the crazy scheme, because it just didn't seem ethical or  right. But now, weighed against Sabine's life, it seemed her only  option.

"Char can I ask a big favor?"

"What is it?

"I need you to watch Wright for a few days, and drive me to the airport, please."

"Sure. Anyone who can make Wolf like unicorns, and crawl around on the  floor barking like a dog, deserves that, at the very least."

"Thanks, I need to change and grab a few things."

"Did someone die?" Char asked hesitantly.

"Not yet," Ella said as she walked into the bathroom.



Wolf

MD and Wolf hung out in front of a corner store, with-in sight of the one-story house.

"Trip's an hour out with Marisol and Amy." MD hung up his cell.

"Shit, Trip brought in the heavy fire power. What the hell does he need with us?" Wolf chuckled.                       
       
           



       

"No joke. Iris could've found the house, then Marisol could've smoked them out."

"I'm looking forward to the day we can sit back and let the ladies  handle the dirty work, while we eat bonbons." Wolf nudged MD with a  rotten grin.

As much as they joked, there was no way Cain or Trip would let their  women put themselves in harm's way, no matter how capable they were.  Wolf felt the same about Ella. She could probably level a gang of  assailants, but there was no way he'd test that theory.

Ella and her unique brand of Voodoo fit in well with Iris and Marisol.  It was so odd how these unusual females were finding their way into  Shifter circles.

"They're back-up, if we need it, but Trip said to head on in, if we're  good to go. Mainly they came down to get the kid once we've secured  him."

"I guess the boy can't ride home on the back of a Harley," Wolf nodded.

"Let's go, while those bastards are sleeping off whatever shit they were into last night."

The two Shifters moved in on the pathetic excuse for a house, sneaking down the side yard.

"We've got four separate males and the kid." Wolf tested the air to be sure he wasn't missing anyone else.

"I have eyes on two of em," MD commented as he peered into a living room window, barely covered by tattered miniblinds.

"You see the kid?"

"No."

Wolf and MD circled the house, until they found the bedroom where Keith  was being held. The window was ajar, so it made it easier to scent the  boy. Wolf saw the piece of shit, Ray, passed out on a grubby mattress.  The poor child was curled up against the far wall sucking his thumb.  Wolf had to repress an angry growl as he stared at the hand print on the  kid's face.

Just get the kid to safety, then you can deal with the bastard, Wolf  told the angry beast within. It was chomping at the bit for justice.

"MD, hand me that weird toy." Wolf inched up the window, attempting to  make no sound. "Psst," Wolf whispered to the boy as he waved the freaky  little doll.

Keith's eyes widened, and he pulled his thumb out of his mouth with a pop.

"Stuart?" he said rather loud, when he saw the cartoon doll.

"Shut-up," Ray slurred as he stirred on the bed.

Keith cringed and shrank back. Wolf watched Ray, making sure the druggie didn't rouse further.

"Shhh. Come on, Keith. Your mommy sent me," Wolf whispered as he motioned the little boy over toward the window.

Keith looked nervously over at Ray, then back at Wolf holding his toy.  The child stood up but winced as he limped toward the window.

Wolf kept his composure, so he didn't scare the boy. Ray had done more  than slap the child. It was a good thing MD was along. He could check  the boy out, since he was trained as an EMT.

"You hold him," Wolf handed Keith his toy, "and I'll get you."

Wolf gently took hold of the child's arms and started to pull him  through the window. Keith's tennis shoe hit the window ledge and the boy  cried out in pain.

"Sorry, buddy." Rather than pause Wolf quickly pulled him free.

Ray's eyes cracked open. "What the fuck?" he yelled as he lurched to his feet.

"I've got this. Get the boy out of here." Wolf passed the traumatized child to MD.

Just as MD cleared the yard cradling the little boy, the back door burst open and a stumbling Ray staggered out.

"Hey, fucker, you wanna beat on someone? Why don't you come at someone closer to your own size?" Wolf challenged.

Ray grabbed a scrap of wood and started swinging it like a bat. Wolf  rolled his eyes as he went after the stoner. Wolf grabbed the timber in  one hand, and struck out with the other. Ray screamed like a bitch as  Wolf broke his nose.

Wolf spun around, holding Ray in his grasp, when he scented and heard  someone new exit the house. A gunshot rang out, and pain lit up Wolf's  shoulder. Wolf shoved Ray at the shooter as another shot was fired. Ray  lurched when the bullet struck him in the gut.

That was Wolf's clue to get the fuck out. He'd bought enough time for MD  to get away with the child. No sense sticking around for the cops to  show up.

While the other dealer was still trying to figure out how he shot Ray,  Wolf launched himself over the chain link fence, and took off down the  alley at an inhuman speed. Anyone who saw him running, would only see a  blur. Wolf followed his nose, till he reached a gas station MD stopped  at.

Wolf slowed his stride and casually walked toward the building. He  glanced at his shoulder, noting where the first bullet grazed him. A bit  to the left, and it would've struck his carotid. But it hadn't, so  there was no reason to dwell on it. The blood had already started to  clot. In a few hours, it would be healed completely. That was the  benefit of his kind. What pissed Wolf off more, was the damage to his  leather cut.                       
       
           



       

MD stepped out of the store carrying Keith, and a handful of snacks. No doubt Ray hadn't fed the kid.

"Any trouble?" MD asked.

Wolf shrugged. There was always trouble.

"Gotcha. Let's get moving. Trip's going to meet us, not far from here."

"Can I have the chips?" Keith squeaked.

"Of course, my little man," MD opened the bag and handed it to Keith.  "He's shaken up. A bit bruised from rough handling, but okay."

"Ray's a bad man," Keith mumbled as he shoved the BBQ chips into his mouth.

"Slow down kid. You don't want to choke," Wolf chuckled as they headed to meet Trip, Marisol and Keith's mom.

Wolf grabbed his phone and dialed Ella, but it went straight to voicemail. He then called Char.

"Hey sis."

"Hey. How'd the job go?"

"Better than expected. On our way back."

"Oh good. Vick got your window boarded up while Ella and I cleaned up the rest."

"Thanks. I appreciate that. I hope you guys didn't stay up too late. I  could've handled the clean-up, I just didn't want someone coming in the  window while I was gone."

"FYI, when you get back, all the guys are going to be talking about you and Ella."

"Great." Wolf's eyes closed. He'd forgotten Vick and his sister would be able to smell that he'd slept with Ella.

"What the hell pissed you off? I would've thought getting laid would've mellowed you out."

"Ella's wild. She looks sweet but it's a ruse," Wolf teased.

"Okay, never mind, TMI," Char gagged. "Hey, you better check on that girl. Don't pull a dick move and not call her."

"I already tried, but she didn't answer."

"Yeah, cause she's probably still in the air."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Wolf paused midstride.

"She invited me over for a drink, after we finished cleaning up. She  must've gotten a call or something, because she was really upset. I  think a family member is sick or dying. Ella asked me to watch her dog  for a few days and take her to the airport."

"I know her sister is pretty sick, but Sabine's at one of the hospitals in town."

"Well I don't know. She didn't say."

"Alright. Thanks, Sis," Wolf frowned.

He jogged to catch up with MD and Keith as they approached Trip's parked  SUV. Keith's reunion     with Amy was touching. Wolf nodded as Amy  expressed her gratitude, his mind elsewhere. All he could think about  was Ella, upset, trying to maintain her composure on an airplane.