Beautiful Moves (Shifting Steel Book 3)(43)

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?”