Electric Storm(94)

Ross pulled a shiny scalpel and small mallet out of his bag, so absorbed in his task that he didn’t bother to face her. “The hunters feel that it evens the odds to let the shifters run in their natural environment. It increases the danger and adds to the adrenaline rush.” He shook his head. “Fools.”

Raven let him talk. If she could remove her gloves, she’d be able to access the energy grid teaming below her. Her clumsy fingers made the task difficult. Frustrated at the lack of progress, she finally just used her teeth to tug the leather over her hand.

Cold cement seared her palm.

Nothing happened. The grid hummed but remained dormant under her demand. She gritted her teeth as panic threatened to overwhelm her. Power fluctuated wildly at her emotions. She pushed past the pain, dug deeper, only to watch helplessly as any power drain back into the floor. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold the charge worth a damn.

A kick to her ribs took her by surprise. Pain robbed her of breath, and she crashed to her side on the tarp. She glared at the man who caused this all. “Bastard.”

“Hmmm.” He glanced at her distractedly as he reached for his instruments.

It was now or never.

“You want to know what makes me different?” His eyes sharpened. She’d finally caught his attention. “This.”

She grabbed his ankle. His pant leg did nothing to protect him. She might not be able to give him the jolt he deserved, but she sure as hell could take every bit of energy that made him human.

He gasped as his essence dribbled out of him. His heart slowed. The blade he held clattered to the floor. The urge to keep taking grew, but if she wanted to find Taggert, she needed Ross alive.

And for that insult, the bastard would pay.





Chapter Twenty-eight





“He sets up illegal hunts, using shifters as prey.” Raven had debated long or hard whether or not to go home and get reinforcements. The deciding factor was her promise to Jackson. Also, though it galled her to admit it, she needed help if she had any hope of getting Taggert back. “And I’m afraid if they notice Ross’s absence, they’ll pull up stakes and slaughter those still captive.” Her jaw clenched as she said those words.

“How do you know he’s behind it?” London finished securing the last tie, elbowing Ross in the back of the head when he rose. She understood his doubt. Ross was twenty pounds too skinny for his lanky frame, with thinning hair and an air of weakness around him. He didn’t look capable of capturing a fly let alone so many shifters.

“He bragged. Ross knew how packs ran, and avoided snatching anyone associated with them to avoid suspicion.” She didn’t go into how he tortured his captives for the information.

Dina walked in the room, not gazing at anyone as she paced, her cherry scent a little too sweet. Her words were slow in coming. “Jenkins isn’t ready.”

Raven didn’t say anything at first, swallowing hard. She was determined that this plan would work despite everything that could go wrong. That meant she needed Jenkins. “No one ever is.”

Dina sighed, a defeated slump to her shoulders. “He said he’d do it.”

Raven never expected anything less, well understanding the need for revenge. The cold stone in her chest dissipated a fraction knowing that her friends stood behind her. “And the others?”

“Dominic took Jackson to check Ross’s home as soon as you called.” London peered at her over Ross’s head; something in her expression had him narrowing his eyes. “They left you here to recover. They’ll be pissed if you dare move from this house.”

Relief nearly bent her double to learn that Jackson suffered no aftereffects from her. A large part of her was grateful to have him gone from the house when she’d returned. She didn’t know how to face him after what happened. After failing him. “Do you believe we can wait? If Ross isn’t there to answer that phone, Taggert will be the next body they pull from the water.”

The superior attitude Ross had exuded at the morgue had annoyed and scared the shit out of her. For an intelligent guy, he honestly didn’t understand the magnitude of his crimes. Or his punishment.

“What about him?” London nodded to Ross.

“Leave him here for Rylan. Dina can—”

“I’m going with you.” Her voice was adamant. “If any of my people are still alive, they’ll need me. You’ll be too busy tracking down Taggert.”

Raven tightened her lips at putting another defenseless shifter in danger. She ran the scenario through her head a thousand times, but couldn’t fault Dina’s logic. “Get Jenkins in here.”