Clay was a hero and didn’t deserve to die. Just then, the first wolf that had been bitten returned to the fray. It was two against one now. They approached the one with the white spot. That had to be Clay. The injured wolf grabbed Clay’s neck and twisted his head. She screamed and buried her face. This was bad. Really bad.
She moved over to the driver’s side and started the engine. Her finger hovered over the lock waiting for the fight to finish and for Clay to hobble back to the car. Dizziness overcame her and she rolled down the window partway to get more air.
The door handle jiggled on the other side. When she looked up Clay stood there in human form, motioning for her to hurry. Her brain froze, but her finger managed to press the unlock button.
He jumped in. “Go.”
Her packages must be on the ground, but they weren’t important. She backed up, burning rubber as she went. If any car pulled out as she tore down the lane, they’d hit her for sure. She couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t stop.
As soon as she reached the exit, she came to a rolling stop, looked both ways, and floored it. Only when they were out of the lot did she look over at him. His face was covered in blood, as was part of his body. She willed her stomach not to throw up.
“Are you okay?” That was a stupid question, but she needed him to assure her that he would make it. “Do I need to go to the hospital?”
“No. Take me home. I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t look fine. Elena had to slow once she turned onto the main thoroughfare. She kept glancing in the rearview mirror, but it seemed like everyone was going in her direction.
“Take a left at the stoplight.”
She put on her signal. “Will they follow us?”
“I doubt it. I think they were more interested in taking me out since I was protecting you.”
They wouldn’t have attacked him if they hadn’t wanted her. “Maybe they wanted to resell me.”
“We can’t be sure.” He didn’t sound all that certain.
“Or kill me.”
“Depends on whether they think you know something that can destroy their clan.”
Thanks for sugar coating the danger I’m in. Now, she wouldn’t dare go for a walk alone for fear they’d attack.
Clay gave her directions to his home, and she couldn’t wait to get inside. Those wolves were insidious. A shiver raced up her spine, and she feared she’d never be safe again.
As soon as they stepped inside, the adrenaline rush eased. “I need to tend to your wounds.”
“There are some bandages in Dirk’s bathroom.”
There was a sizable gash on his arm. He’d need a large gauze pad. “You need to wash off the blood.”
Clay moved toward her. “I’ll take a shower. I have cuts on my back, too. Can you wash them for me? I can’t reach there.”
Her body clenched. That would mean she’d have to get naked.
He saved your life—again.
He was injured and not asking to sleep with her, just to help him heal.
What had she been thinking? She could clean his back before he stepped in the shower.
You want to make love with him. Her vagina cramped thinking about doing it again.
What the heck. She’d tumbled this close to hell, she might as well enjoy the ride into the devil’s inferno.
“Be happy to.”
As she turned to go toward Dirk’s bedroom, she thought she caught Clay’s lips lift into a smile. He followed her into the bathroom.
She turned on the showerhead. As soon as she took off her sneakers and removed her shirt, her sensibility returned. “I can’t.”
“Sugar, if you don’t feel comfortable getting undressed in front of me that’s fine. I’ll wash the best I can.”
Guilt swamped her. She could leave on her bra and panties, which looked like a swimsuit anyway. “Okay.”
He stepped closer, looking strong. “Okay, what?”
“I’ll help.” She turned her back and removed all but her undergarments and faced him.
Clay’s jaw sagged and his eyes sparkled. “You do realize that sooner or later we’re going to be together?”
He’s right, you know.
Chapter Seven
If this guard sent his photo to Hood, Hood would spot Dirk as a fake. Before the man had the chance to click send, Dirk charged. Taking him down shouldn’t be hard. Dirk had a good twenty-year advantage. What he didn’t count on was the knife in the man’s hand that sliced right through Dirk’s belly. The pain arrived quickly. It would soon disappear, but not before it slowed him.
If he’d had time to shift, he would have, but five seconds was an eternity. The guard outweighed him by thirty pounds. The guy grabbed Dirk’s shoulders, shifted his weight, and did a leg sweep. The two tumbled.