Her Guardian Angel (Fire and Snow)(54)

"Dominic. Look at me. And listen up. You need to find your calm, son. You go running in there with no plan, you'll all get shot."

"I know, Dad. You heard what he's done to her. You listened to her screams. I can't sit here. I have to get in there." He reached for the door and bolted toward the house as soon as he was free from the car.

"Dominic, hold up! We go in together, just like always." Conner's voice managed to break through the anger haze filling his mind and he stopped a moment to let his brother catch up. When Conner reached him, he grabbed his head between his hands and rested their foreheads together.

"Deep breath, Dom. We will get them out. Together." Conner released him just as Kit ran up behind them.

"I'll get the door boys, no need to kick it in and announce our arrival now is there?"

Within seconds, Kit had the lock picked and all three silently entered the house. Dominic felt his heart stop and his knees began to buckle as they entered the house and Adele's rage filled screams rung out from a doorway leading down some stairs. Conner silently caught him, stood him back up, nudged him with his shoulder and they headed toward the stairs together. Kit had moved off to search the house. She mouthed the word "clear" as they all reached the stairwell. Dominic led the way, with Conner and Kit behind him. Within seconds they were at the bottom of the stairs in a dark hallway. Dominic pressed up against the wall next to the door for a moment and listened to the movements inside the room to get a position on where everyone was. Using hand signals, he let Conner and Kit know where they were. He pointed at Kit and mouthed "Adele and Kelly". He looked to Conner and nodded. No words were needed; they would take out the bastard then help Kit get the girls out. Dominic held three fingers up counting down.

Three.

Two.

One.

He made a fist then spun and bolted into the room.

He roared as he changed into his leopard. The sight of Cole taking a knife to Kelly's shirt was more than he could stand. Add to that the sight of his blood covered barely conscious mate and there was no chance of him holding back. At the sound of his roar, Cole spun around with a "What the fuck?" He was quick to pull out his pistol but not quick enough. Dominic had leapt into the air, aiming his sharp teeth for the bastard's throat by the time he got his shot off. Dominic felt pain and fire rip through his hind leg, but it didn't distract him from his goal. He landed with his front paws on Cole's shoulders, knocking him to the ground. He didn't waste time, sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of his throat and ripping it out with a triumphant roar. Once he heard Cole's heart cease beating, he looked around the room. He just caught the horrified look on Adele's face before blackness took over his vision and he passed out.

~ * ~

A few moments after Adele had wondered where Dominic was, he appeared in the doorway. Her heart lurched at the sight of her beautiful guardian angel barreling into the room. As she watched Conner and Kit coming in behind Dominic, she sighed in relief and a little in awe at the three very fierce looking firefighters who had come to save them. The relief of imminent rescue evaporated as quickly as it had begun as she heard a deafening roar vibrate the entire room, rattling the tools on the table. Her body stiffened as she scanned around the room to see what had made the noise. Her eyes flew wide and her mouth fell open as she saw what appeared to be a bubble of blue electric energy surround Dominic. Moments later, Dominic was gone and a snow leopard appeared.

She carefully catalogued the large cat's spots and features against her memory. Bloody hell, it was her chaton standing where Dominic had been just moments ago. Her head spun and she saw spots as her mind attempted to process what was in front of her.

Dominic.

Snow leopard.

Her snow leopard.

Her chaton that had been visiting her dreams for the last nearly five years.

Maybe she was unconscious and dreaming that her chaton was here, charging in to save the day. She could see herself having this dream. Suddenly feeling calmer that this must all be a figment of her imagination, she raised her eyes and jerked back in shock. Kit's face was right in front of hers, wearing a mask of seriousness, fury and purpose. Adele stared at her friend. The muscles of her neck and shoulders looked hard and strained as she was obviously clenching them. She saw the light gleam off the knife Kit took from the holster on her belt. With a sigh, Adele watched as Kit cut the ropes, freeing her from the ceiling hook. As soon as the rope came away, strong twinges wracked her hands and fingers. She gasped out in pain as Kit carefully lowered her arms. As soon as they were all the way down and her blood pumped back through her veins, the agony began to overwhelm her. It was more than she could stand, and she crumpled to the floor as her limbs refused to function. Kit was there the whole way, wrapping her in a warm embrace, anchoring her in the mist of the chaos that had taken over her body and mind.