Kindle Edition
Amazon
leegarrett
Category:
Fantasy
Publisher: Createspace
Type: Fiction
Pages: 294
Copyright: July 22, 2018
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
Book Two in the Donovan and Scarecrow series: troubleshooters for the American Vampire Council, they bring street justice to the wicked who prey on humanity.
Scarecrow and Donovan thought Wang was dead, buried, and forgotten, but the assassin's Japanese, dragon-born lover wants vengeance. Meanwhile, the vampire lord claiming Sacramento is meddling in werewolf politics and plotting the downfall of those that saved his empire for him; the gratitude of the undead is cold as an open grave. Worse of all, Scarecrow's diabolical little sister is on a quest for true love. Let the world beware.
Excerpt
“The wolves have been getting uppity lately,” Foxx said. “This could be the first move in a war for the city.”
“A hit?” Summer asked.
“Not with just two cars,” Lizzy said. “We’re master vampires.”
“Still,” Foxx said, “If it’s Wolfe and Big Bad, we’re going to be hard pressed.”
The partition came down. The driver spoke over his shoulder as the vehicle swerved, smashing back at the attacking car. “Help’s on the way. I’ve got us heading toward the closest precinct. We’ll see how serious these guys really are.”
“I wouldn’t mind killing a wolf or two.” Ivana glanced at Summer. “In self-defense, of course.”
“I hate wolves,” Lizzy said. “They make me itch.”
There was a jarring impact from behind. Summer was jolted forward. Lizzy caught her with an arm that looked soft—but had the strength of steel in it. The vampire leaned in and murmured. “Don’t worry. We’ll protect you.”
In counterpoint, a small voice spoke as if from her erring. “Truths and roses have thorns about them.”
Another crash came from behind.
“Three cars,” the driver said. “We’re being forced off the road.”
“Go ahead and stop the car,” Foxx said. “We’ll let the wolves blunt their teeth on the car’s armor for a while, and let time test their nerves.”
Summer felt herself sinking, receding, her thoughts thinning, drowning. Her last impression was of another person ghosting past her within a shared inner darkness. Then sleep wrapped her in gentle wings and she was gone.
But not forgotten.
Chevonne remembered being sexually mauled, the bite of fangs, and the kiss of lips drinking her blood. Warmth flushed her face as she realized how far she’d almost gone with Foxx. Well, that was the job when you were deep under cover; you did what you needed to, what survival demanded. Survival was definitely an issue at hand, or her handler wouldn’t have transmitted the trigger phrase through the earring that returned her to conscious control.
She felt underdressed without her badge and piece, but she wasn’t alone. Her backup had to be close by, in the van. She had a mental flash of Hurst and Invers. Both were big, burly men. Hard and lethal, both ex-military special forces. They’d be waiting in the van with guns drawn, ready to pounce when Shanna gave the command. The petite blond would be the one with the headphones, huddled over a computer monitor, the one making the calls for their detail. It was her voice that had put Summer to sleep.
“How good is the armor?” Chevonne asked.
Foxx shrugged. “Depends on who’s testing it. Wolfe and his war chief can both draw strength from pack bonds from wolves that aren’t even present. If one of the two head wolves are here—and really motivated—we’ll have a minute or two.”
Lizzy patted Chevonne’s thigh, a smile in place. “We can draw strength from our servants, too. Don’t worry.”
How can I not? I feel like the last drumstick at a monsters’ buffet. Chevonne wished she could see through the damn tinted windows. Might as well wish for a rocket launcher while I’m at it.
The whole vehicle jounced.
Chevonne looked ahead, past the driver, through the clear front windshield. A man in black pants and a camo hoodie crouched on the hood of the limo, grinning in at them. His smile revealed oversized canines. His irises were discs of amber fire: wolf eyes. And his beard was heavy, getting thicker as they watched. His face went bestial, his skull going misshapen, the muscles twitching, realigning. His back arched. He screamed in silence as his knees buckled and seemed to be turning backward. His hands became claws, ripping into the hood under him. He clawed at his clothes, shredding them away, revealing underlying sable fur.
Horrid fascination gripped Chevonne. She’d never seen a person go wolf before.
“Not one of Wolfe’s regular soldiers,” Foxx said. It shows that this isn’t a serious effort. He’ll claim later this was the work of rogue wolves.”
“Rouge wolves he’s making use of,” Ivana said.
The driver said, “Cameras show two other wolves closing in on the vehicle. If there are more, they aren’t showing themselves.”
“The rogues will show up dead later,” Foxx said. “Wolfe wants to prove he can police the territory better than I can. This isn’t a hit. It’s all about embarrassing me.”
Ivana grinned. “So let’s take the fight to them. We can make this work for us by proving the opposite.”
|
