Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“We’re going to get Wren back,” Darius says. He wraps me in his powerful arms, and I let myself sink into his hug.
“That’s right,” Hutch says as Darius’ brothers crowd around me, offering their comfort. “They’re about to find out that you don’t mess with the bears.”
Chapter Eleven
Paloma
My stomach was in knots the entire flight back east. Darius let me use a laptop on the flight, and I used it to set up my own leverage against Thom.
Now, as we fly the short distance from New York City to Lockepoint, I’m a complete disaster. It’s horrible to return after trying to escape it for so many years, but even more horrific is imagining all the dastardly things Thom might do to Wren if we don’t get there in time.
I blink back tears. No, I can’t think about it.
Darius squeezes my hand. We’re in the back of a repurposed military plane. Matthias sits on my opposite side, checking through his first aid kit.
The comms unit crackles with the pilot’s announcement. The sound is loud but unintelligible.
“We’re approaching Lockepoint now,” Teddy interprets. He’s sitting a few feet away from Darius, next to his ex-military friends from Taos. They are also shifters. They used to all be on a shifter special ops team with the military, but now they have a private security firm.
“Is it weird being back here with us instead of flying this thing?” the Taos guy asks Teddy.
Teddy shrugs. “Buddy flies just fine. I trained him myself.”
I look from Teddy to Darius. I don’t think they’ve had time to talk out their disagreement. They’ve just agreed to put it aside to help me rescue Wren.
All the Bad Bear brothers are on the mission. Five of them are flying in on helicopters, while Darius, Teddy, and Matthias are with me. Teddy’s special forces buddies are here, too, the ones who operate as Black Wolf Security out of Taos. They brought the plane.
“How did you even get all this equipment?” I motion around the plane. A sleek boat made of gray metal takes up most of the space.
“Friends in high places,” Darius says.
“More like friends in low places.” The Taos guy leans out to grin at me. I’ve noticed he’s kind of a flirt. I think his name is Lance. His white teeth shine out of his camo-painted face.
Teddy, Matthias, Darius, and I aren’t in any war paint, just military-grade combat gear. I’m wearing a bulletproof vest that’s a heavy leaden weight on my shoulders. A necessity, since I’m the only non-shifter here. The four Black Wolf Security guys are in high-tech gear and bodysuits that will allow them to strike a target hard and fast in the dark.
A few days ago, I didn’t know shifters existed. Now they’re risking it all to help me rescue Wren. It’s overwhelming. I’ve gone from being locked alone in a tower and used for my gifts to surrounded by new friends who don’t know or care that I have a weird intuition that results in profitable stock trades.
The Black Wolf Security leader, a tall, dark-haired guy named Rafe, marches around the boat to stand in front of us. He’s got a calm, focused presence that inspires confidence. A lot like Matthias.
“We’re ready. We’ll drop the boat. Then you four” –he points at me, Darius, Matthias and Teddy– “parachute down to meet it. Buddy’s going to drop the rest of us closer to the beach. We’ll make a hole and cover you, so you can head straight to the mansion.”
I try to imagine each of these steps, but all I can picture is a jumble of every action movie I’ve ever seen.
“Got it?” Rafe finishes the debrief. I have the feeling he’s repeating the plan for the civilians. My mouth is dry, but I nod.
Teddy rises, grabs three parachute packs, and helps Matthias and Darius strap into theirs. “Paloma, you’re with Darius.”
My heart is trying to pound out of my chest, but I stand so Darius can strap me to him. My wild heartbeat calms as I lean against him and soak in his warmth.
“You two lovebirds have fun,” Lance says.
Darius growls, but I raise a hand and flip Lance off.
Matthias chuckles. One of the Black Wolf guys barks a laugh. Lance slaps a hand to his heart, pretending to be wounded.
Rafe shakes his head. “Serves you right, brother.” To me, he says, “Welcome to the team.”
A buzzer sounds, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I grip the side pockets on Darius’ flak jacket. We’re face to face, and I’ve never been more grateful for his huge Viking build. “I’ve got you, little princess,” he rumbles. “I mean, warrior princess.” He bows his head, so he can brush his lips against mine.
“Awww,” Lance and another Black Wolf security guy chorus. “Kiss cam!”
Both Darius and I flip them off without even breaking the kiss. He smiles against my mouth, and I find enough breath to chuckle. I had no idea members of a special ops team could be so goofy.