Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“I’m going to kill him,” I growl and grab my phone. I march out and head down the driveway to the curb, where I wrench open Buddy’s passenger door. A bunch of soda cans and fast food wrappers fall out, and I sweep the rest to the car floor so there’s room for me to sit. “Take me here,” I order, pointing to the map on my phone. “Now.”
Channing
The wind whips my face as I lean into a turn. Behind me, Geo leans too. My phone’s been vibrating nonstop in my pocket. At the first available moment, I ease it out and hold it to my mouth.
“Little busy,” I shout.
“Looks like you're heading to the pop up club.” Lance's voice is cool. He's been manning the coms more and more since he knocked up his mate. I can imagine him there now, holding the tiny bundle of his daughter, walking her when she’s fussy. For once, the thought doesn’t bring despair. Lance made a family work for him. Maybe there’s hope for me.
Weird that I’m thinking about that sort of thing in the middle of a high speed chase, but my brain does that sometimes.
“Yeah, gonna visit Jared and Trey. But I’ve got company.” The three SUVs on my tail are still there. They’re slower than I am, but they seem to know where my bike will end up before I do.
“10/4. Deke’s on his way, but he’s six hours out. I’ve alerted Jared and Trey that you’re coming in hot with uninvited guests. They’re expecting you.”
“Good. These fuckers need a welcoming committee.”
“How many?”
“Three in cages. Maybe more. They’re everywhere.” A fourth SUV darts out of a side road to join the others, and I break off with a string of curses. “Make that four.”
“Hang tight. Get to the fight club. I’m monitoring your position.”
I shove my phone away without hanging up. I put on a burst of speed, gunning to outrun them. I’ve been careful because of Geo and the fear of running out of gas, but no more.
“We’re almost there,” I tell Geo. “You’ve done great.”
He hugs me tighter. Kid’s got a death grip on my middle. If I were human, I’d have bruises on my ribs. “Who are these guys?”
“Wish I knew. Soon it won’t matter.” Once I get Geo to safety, my plan is to wipe these guys from the face of the earth. They tried to fuck with me, and it impacted my family.
We’re almost to the turn off into the commercial strip where Jared’s hosting the fight club when a roar cuts the air.
A dozen Harleys have joined the chase.
I risk a look back. The head Harley holds a familiar face. Hannibal.
These aren’t definitely not friendlies, then. Now this mess makes more sense. Hannibal’s got it out for me. What I don’t know is where he got the funding for the army of SUVs and motorcycles. Maybe he has a rich backer?
I’ll think about later. The SUVs couldn’t keep up with my crotch rocket, but Hannibal can. I increase my speed past where I feel comfortable. With Geo on the bike, I'm being less reckless.
I can’t let Hannibal and his hog buddies get ahead of me. They’ll stop to cut me off, and it’ll be game over. I can’t fight them all.
But my friends at fight club can.
I cut between the warehouses, heading towards my final destination. Hannibal’s bike rips the air behind me.
Because Lance told me Jared and Trey would prepare a welcoming committee, I see a booby trap ahead of me. Moonlight glints on the wire stretched across the road. The shadows obscure most of the trap–and the ramp someone placed to the side for me.
“Hang on,” I holler to Geo. This poor kid’s going to need therapy after this.
Hannibal’s so close, I can smell his clove cologne. I rush towards the wire, swerving right at the last second. We hit the ramp and go airborne.
We fly over the wire. Ahead of us is a long, dark stretch of road lined with warehouses, and the fight club warehouse at the far end, closest to the forest. Fires flicker against the tree line. Looks like Trey and Jared prepared a welcome party, fireworks and all.
I just have to make it that far. My bike crashes down, wheels first, thank Fate, and I speed away, Geo’s startled laugh echoing in my ears.
Maybe he’ll be okay. Maybe I’ll save the day and make everyone proud. Julia will forgive me, and we can be a family. Lance and Deke figured out the mate thing. How hard can it be?
Behind us, the razor wire did its thing stopping the calvary. It won’t stop all of them, though. Those armored cars will smash right through it.
A bike revs to my left and right. Looks like a few Harley’s skidded under the wire. They’re gaining on us—until several dark shapes blur from the shadows, cackling. The werehyenas swing lead pipes, smashing them into the chests of the bikers. The Harleys go down, and I’m free to speed into the parking lot, weaving between bonfires.