Running with the Pack: Cannon Pack, Book 3 (24 page)

“He’s right, John,” said Norman. “She’s human and killing her—them—is cold-blooded murder.”

Lauren giggled. “Yeah, John. Your men know what’s what so listen to them.”

“They don’t know squat. I say what goes. And I say when a woman sleeps with a shifter, she’s his bitch through and through.”

Bobbie leaned toward Lauren, her eyes sparkling with excitement and, for a moment, appeared to forget about the danger. “Oh, my God. Is it true? Are werewolves real? I thought you and John were just playing hunter, not actually hunting animals. And you actually know a werewolf? And you slept with him? Holy shit, Lauren, why didn’t you tell me?”

Leave it to Bobbie to want the juicy details. “Daniel’s a werewolf. And yes, we’re lovers.”

“Who’s Daniel?”

It figured that Bobbie wouldn’t remember Daniel. But Lauren knew who she would remember. “You remember. Tucker’s friend. The tall, dark hunk of a guy Tucker brought into the office?”

Bobbie’s excitement warped into high speed. “Oh, no you didn’t!” She clapped and bounced on her tiptoes. “Oh, my God, you did, didn’t you? And he’s a real live werewolf? Wow, that’s huge, Lauren.” She gasped. “Does that mean Tucker’s one, too?”

Now it was John’s turn to laugh. “Too bad Daniel’s not alive anymore. Is he, babe?”

Lauren’s gut twisted. Was Daniel already dead? Or had his pack saved him? “If something happens to Daniel, John, I’m going to make you pay.”

John’s delighted demeanor swept away, evil overtaking his features. “No, babe, you’ve got it all wrong. You’re the one who’s going to pay.”

Cocking his gun, he raised the barrel and aimed it at her.

Chapter Eleven

Daniel moaned and fought his way back to consciousness, back to Lauren. Voices floated around him, sifting through the fog surrounding his mind. He fought to remember, worked to get his thoughts clear and managed to bring forth bits of information. He remembered attacking John. If his head didn’t hurt so much, he’d dance a jig. But then what happened? Why did he sense that something was wrong?

“You do it.” The young voice continued, “Besides, you haven’t had a kill in over a year. It’s your turn, Charlie. Take it.”

“Yeah, Chuckie, you’d better get it done before he changes out of wolf form.” An older male joined the first man. “Shoot him in the head and let’s get out of here. This place is giving me the creeps.”

“Why do I have to kill him? I ain’t never seen one turn human before. Makes me feel like I’m killing a real man. Besides, John’s the one who wanted it done. Why didn’t he do it?”

Hunters. Daniel lay still, waiting to hear more, gathering his strength. Why hadn’t they already killed him? The brain fog slowly filtered away. He opened slitted eyes, sniffed and tried to sort through the myriad of smells. Yet the one scent he wanted to find wasn’t there. Where was Lauren?

“I don’t know, man. Maybe he was too mad about his girl. I mean that had to sting. His girl screwing around with werewolves? Talk about cutting him off at the balls.” The man called Charlie moved closer and bent over Daniel. “Maybe he’s already dead.”

“Naw, he ain’t. I heard him groan a minute ago.”

The older hunter stood on the other side of him. If he knew where the third man, the younger man stood, he could ready his attack, taking out the two hunters closest to him first. Daniel wasn’t certain he could disarm all three before one of them got off a shot, but he had to try. He couldn’t simply lie there and wait to die. But where was Lauren? Was she nearby? He wouldn’t want a stray bullet to hit her. And if she wasn’t near, was she safe?

Daniel never heard sounds more wonderful than the ones easing into the night. Quiet movements at the sides of the alley, movements only his sensitive ears could hear. A dark form dashed from one side to another, unseen by the hunters. The relative quiet lasted a moment longer, then growls erupted from every side and with them, the cries of the three men. Wolves jumped out of the shadows, landing on the hunters, ripping their guns from their hands. Leaping to his feet, Daniel got ready to attack. But his attack never came. The pack had already surrounded the hunters, forcing them to the ground, their weapons lying on the pavement.

“Brother, how do you get into these messes?” said Devlin, his dark fur blackened with the blood of the hunters. He shook himself as though trying to rid his body of the blood, then changed into his human form.

“Beats the hell out of me.” Daniel shifted to human, his injuries making the change more painful than usual. “How did you know where to find me?”

“Hell, Daniel, you know I’m not going to let anything happen to my brother. Tucker kind of figured something would go wrong while you were playing house with the little hunter, so I had him watch the place. You know, just in case.”

“Why does everyone call Lauren ‘little hunter’? Granted, she’s not big, but you guys make her sound like a child.”

“That’s what you’re thinking about? What we call Lauren? Not where she is or what we’re going to do with these jokers?”

“Of course I’m worried about her. And, for the record, I’m glad you two checked up on us.”

Tucker, his white fur splattered with blood, padded next to Devlin, then morphed, his growl changing to groans as limbs lengthened, and fangs and claws withdrew. He stretched to his full human height, his muscles rippling with each movement.

“Yeah, and it’s a good thing we did, too. When I saw the little hunter, er, Lauren—” he grinned at Daniel, “—rush out of the apartment, I knew something was up. Then when you came dashing out of there, I stayed right on your heels. I called the pack together, got them to see what was what and, voila, here we are. Saving your sorry ass once again.”

Daniel could’ve hugged both men, but he resisted. Especially since they were naked. “Like I said, for once I’m glad you butted your nose in where it didn’t belong.”

“Hey, just following orders, man. If you don’t like it, talk to your bro.”

Devlin signaled to a gray werewolf who changed, then raced into a nearby alley. He came back carrying clothing. Tucker took the clothing and gave Daniel a pair of jeans and a shirt. “Michael, you don’t mind loaning Daniel your clothes, do you?” The young man started to argue, then shook his head. “Good boy.”

Daniel pulled on the clothes quickly, pausing once to stomp on Charlie’s hand. He yelped, dropped the cell phone he was trying to surreptitiously use and tucked his injured hand underneath him.

“Uh-uh-uh, bad hunter.” Daniel scooped up the phone. “No texting while in class, kiddies. Men, confiscate their phones, then break their guns and toss them in the Dumpster.”

The pack followed his directions, cracking cell phones with the butt of the guns, then breaking the weapons apart. The Dumpster rang with the noise of steel hitting the inside walls.

Daniel grabbed Charlie by the hair and lifted him off the ground. He had to admit he enjoyed how the hunter squealed and squirmed. “Charlie, old buddy, how about you tell me where they took Lauren.”

If the guy were any more scared, his eyes would pop out of his head. “I-I d-don’t know.”

“Come on. Are you telling me you have no idea where good ol’ John would take her? Do you hunters have a secret hideaway where you like to take prisoners? Maybe a special place to torture them?” His mood blackened at his thought, but he had to ask it. “Maybe somewhere John likes to teach girlfriends a lesson or two?”

If John hurt Lauren, he’d soon pay the price with a slow and excruciating exit from this world.

The horrified expression on the scared hunter’s face reassured him. But not by much. If they pushed John too far, who knew what he was capable of? “No, sir. We don’t have a meeting place like that.”

Daniel got in his face and let his fangs grow. “Hmm, I think you’re actually telling me the truth. But that still leaves us with the same problem. Where did he take her? Think and think hard.”

“I’m not sure, but maybe he took her to his place?”

“Possibly. But that’s too easy. I know John doesn’t look very smart, but he does have a few brain cells. Especially when thinking up devious things to do.” He snarled at Charlie to encourage him to talk. The terrified man writhed in his grip. “Let’s try again. Where else would he take her? To his work place? Maybe to a doctor? I did get a few licks in.”

Charlie shook his head but didn’t offer any other help.

“Would you like me to give him an incentive to cooperate?” Tucker, fangs out and eyes blazing amber, stood to the side of them, his saliva-dripping incisors less than an inch from Charlie’s ear. Charlie squeaked and struggled to get free.

“Calm down, hunter. No one’s going to hurt you.” Nonetheless, Daniel dropped his tone to a menacing level. “Unless, of course, you don’t fork over the information I need.”

“But I don’t know anything.”

“I’m betting you know more than you think you do.” Fear oozed from the hunter and Daniel had to remind himself that he wasn’t out to kill hunters. Unless he had no other choice to save Lauren. “Where does John like to go? Any special hangout places?” A glimmer passed through the hunter’s eyes and Daniel knew he was on to something. “What, Charlie? What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know if this means anything, but…”

“How about you let us decide what’s important?” Devlin growled, giving the frightened hunter more reason to speak.

“John said he was going to take her to a fun place.”

Devlin and Tucker were as clueless as he was. “What does that mean?”

“John likes to hang out at the old abandoned carnival. The one off the interstate.”

“You think he took her to an actual fun house? Are you sure?” Daniel shook him again, just for good measure—and to hear him shriek. Normally, he didn’t like treating anyone, even hunters, cruelly, but this man deserved it.

“Eek! Please, don’t hurt me.”

“I asked you if you’re sure.”

“No. But I can’t think where else he’d take her.”

Daniel didn’t think the hunter would lie, not with so many sets of fangs ready to tear him apart. But if he was lying and the pack went to the wrong place, Lauren would pay the price. Making the decision he hoped he wouldn’t regret, he dropped the hunter. Charlie landed in a heap at his feet. “Hunters, hand over your car keys. You won’t be going anywhere for a while.”

John dragged Lauren through the dizzying maze of hallways and slanted floors, into a small mirrored room. Tossing her roughly to the floor, he tied her hands and feet, pulling the knots as tightly as he could.

“Ow. Take it easy, you jerk.” She fought against the restraints, her hands already starting to tingle from the lack of circulation. If she kicked him in the balls, would she have time to get away? Doubtful, but she figured the satisfaction would be worth the consequences.

“Shut up or I’ll gag you. In fact, I might do it anyway.” John grabbed one of the filthy rags scattered around the room and held it up. “Not exactly up to your usual clean standards, but prisoners can’t be picky.”

“Go to hell.”

“Now, now, sweetie. Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?”

“Where’s Bobbie? I swear, John, if you do anything to hurt her, I really will turn hunter. Then I’ll track you down and skin you alive.”

He snickered. “Forever the bitch, huh, Lauren? Better readjust your thinking. After the boys and I get through with you, you’ll wish you’d treated me better.”

Lauren swallowed the bile that rose to her mouth and threw eye-daggers at him. If she got out of this mess, she’d make John beg for mercy.

“Are you comfy?” John cackled and pinched her nipple. “What? No more sweet words? Well, don’t worry. I’ll come back in a few and then we’ll have a real good time. Until then, sit back and make yourself at home.” Chuckling, he rose to leave.

“John?”

“Yeah?”

Did he look hopeful? Like he expected her to beg him not to leave? “You disgust me. You have since that first hunt. I pretended to be your girlfriend so I could keep going on hunts and messing them up for you.”

The heat of his fury rushed to redden his face. “Why, you lying cunt.”

She smiled her sweetest mean-girl smile. “Oh, and John?”

“What, bitch?”

The vein in the middle of his forehead throbbed, his rage building. “You suck as a hunter and you suck even more as a boyfriend. Consider us over.” She grinned, pleased to have finally made the break.

He tried to say something but garbled his words in his anger, then gave up and exited through the nearest hallway.

Lauren stared at the mirrors surrounding her. Maybe if she could get free of the ropes, she could find her way back. But whoever had built this fun house had done a good job of creating one helluva confusing trap. Seeing her image, her mussed hair and streaked makeup only made her angrier.

“Bobbie!” Her voice echoed, bouncing off the mirrors to reverberate through the hallways. “Can you hear me? Are you okay? Bobbie?” She paused, hoping to hear her friend’s call, but none came. “Damn that son of a bitch.” Had he taken her friend to a different mirrored room? Or had he let the hunters have their way with her? Did she dare hope that he’d let her go? After all, Bobbie wasn’t involved with either the hunters or the werewolves. Yet she knew John wouldn’t release her friend. Not when she was a witness.

“Are you having fun, my sweet? This place has a great echo.” John leaned against the doorway and dry-swallowed a handful of pills.

Lauren wished she were a shifter. If so, she’d sprout fangs and tear his heart out. Okay, maybe nothing that gross, but at the very least, she’d make the pain he had now feel like a mother’s caress. “Where’s Bobbie? I swear, John, I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Come on, Lauren, you’ve already threatened me once and look how well that worked out. Besides, what can you do? Sic your werewolf boyfriend on me?” Placing a finger to his lips, he feigned a thoughtful expression. “Oops. You already did and now he’s dead.”

Daniel couldn’t be dead. If he were, she would feel it and she didn’t. She clung to that small bit of hope. “Are you sure about that?”

The waver of his confidence was a good sight to see. Even if it didn’t last long.

“Of course I’m sure. I left my best men to finish the job. Although a part of me does wish I’d shot him myself. I would’ve loved seeing his brains splattered all over, including all over you.”