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)
Channing showed him the joy of what he is. With Channing, he exalted in his wolf nature. He found a whole new world. And then I shut it all down. But I was wrong. My son is a wolf. He needs to be with other wolves. And I need Channing.
There. I admitted it. I’ve been denying myself the one person who could change my entire world. Fill the cavernous void left by Geoffrey. Make things light and fun. Give me pleasure and companionship. Love.
All for what? Safety?
Look where that got me. We’ve never been less safe, and it’s because Channing wasn’t with us.
“I know you're in there,” I whisper to the wolf. “You're a part of our family, and we need you right now.” Geo will accept the beautiful monster inside him, and so will I.
Van den Berg raps the bars with his gun. “What are you saying over there? Stop it.” He aims the gun at me. “You. Julia. Get up. I need a hostage.”
I rise to my feet, murmuring, “Get ready, mijo.”
The door swings open.
“Come,” van den Berg waves me forward. I step into the hall, and dive to the right. A bullet whines past me and buries itself into the wall.
A growl echoes in the cell, and a ghostly shadow blasts through the open door. van den Berg screams. His weapon clatters on the floor. I grab it and rise.
A giant wolf stands over the still form of van den Berg, its jaws next to his face.
“Good work.” I aim the gun, covering Geo as he steps over to me. van den Berg might be playing dead. “Let’s go.”
We make it back up the staircase unhindered. I close the doors behind us, hoping they will lock.
Geo’s wolf lopes beside me. I keep a hand on his back, gripping the thick fur. The beast is strong and sturdy, something I can rely on.
A howl goes up in the distance. Channing. Geo's wolf speeds forward, pulling me with him. I keep the gun up, alert, and trust my son to nose his way down the hall.
A second later he sneezes. I smell it, too. An eye watering stench, like someone let one hundred skunks in here.
Another howl, this one sounding closer. Channing’s somewhere inside the house. We have to get to him. I can’t go straight to the exit–it’ll be guarded. We need to sneak out.
I lead us in the direction of the howl, until we come to a statue I recognize from the holiday house tour.
“This way.” I nudge Geo to the right, through a library that smells of leather and ancient books. The side door leads to van den Berg’s study. Ahead are the huge windows. I run to one and look down. We can pry it open and jump out that way. It’s on the second floor, but there are some bushes below that can break our fall.
Voices sound in the hallway, and I drop behind the desk. Geo pushes next to me, panting.
“This way.” van den Berg sounds peeved. Heavy boots tromp along with him. “Don't disturb the furniture,” he snaps. “I’ll be in my study. Find them and bring them to me.”
The door to the study swings open. “I need a drink.” My ex-boss marches to his minibar. I hold my breath.
Gunshots crack in a far part of the house. Boots rush in that direction. More gun fire.
Then, a low growl. Channing is getting closer.
Van den Berg curses. Ice clinks as he picks up a phone. “Yes, you fool, he’s here.” Van den Berg snaps to someone on the other line. “I can hear him killing your men.”
“Must I do everything myself?” He slams down the phone and heads to a case next to the fireplace. “I was going to hunt your nephew, but you are much more impressive.”
More shouts. Bullets thud the walls. A roar shakes the room, followed by a piercing scream and a horrible squelch. A growl rumbles through the door.
Channing’s outside.
van den Berg removes a shotgun from his private case and raises it, aiming at the door.
I rise up, and take a shooting stance. “Hey, asshole.”
Van den Berg’s head whips around.
“I quit.” And I blow him away.
Channing
I hear a shot and burst through the door. A dead man lies prone on the carpet, holding a shotgun. Julia stands with both hands steady on a pistol, breathing hard.
Geo surges from behind the desk.
I shift back and go to them. “You okay? You hurt?”
“We’re okay.” Julia’s eyes are wide. She’s trembling and pale.
I crouch to check van den Berg. He’s dead. I take his shotgun.
“I had to.” Julia’s voice quavers. “He was going to shoot you.”
“I know. You did good. C’mere.” I pull her into a hug. “You both did.”
“There are more of them,” her voice is barely a whisper.
“I know. I took out as many as I could. Buddy will take care of the rest.”