Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
You will. I’m here with you.
Gatita. She could always count on her leopard, but she’d put her in such danger. The big male would come for her and he was very experienced in fighting.
He will hesitate and I won’t, Gatita assured. He is my true mate; his human is treacherous. Shadow had to know what Joshua was and what his plan was, but he chose not to tell me. He deserves whatever he gets.
Gatita made the jump onto the upper balcony leading to her bedroom. She shifted, and Sonia ran into the room, yanked her “go” bag out from under the bed and raced for her closet. She kept her weapons behind a wall where she’d made a secret compartment. Thrusting the smallest handgun into her pack, she added two clips and then pulled out her shotgun.
They are coming. We have a better chance in the swamp. I’m smaller and lighter. They can’t go into the places I can.
Sonia swung her head toward the swamp. She hadn’t turned on lights. It was dark inside the house and no one could see in. It hurt to move. Every muscle and joint ached, along with her heart. She was still having trouble finding enough air. She needed to be able to breathe, when she felt as if she were choking, strangling, hands around her neck slowly snuffing the life out of her. He’d done that. Joshua.
Are you certain? Gatita, if they catch you, they might kill you.
I’ve spent time looking for places I can go. Like you, I was afraid and wanted to make certain we had a way out. I can do this. Gatita was unafraid and very calm in the midst of the storm. She was hurt, but the anguish and agony Sonia was feeling simply made her every protective instinct come forward.
Sonia had to make the decision fast. She tossed the shotgun on the bed, slung her bag around her neck and ran to the balcony. Shifting was getting easier. Gatita jumped to the ground, making for the swamp fast. Leopards weren’t known for sustained speed and Sonia tried to keep hers from using up her energy with too much speed. They were in this for the long haul.
He made love to me, Gatita. There’s a difference and I could feel the difference. How could he do that? How could he be so deceptive? How could Sasha? What’s wrong with me that I choose men like that? I don’t understand it. They have to enjoy seducing and then betraying me or they wouldn’t go to such lengths.
I would kill them both for hurting you if I could. Her little female seemed fearless.
She could feel the rage smoldering in the cat as she moved through the swamp. She was sure-footed and light on her feet. Sonia knew the males would scent her, although the female was being careful not to rub her body along the trunks or brush. Their advantage was that Gatita had gone out nightly to run and play. Sonia knew her scent was everywhere.
They angled away from both the road and Joshua’s estate, keeping away from the river, although Gatita stayed parallel to it. Once they were past the area where the hunter was staying in his cabin, Gatita wanted to use the water to conceal the direction she was taking.
There are a number of alligators, Sonia cautioned.
I am aware, Gatita returned. We will get away from the bull’s territory and I can keep from being attacked by the females.
It’s all the bull’s territory. Those females are his. We need to get farther upriver before we go in.
The males will know. To get to the escape route I planned, we need the river.
Sonia felt it was too big of a risk. Those alligators were larger than most in the area, and she didn’t want Gatita tangling with them despite the leopard’s assurance.
Let me take this part. I can run through the swamp and get us to the place you’re looking for. Maybe I’ll leave less scent for them to find. They won’t be expecting that.
She would be naked and barefoot. Not at all practical in the swamp. She didn’t care. Joshua had stripped her of all armor and then he’d ripped her apart. Shattered her until she knew she would never be the same. He’d taught her a lesson she would never forget – if she survived.
No, I will get us there. You could get hurt.
Do you think anything will ever hurt me more than I’m already hurting? He gutted me, Gatita. Gutted me. There’s nothing left. He didn’t even leave me the ability to protect you, and that’s the worst hurt.
Gatita kept moving. We protect each other. This is my time to step up when you need me. I know you’re hurt, I can feel you curled up in a little ball, in the fetal position, because he took your heart. It’s my time to protect you, Sonia. Let me.