Immortal Danger (Night Watch 0.5)(44)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Torrence pulled a small black remote from his pocket. Pushed a button. A soft swish sounded behind her.

Fuck.

Please, don’t let that be-

Razor-sharp teeth tore into her right ankle.

Maya went down, hard, as the wolf attacked her. Torrence smirked at her even as he hurriedly backed away. "See how long you can last with him, bi-"

She fired. Screw aiming. She hated being called a bitch, especially by a murdering butcher.

Th wolf jerked her, dragging her body back three feet.

The bullet ripped across the skin of Torrence’s arm. There was a solid thunk as it lodged in the wall behind him. Dammit!

Then he was gone.

The steel door slammed shut and the snapping of the lock echoed in the room, sounding even over the wolf’s snarls and growls.

Locked in. Trapped with a now-free wolf. A wolf who was currently trying to bite her foot off.

We attack the legs first, that way the prey can’t run.

She’d heard a wolf shifter say that once. At the time, she’d thought it was a particularly vicious attack method.

She still thought that.

And damn, but it hurt!

She twisted around. Shoved her body upright and slammed the butt of the gun against the wolf’s head. "Let go!" She hit him again, harder, harder.

He howled and jerked back, freeing her. The thick collar still encircled the beast’s throat, but the heavy chain had fallen away, courtesy, no doubt, of the vamp’s little toy.

Maya didn’t look at her ankle. She really didn’t want to see it right then. She scrambled back like a crab. Okay, so much for not hurting him. She’d shoot the beast right between his golden eyes.

Maya fired at the same moment the wolf lunged. The shot went wide, and the wolf’s powerful paws landed on her chest. His weight knocked her back and her head banged against the floor with a thud.

The heat of his breath burned her skin, then his teeth locked on her throat.

Hell, no.

Maya caught his head in her hands, digging her fingers deep into his fur. "Get off me, dog," she snarled. He’d pierced her flesh, just barely, and she could feel the blood dripping down her throat.

She held him back, no easy task even with the enhanced power she’d gotten from Adam’s blood.

The wolf was pissed, enraged, and riding a hard bloodlust.

Maya drew a deep breath. She was in trouble and she knew it. She had no idea where her gun was. Her knife was still in her left boot, but it wasn’t doing her much good there and it wasn’t like she had a free hand to grab it.

The wolf’s claws dug into her chest, gouging deep.

"Fuck!"

She used the pain, pulled it close, then heaved the wolf back with all of her strength.

The second he cleared her body, she lurched to her feet and yanked out her knife. Her right ankle buckled immediately. Shit . Crouching-because it was the best she could do-Maya held up the blade and caught sight of her gun.

Almost close enough to grab.

The wolf shot toward her. Maya hurled the knife. It flew, end over end, then landed hilt-deep in the wolf’s front leg. Maya sprang forward and grabbed the gun.

Golden eyes glared at her. Anger. Pain. Fear.

The wolf padded slowly around her, circling until it stood before the door that trapped Cammie.

"I don’t want to kill you," Maya whispered, "but I will if I have to. I’m getting that girl."

Its nostrils flared. Its eyes narrowed.

She saw the wolf’s muscles bunch as he prepared for another attack.

One.

Two.

He growled and jumped into the air.

Maya fired. Not gonna miss this time, ass**le.

The wolf howled in fury, a long, terrible howl that sounded like a scream.

No, wait, that was a scream. The girl was screaming behind the door.

And the wolf was on the floor, shaking. Her bullet had found its mark.

Maya closed her eyes for just a moment. Her whole body hurt.

Get the girl. "I-it’s all right," she managed. "I’m going to get you out of there."

The screams stopped.

Maya glanced around the bloodstained room. Crawled and found the keys she didn’t even remember dropping.

She pushed to her feet, holding the wall for support. The wolf had done a serious number on her ankle. Limping, losing way too much blood, she stepped over the wolf and reached for the lock.

The third key she tried fit.

Finally.

Maya turned the key, pushed open the door, and caught the faint scent of smoke in the air.

The room was dark, pitch-black actually, but she could see the girl easily. Huddled in the corner, hair tangled and hanging down her back. "Cammie?"

The little girl flinched.

"I-it’s all right, I’m not here to hurt you." She crept forward.

The girl let out a scream and spun around to face her. "Stay away from me!"

Maya froze. "It’s okay," she said, trying to make her voice soothing. "I’m here to help."

But Cammie shook her head. "You’re one of them," she whispered.

True. The girl obviously had her uncle’s sharpened senses. "I’m working with your uncle Adam.

He sent me to find you."

Maya watched the child’s lips tremble. "U-uncle A-Adam?" Desperate hope filled her voice.

She tried taking another tentative step forward. A couple more feet and she’d just grab the girl and make a run for it. "He’s waiting outside for us. But we have to hurry, Cammie." She didn’t know what was happening upstairs, didn’t really want to find out, and she was afraid if they stayed there much longer, more "company" would arrive.

She just wasn’t in the shape to win another fight.

Maya inched forward.

The child’s hands pressed into the wall behind her. "You’re lying." Said with absolute certainty.

"H-he wouldn’t have sent someone like you."

Sure he would have. To hunt monsters, you use one of their own. A sudden idea struck her.

"Cammie, come with me into the light. I’ll prove that he’s waiting." Taking a gamble, Maya stepped back. Fire shot through her ankle as she moved. Slow steps. Nonthreatening.

Cammie began to follow her.

Yes.

Maya eased over the wolf’s body. He was still alive, his breathing heavy and ragged, but he was losing a lot of blood and he wasn’t in any shape to fight her anymore.

Cammie inched forward. One step. Another.

She gasped when she saw the wolf and tears poured from her brown eyes, leaving white tracks on her dirt-stained cheeks.

Hell . "Look at me, Cammie," Maya ordered. Then she turned her back partially to the child and lifted the edge of her shirt.

Silence.

Maya glanced at the girl. Her eyes were wide, and the tears still fell in a steady stream.

"Adam wanted me to show you the tattoo," Maya said, lying without a second’s hesitation, "to prove that I’m on your side." Now that part was true. The lie was one that a child would believe.