Filed To Story: Secret Shifters Next Door Series PDF Free
Steff got on the radio. “Terry, goddamn it, respond. We need you in there.”
Silence again. Then a burst of audio from the radio headset. “Who is that?” Celina’s voice said, quivering with fear.
“A friend of mine. He’s here to help,” Felicity said.
The headset was off my head, and I was out of the truck less than a second later. My feet slammed the ground as I ran. Things had gone bad. As wrong as they possibly could have been. I didn’t even try to hide my supernatural speed. I raced down the alley faster than any Olympic sprinter who had ever lived. I took the corner and angled to the restaurant. I saw Terry slumped in the parking lot next to his car. A knot of fear jerked tight in my
chest, but I had no time to check on him. I could only hope he was knocked out and not dead.
I could see through the front door and glass window of the restaurant. Celina and Felicity were at a table right by the window. A big, younger man stood at the table, towering over Celina. My shifter eyes, better than any human’s, spotted the gun in his waistband. I amped up speed and burst through the restaurant door right as the guy grabbed Celina’s arm and tried to lift her out of the seat.
In two quick steps, I was on him. I chopped a hand down on the wrist of the hand that was grabbing Celina. I slammed my hand into his throat, hitting him below his Adam’s apple with the webbing between my thumb and forefinger. He gagged, and his eyes bulged, croaking as he tried to scream while the muscle in his throat convulsed. I yanked his arm around his back and twisted. To prevent his arm from breaking, he had to bend over fast. The movement caused him to slam his own head into the table. I held him there and grabbed his other hand, so he couldn’t reach for the gun. I sniffed the air. There was a weird scent in the air that I couldn’t quite place.
Before I could trace the source, there was an explosion of sound from the patrons and workers of the restaurant—shouting and calling for help. I tuned them all out and looked at Celina. “You okay?”
She nodded, looking shaken.
“What the hell are you doing?” Felicity screamed, jumping up from her chair.
“He was putting his hands on me.” Celina pointed out. “Why was he assaulting me?”
“He’s my bodyguard, that’s all. He was here to…uh…escort us home.”
I sneered at her, but before I could say anything, Celina beat me to it. “And why the hell do you need a bodyguard?”
Felicity’s face went pale as she realized all her lies had piled up so high she couldn’t keep balancing them, and the whole thing was starting to fall over.
Celina stood and glared at Felicity. “Are we still playing some game?” Celina said, mocking Felicity with her own words from earlier.
I reached into the guy’s waistband and slipped his gun out, sliding it into Celina’s purse, being careful that no one in the restaurant saw it. What the hell was that scent? I glanced around, trying to find the source. It smelled faintly of a shifter, but how could that be possible? Tate? Was he here already? I let the guy go, and he stumbled onto his knees, still fighting to get his breath back as he clutched at his throat. He’d be fine, but he was no longer a threat.
I nodded to him and looked at Felicity. “Handle your men better next time.” I pointed at the guy. “Because if it looks like anyone tries to harm Celina again, that will be the least of what I do to them.”
Felicity glowered at me. “Fucking mutts. Always somewhere they aren’t wanted.”
She turned to look at Celina, a smile spreading easily across her face. My body went cold, seeing how quickly she was able to put the mask on. The smile was warm, sweet, and looked real. The way she was able to switch it on was terrifying.
“Celina, I’m so sorry about all this. I’ll get in touch when your little dog isn’t around to sniff on the floor and hump your leg.”
Celina shook her head. “What is wrong with you?”
Felicity grabbed her purse, and walked over to the guy. She put an arm under his armpit and helped him stand. He held his throat and glared at me as he walked out with her. I stared right back at him, and then stared daggers at Felicity’s back as she left.
“Hey, you all need to get out of here, or I’m calling the damned cops,” the server yelled. There was a chorus of agreement from everyone else in the restaurant.
I put my arm around Celina and walked her to the door. Once outside, I saw Tate and Steff kneeling in the parking lot with Terry. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Terry leaning against the car, holding a hand to his head. Blood trickled from a cut at his temple, but otherwise, he looked okay. Tate saw me and gave a nod.
I led Celina away toward the surveillance van. Blayne opened the door for us. Once we were inside and safe, Celina started to tremble. I pulled her close, wrapping her arms around her.
“She was so cold. Did you see that?” Celina asked. “The look in her eyes made my skin crawl.”
“You were fantastic. I know it was hard. I’m sorry it didn’t go as planned.”
She sighed. “I felt dirty the whole time I was talking to her. I’ve never experienced something like that. And all her lies? I don’t know why she was still trying to keep the story going.”
“She’s desperate to keep the connection with you. She’s using you. I think she’s also still holding out hope that she can sway you to her side. Bring you into the fold and get you to help them.”
Celina made a disgusted sound. “Yeah. And I don’t believe that guy was there to only walk us back to our cars or something.”
“No,” I said, a cold fist of fear clenching in my stomach. “He was there to help Felicity make her move. Us being there made her plan backfire.” I took Celina’s chin in my hand gently and tilted her face toward mine. “I promise, no matter what it takes, I’m not letting Felicity get her hands on you.”
Celina smiled and nodded, then rested her head against my chest. I looked over at Blayne, and saw the worry on his face. He was thinking what I was thinking. Today had been close. Too
fucking close. I’d made a vow to Celina. I had every intention of keeping it, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I prayed I could do what I’d promised.
TWENTY-FIVE
CELINA