Dymka went from absolute stillness to blurring action in the space of half a second. He rushed the other male, taking him in the side, smashing into him and driving him off his feet. Kazimer was fast, faster than Mitya thought he could be, but he wasn’t a match for Dymka’s speed. He couldn’t get out of the way, nor get to his feet in time to keep Dymka from ripping long streaks into his side. When he rolled to try to get to his feet, the vicious claws hooked into his belly and ripped there as well.
Lazar’s two lieutenants burst from the trees, each coming in from a different direction. They ran full out to get to their leader; as his personal guards, they had profited from his leadership and had enjoyed whatever they desired for years. Mitya recognized both leopards. These men had enjoyed hurting him for Lazar, forcing Dymka out to protect him when he was a boy. They were both cruel and vicious, determined to kill him and keep Lazar alive.
Guga was a big man with huge hands. He liked to cuff children, knocking them off their feet as they ran for school or to stores. He laughed when they were hurt. He was always the first man to enjoy the rape of a female, pushing all the others out of the way. All that translated into a leopard that was huge, with enormous claws and a vicious, cruel temperament.
Dymka held Kazimer down easily, found his spine through the loose fur and bit down. He held steady as Guga charged. Mitya could see the snarling, malicious animal getting larger and larger, his eyes twin pinpoints of light in all those spots. He kept coming, but Dymka refused to relinquish his hold on Kazimer.
Shockingly, the big cat suddenly plowed to a stop, his back legs dragging in the dirt as if he’d put the brakes on. Mitya was looking right into his face. He could actually feel the blast of hot air the leopard wheezed out as he neared Dymka. The cat looked as if he’d smashed headfirst into a brick wall. Red blood poured from his snarling face as he stared at them, uncomprehending. The blood originated from right between his eyes, running down his nose and dripping to the ground. He shook his head. Stared at them. Tried to take a step.
Mitya registered the second shot when it came. He hadn’t heard the first. He’d been too focused on Dymka and his bite, severing the spinal column of Lazar’s big male. His leopard still refused to let go, even when Lazar’s cat went limp, submitting. Dymka refused to accept his recognition of defeat. He wanted Lazar and Kazimer dead and wouldn’t accept anything less.
Fidel, Lazar’s second-in-command, rushed them from the other direction. He had slowed his attack, leery once he saw Guga go down. Dymka shook Kazimer, his gaze on Fidel, hatred and a cold fury in every line of his body. He dropped Kazimer onto the ground, swiping contemptuously with his paw and roaring a challenge at Fidel. To Mitya’s shock, Fidel, that invincible leopard who had always been monstrous and seemed undefeatable, turned and ran. Dymka was on him in seconds, bringing him down as if he were a small deer in the forest.* * *• • •
ANIA didn’t have a clear shot at the big leopard fast approaching Dymka as Mitya’s large male delivered the killing bite to Lazar. Her heart had been pounding out of control, but now, seeing Dymka’s complete confidence and the other leopard turning to run from him, she breathed a sigh of relief. That didn’t stop her from keeping an eye to the scope, just in case she needed to aid Dymka, although she was fairly certain the big leopard wouldn’t appreciate any interference. No one was going to kill that leopard, or her man, Mitya. Not when she had a rifle in her hands.
A whisper of sound had her turning, and her blood ran cold. A leopard had managed to climb onto the roof and was stalking her, already too close. Almost on top of her. She tried to turn toward him, dropping the rifle because he was too close, and pulling the smaller Glock from her waistband as the leopard’s hot breath blasted in her face. Malevolent eyes stared down at her, nose wrinkled, lips pulled back in a snarl.
Jewel rose fast, looking to protect her, but she fought back the change, knowing her little female had no chance against the male. She kept the gun down by her side, out of sight, hoping the male would want to force her to shift rather than kill her outright.
He thrust his head closer, the warning sounds rumbling from his throat, his eyes never leaving her face. She’d have one shot. If she didn’t kill him, he’d kill her. Without warning, he hooked his claw into her leg and ripped down from her thigh to her calf. Pain was bright hot and excruciating. She heard herself scream and hastily shut it off in midcry. That would only divide Dymka’s attention, and she knew he was fighting the leopard he’d chased down.