“Hopefully he’ll be alone. So, we grab him and leave.”
Griff nods. He looks grim, focused. Looking around in all directions.
I dash to the front door of the building, making sure Maya is coming with me. Griff catches me up from the other direction, and we arrive at the door at the same moment.
I try the handle. It’s locked. Griff gives me a nod. I put my shoulder to the door and bust it open with a crack of splintering wood.
It’s a small, single room kind of place. Four guys are laying around on mattresses, all startled out of sleep. I scan them fast.
He’s there. The one in the right-hand corner. He’s slower to get up than the others, looking around blearily and rubbing his face. I reach behind me, for Maya’s hand. And when her small, soft hand slides into mine, I feel a flicker of relief. I need her to stay quiet right now.
“Who the fuck are you?” The three other guys are bearing down on me. Mid-ranking pack members, I deduce. Not a problem for Griff or me to deal with, but we are outnumbered.
“Demetrius,” I say, in a low voice. “You’re coming with me right now.”
He frowns, rubbing at his sleepy face like the idiot he is. “Who the hell are you?” he mutters.
“Someone who cares about your safety more than you do,” I growl. “Come on.” I incline my head to the door.
He shakes his head confusedly. “I’m fine here, man. This is my crew.”
“They are not your fucking crew, you moron,” I snarl.
“Demetrius!” To my dismay, Maya slides out from behind me.
Instantly, his face brightens. “Maya? What are you doing here?”
“Saving your ass, brother. Come on.”
His frown deepens. “I don’t need saving.”
“What the fuck is going on here?” one of the other werewolves growls.
“Nothing. We’re taking an unwanted intruder off your hands.”
The werewolf looks from us to Demetrius, and back again. He snorts out a laugh. And then a cunning look comes into his eyes. I’ve got a bad feeling that Demetrius’s value just escalated.
“You’re not taking him anywhere,” he snarls.
I push Maya behind me again. “Let’s not make this more difficult than it needs to be,” I say, and I’m surprised at how diplomatic I’m being. If this had happened before Maya came into my life, I’d be deep into ripping off their heads right about now.
“What’s it worth to you?” the werewolf says.
“I’ll pay for a new front door,” I say. “That’s all.”
He folds his arms. “That’s not gonna cover it.”
Griff, who’s been silent so far, taking in the scene in his cool, measured way, takes a step forward. “I don’t have time for this shit,” he says. “Demetrius, get your ass over here, right now.”
“Don’t listen to him,” roars one of the other werewolves. To my dismay, I see their bodies swelling, muscles twitching, clothes tightening. Shit, they’re spoiling for a fight.
Griff sees it, too. In a flash, he grabs Demetrius by the neck, drags him right over to us.
I throw Griff a look of gratitude. “Here’s what’s gonna happen,” I tell Demetrius, over my shoulder. “You’re gonna be a man, and protect your sister. You hear me?”
“Yeah,” he says uncertainly.
“No dramatics, okay. You just protect her with your last breath. Now, shift.”