“Maddy!” Evan pounded on the front door. The delicate plates rattled on the table.
I slid out of my seat at the sound of his voice.
“He’s early.” Rika said, rising from her seat. “I’ll get it.”
She crossed to the double doors in the foyer. She opened one side, then blocked the entrance with one hand on her hip and the other on the door frame. I followed her.
“I want to talk to Maddy,” Evan greeted her.
“Manners, Evan. Don’t you even have a hello for me?”
Evan spied me standing behind Rika. “We’re leaving now.”
He was naked. He looked pissed as hell—and hot. He had shifted to his wolf to rescue us. My heart swelled and freaking tears ran down my cheeks. I loved the irritating, irrational man. I always would. And just like I know that to be true, I also know nothing would ever change how I feel about him.
Gabe crept up behind him, nudging an envelope into Evan’s hand.
“Here is what I borrowed. With interest. Now give me Maddy.” His dark eyes swing to me and then back to my kidnapper.
“I don’t want the money. What I have here is payment enough. Your debt is paid. Good-bye.” Rika slammed the door in his face.
I let out a harsh, shaky breath and tried to swallow my fear.Crap.This rescue wasn’t going well at all.
Rika reached up and removed a rifle from where it hung above the front door. She turned, aiming the gun at me while she stared down the scope.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked, backing into the wall.
“What do you think?”
“You’re going to shoot me.”
“Have I ever given you a single reason to think I’m an idiot? Men like Evan never give up. They have to be stopped. Don’t look so glum. We can mount his head over the fireplace.”
“You can’t glamour him or something?” I stalled. Watching her load that rifle, I knew Evan was a dead man if he returned. And he’d be back. I’d seen the look in his eyes. He knew about the pregnancy. He would kill or be killed. All I could think to do was delay the psychotic succubus.
“A bullet leaves less mess. And believe me, I want his pelt intact for my collection.” She turned back toward the door, tucking the gun under her arm. Now was the time. Opening the door while hanging onto the gun distracted her.
“Stop!” I rushed Rika, but the succubus struck me with the butt of her gun.
I saw the damned thing coming, but I turned my head too late. It hit me square in the temple.
Fuucck.That hurt.
Chapter10
EVAN
Iran back to where Gabe crouched in the trees. It was an excellent vantage point for the visible parts of the house. But I knew there was quite a bit in the lower levels we couldn’t see.
“We have to act now. Maddy is in the living room still. Stand back. I’m going to shift.”
“Why’d you bother alerting them to you? Wouldn’t it have been easier to attack her straight away?”
“Not knowing where Maddy is? No way.” I shook my head. I didn’t trust my wolf spirit that much. It was all too new to me. Although, ironically, I’d spent years fighting it only to find it was a relief to be who I was. Turned out, I liked being in wolf mode.
“You still OK with the plan?” I asked.
Gabe nodded, fear in his eyes. “Good luck.”