Harley bounded forward, leaping over me, and attacked my assailant, closing his jaws over the man’s hand.
I gaped in shock, my mind trying to come to grips with the realization that adoghad just defended me.Harleywas trying to protect me. Risking his life forme.
The man swung the gun around and fired at Harley.
Bang!
The dog yelped and released his grip, collapsing to the ground.
With a sinister snarl, the man rose and whirled toward me.
“Adrik!” Annika screamed.
But this time when he swung the butt of the rifle at my head, I couldn’t get out of the way in time.
Whack!
I toppled sideways, pain ricocheting through my skull.
Dizziness spun in my head, an angry flurry of motion. Round and round and round…
Annika. Must get to Annika. Have to protect her...
Then the crazy bastard tilted his head back and howled like a wolf. “Ahhoooo!”
And my world turned black.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Annika
Adrik’s eyes rolled back into his head.
His hand twitched.
Then he went still.
My breath hitched. My chest squeezed.Adrik.
And poor Harley. Was he even alive?
The masked assailant turned on me, striding forward with determination.
I scrambled backward, using my good leg to help push myself across the cold ground.
The man reached me quickly, bending down to roughly grab my arm and yank me to my feet. I screamed, wobbling on my good leg as I tried to remain upright.
“Shut up!” he snarled, raising his hand.
Whack!
I gasped, the strike to my cheek sending my head swinging to the side.
Asshole.I tasted blood on my tongue, my face stinging from the blow.
He tossed me over his shoulder and began marching away.
“Put me down!” I screamed, pounding at his back. “Put. Me. Down!”