Using the big man’s hold as leverage, Nix flips backward, using the hold to drive his foot up under the man’s chin.
He spares a second to make sure Luca isn’t going to be used as a potential bargaining chip again and sees him run out of the room.
“Now it’s just you and me, Stupid,” Nix growls.
“Who. Are. You. Calling. Stupid?” he grunts, blocking every clawing punch Nix throws at him. The big man is sweating and breathing hard, his popcorn-scent burnt with fear and fatigue.
To be fair, Nix’s wolf is only toying with him. No one wants to die feeling like they didn’t put up a fight.
End this already,Nix tells his wolf, as it’s already gone on too long. All they need is to still be here when reinforcements arrive.
Lowering his voice as deep as he can, Nix pulls on that place where his wolf lives and where Grayson’s magic lights up their soul. “You should die now.”
When the big guy’s eyes go wide at the blue light emanating from Nix’s eyes, he slides in close. His wolf reminds him that BigAndStupid’s hands were on their mate, choking him, threatening him, and with a single swipe, Nix slices across the bottom of his throat with a razor-sharp claw.
BigAndStupid is already gasping for air from the verbal command when his head rolls back, and then immediately falls forward.
Stepping out of the way, BigAndStupid’s body falls face-first to the ground, a pool of blood rapidly growing under him.
Nix finds Stupid’s phone in his back pocket, uses his dead face to open the device, and then again to change the password. Powering it down, he can’t believe that actually worked. It’s amazing what Lauren shares during their family brunches—Nixcan also pick a lock now. Between Logan, Arlo, and Lauren, Nix is well on his way to a new and useful skill set.
Tucking the borrowed phone into his tiny red briefs, he turns to find Luca in the doorway.
“Ew. But also, so hot.”
“Come on, let’s get out of here before someone comes back.” Nix grabs Luca’s hand, and they make their way out past the television and across an open area, toward the door on the far side.
They creep into the evening sunshine onto the driveway of an out-of-business automotive repair shop. The garage sits at the bottom of a short drive. A retaining wall runs along the far side, topped with an overgrown hedge at least ten feet tall. Beyond that, behind the building, an automotive graveyard looms, already casting long shadows on the parking lot.
There’s only one way out, and that’s through the front gate.
“This way.” Nix pulls Luca along as gently as he can. They’re both pants- and shoe-less, but they can’t let it slow them down.
Nix barely has time to register the sudden stillness before he hears it—the sound of a car speeding up the street toward them. He hauls Luca back behind the white truck parked just inside the gate.
“Shhh…” Nix whispers.
Beside them is a bucket of used motor oil, and Nix grimaces but pulls the lid up. “Sorry, baby, but we gotta hide your scent from whoever is in that car. Here.”
He grabs a few handfuls and swipes them on Luca’s throat and through his hair.
“Ew, ew, ew.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Nix replaces the lid as the big black car rolls to a stop beside the open garage side door.
Both backseat doors pop open as Withers and Carnell climb out. There is nothing but rage and a thirst for vengeancecoursing through his mind at the sight, but Luca has both hands around Nix’s forearm to stop him from exposing them both.
“Please, let’s just go.”
As the rage fades to a low simmer, Nix can finally hear what they’re saying.
“Why would you leave them here alone, you idiot? I warned you, the omega is powerful.”
Withers laughs and uses his arm to indicate Carnell should precede him. “He’s scrappy, I’ll give you that, but powerful?” He laughs again.
“Listen, you moron. Trust me when I say that if he’s still here, it’s because he wants to be. You should have brought them directly to me. I am still unclear as to why I am here, however, and without the protection you promised.”
Withers says nothing—he just lets Carnell gripe and moan.
