We are a badass coyote,his other side chided.We can handle them.
Except that they’ll have guns,Scott told his coyote.It won’t be a fair fight.
Never underestimate a pissed off coyote,his animal self said with a sniff before retreating into his mind.
Scott repeated the same careful check of his surroundings when he parked, taking the closest spot to the café door. Whenhe felt certain no one was loitering in or around the other cars, he made a quick exit and was inside the coffee shop in just a few steps.
“Good to see you, Scott,” Sherri said from behind the counter. “What can I get for you?”
“Large latte with pumpkin spice, please,” he told her.
“Coming right up.”
Scott plunked his bag down at a corner table where he could sit with his back to the wall and have a full view of the café. When he went back to the counter, Sherri had his drink ready for him.
“Here you go. Careful, it’s really hot. Just let me know when you need something else. It’s quiet today given the weather, so stay as long as you want.”
He thanked her and retreated to the corner. Scott recognized most of the people in the café as locals, even if he didn’t know everyone’s names. They nodded in acknowledgment, and he smiled in return.
For the first hour, Scott was on high alert, jumpy every time someone new came into the shop.
Pick up any strange scents?he asked his coyote.
Too many people around. Nothing that makes my whiskers quiver,his other side replied.
By the time he had finished his latte, Scott had started to relax. He also needed to use the restroom. He gave a quick look around the café to reassure himself, then slipped up to the front to ask Sherri to keep an eye on his stuff while he stepped away and went out the door to the back hallway.
Scott felt a prickle of warning on the back of his neck, but the area was empty, and he really needed to use the facilities. He went into the men’s room and locked the door behind him. When he was finished, he opened the door to find Rossi standing there with a gun pointed at him.
“Come with us. No one else needs to get hurt,” Rossi said.
Scott slammed the door and locked it.
“Don’t make us come in after you,” Petrovic threatened. “We’re done playing games.”
Scott looked around the room. The only window was narrow, meant only for ventilation. He was trapped.
A thud sounded as Rossi and Petrovic started trying to break down the door. It wasn’t meant to hold off an attack, and he knew they would get through in minutes.
Time to go coyote!his animal side told him.I’ll take care of them.
Desperate, Scott unbuttoned his shirt and unbuckled his belt, quickly stripping, then shut his eyes and concentrated on shifting as fast as possible into his coyote.
Rapid shifts had consequences. Scott knew he’d have a pounding headache from pushing himself too fast. But that paled compared to getting kidnapped or shot.
The door splintered, and Rossi pushed his way through. Scott attacked with a growl.
Take that, you sons of bitches!
They leapt for Rossi’s gun wrist and bit down hard. Rossi cursed and dropped his weapon. Before Petrovic could shove past, Scott’s coyote lunged for the second man’s face, all claws and teeth.
“What the fuck?” Rossi clutched his bleeding wrist. “Where didthatcome from?”
Petrovic tried to shoot but couldn’t aim, and his shot went wide. Scott howled an alarm before sinking their teeth into Petrovic’s shoulder.
The hitman shook them free, cursing in Russian, and leveled his gun at Scott.
“Stop right there.” Sheriff Armel’s voice left no room for disobedience, and neither did the Glock in his hands. “I won’tmind shooting either of you. Guns down, step back, and leave the nice coyote alone.”
