Fuck. The bastard is a werewolf!
“Did the big bad gangbanger just poop his pants?” Butts laughed. “Don’t try me, or I’ll turn you into a midnight snack.”
“Fine. I’ll go get her, but it may take a while. If you follow me, it’s off.”
“Just remember, I know where to find you.”
Screw protocol. Luca had to get back to Dawn. They had to rescue Mandy while Butts was waiting for Ice.
The motel room where Mandy was being held wasn’t far, just a few streets over. He would fly back, switch to his human form, get dressed quickly, and get Mandy and Dawn out of danger. Fast.
* * *
“I’m coming to get you, Mandy.”
Dawn couldn’t wait any longer. An hour had passed since Luca had flown away in his phoenix form. When she had watched him transform into a phoenix, her eyes had nearly popped out of her skull. But seeing him fly was unbelievable. He was majestic and powerful at the same time. She was in awe of him and his whole kind. He was beautiful.
She and Luca had watched Ice leave the motel more than an hour ago, which was why Luca had transformed, to follow him. He’d told her to wait for him to get back, but she was worried about Mandy.
Then her chance came. A woman shuffled out of the same room Ice had left. Dawn recognized her from her vision. Suzie, Mick’s drug-addict girlfriend, must be who’d been watching Mandy. She seemed fidgety, nervous as she peered around and then started walking down the street.
Is Mandy alone? Dawn wondered. She held the unicorn and closed her eyes once more. Looking out of the little girl’s eyes, she scanned the room and saw no one else.
Dawn remembered what Minerva had told her the last time she stopped by for a visit. “You’re a light warrior, and that can be a burden. But it is also a gift. You have within you the power to save lives. Trust your instincts. You know what you have to do.”
“I do,” Dawn whispered to herself.
She got out of Luca’s car. The street was eerily silent. It was almost midnight. She ran across the street to the row of rooms facing out.
A few moments later, Dawn was standing just outside the door to Room 5. There was a row of about ten rooms on the street side where she was and another twenty on the other side. Windows facing the street all had curtains drawn. Of course, Dawn thought, in order to keep prying eyes away from drug deals and prostitution.
Even from outside, it reeked of urine and other stale odors Dawn didn’t even want to think about. From the looks of it, Suzie did a terrible job cleaning.
She tried the door. Shit! It was locked. She knocked softly on the door, hoping Mandy wasn’t afraid to open it.
Dawn glanced toward the street, worried that Suzie was on her way back. Even if she were, Dawn was prepared to fight her. Do whatever it took. “Mandy, are you there, honey? Your dad sent me,” she whispered through the door. “My name is Dawn. He misses you. He wants you home. I’m gonna take you home.”
A few moments later, the door creaked open, and standing there was the sweetest sight Dawn had ever seen.
“Where’s my daddy?”
Big blue eyes stared at her, bright and hopeful. Wearing a dingy purple polka-dot dress and stained purple tights that no doubt she’d been wearing for weeks. Her hair was in knots, and a few braids were coming undone.
“I’m going to take you to your daddy right now.”
“What about my mommy?”
“Your daddy will tell you everything.”
Mandy nodded. “I know who you are.”
“You do?” Dawn leaned down and picked up the little girl.
“I saw you in my dream. You were an angel princess, and you told me you were going to save me.”
“Well, I kept my promise, didn’t I?” Dawn grinned.
“Yeah, but where’s your pretty sparkly dress?”
