Gabriel tackled Marco from behind.
I knew Gabriel had worked in security, and that he had, very recently, shot several men. But his sudden violence was like a wolf emerging from a disguise. After slamming Marco’s head into the frame on the back of the couch, Gabriel wrestled him into submission so his face was pressed flat to the ground. He forced Marco’s arm holding the gun backwards until his grip failed and it clattered to the floor.
I didn’t hesitate.
The rage I’d been keeping suppressed welled up inside me. I lunged for Domenic and pushed him backwards into thewall before wrapping both hands around his throat. He choked under my grip and tried to rip my hands free.
My mind flashed back to that night I’d first used my bark. I let the righteous anger fill me from somewhere deep in my chest. There was a pool of… something I’d never let myself touch, but now I pulled from it like a well. It replaced my fear with a fierce kind of joy, and the certainty that this Alpha would take his last breath under my palms.
But no, that was not right. I couldn’t kill him. But why?
My inner Alpha did not want to wait for an answer. My hands ached to tighten further. His face was turning a lovely shade of purple.
A whisper of scent broke through my haze. Honey and sun-warmed flowers. For a moment, instead of Domenic’s gasping maw, I saw soft blue eyes and a delicate mouth.
Bridget.
I did not release Domenic, but I eased my pressure and heard the rattle of his inhale. He would not die tonight after all. I stared into those flat black eyes, full of hate.
“Down,” I barked. He fought it. “Now!”
His knees buckled, and he hit the floor with a sickening smack. His gasps for air were pathetic. I pushed him all the way to the floor and used my foot to turn his face so I could look in his eyes again. “Stay.”
And even though he fought it, he stayed put. “Good boy,” I spat.
Maggie and Soren arrived with the cavalry faster than I thought was possible for the FPD. Domenic’s bark had worn off so Andrew could let them into the apartment.
The police wrestled Domenic into a muzzle before snapping handcuffs on him. No one asked about the bruising around his throat. Soren had the honor of leading him out.
Marco went willingly, his shoulders slumped forward and his hands hanging loose at his sides. He looked younger than ever, and I nearly felt sorry for him.
“Are you okay?” Maggie asked Bridget once the uniformed officers were gone, and a paramedic had checked us all out. My stitches, which had not liked me trying to strangle someone, had been pronounced “sufficient and healing well” and Gabriel’s smug smile lightened the mood considerably.
Maggie looked like she wanted to give Bridget a hug, but Andrew had his arms locked so firmly around her I thought he might never let her go. Now that I didn’t have to worry about keeping Domenic under control, I ached to hold her, too.
“I’m fine. Can you check on my mother, though? I’m worried he might have hurt her,” Bridget said and the anxiety in her voice went straight to my heart.
“A squad car is already on the way, but I’ll meet them there, too. We’ll make sure she’s alright,” Maggie assured her.
“Thank you,” I said. The adrenaline was slowly leaking out of me.
“You all owe me an explanation. Off the books,” Maggie said, raising her hands to stop Bridget from arguing with a fierce glint in her eye. “I’m not fucking around. I’ll leave you alone for now, but you better call me when your heat breaks.”
“Fine,” Bridget agreed.
“Iloveyou,” Maggie said in exasperation.
“Yeah, love you too, Mags. And thank you.”
Gabriel escorted her out, and when the door closed behind her, the silence felt deafening.
“Come here,” I said to Bridget and Andrew released her. She barreled into me.
My arms shook with latent fear. Everything could have gone so wrong. And she would never have known how I felt.
I pulled away so I could slide my hands to cradle her jaw. Her eyes swam with unshed tears. “Do you remember that night in the lab, when we first confirmed your findings? When you were so excited to prove me wrong?”
Her tears fell, even as she smiled. “Yes. I loved rubbing your face in it. Was I so obvious?”
