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Cole hated Savage Strip. It was the first exit street from the Border-controlled main bridge that connected Savage to the US in Phoenix. It was a mile-long row of sex clubs where humans arrived nightly, seven-days-a-week, to slake every perversion imaginable.
A few were reputable places, like Ralph’s club. Most were controlled by cartel outfits which meant they sold flame drugs under the table. The flashing signs all down the street had an increasingly Las Vegas look.
As he flew halfway down the strip, he descended to land on the now sparsely populated sidewalk not far from the front door of the club. Lauren immediately slid her arm from around his neck then stepped off his boot. Our timing looks good.
Several Border Patrol cars were stationed every couple of hundred yards. The officers were encouraging the human customers to head home since the wolves would be going to their burrows well before dawn.
Alcohol didn’t help matters either. A drunk near the club’s door slid down the wall to sit on the sidewalk. His eyes were open but glazed. An officer Cole knew well, who was on the take from the cartels, gave the drunk a cursory glanced then used his SUV bullhorn to again call for the humans to head home.
Cole took Lauren’s hand to continue the necessary contact, then ushered her to stand next to the club’s door. He hoped someone would exit so they could slip inside unnoticed. A minute passed then another.
He listened with his wolf hearing, but he could tell there wasn’t much activity inside.
We may be here a while, he said. And we’re losing time.
I agree. Besides, I’m not hearing anything going on in the club. Just the rustle of paper.
You can hear that?
I can.
He’d heard it, too, but Lauren was a witch and didn’t have his sharp wolf hearing. On the other hand, he’d seen the mist trail of her shield so maybe they were sharing abilities. He’d heard this happened sometimes. It had definitely happened with Maeve. Because she’d bonded with a wolf, he often felt the need to acknowledge her with a slow dip of his chin as he would other wolves.
Lauren squeezed his hand. I’ve got an idea. Let’s lift the drunk up and shove him into the club. Whoever is inside might be pissed a human has stumbled in, but we could slip through at the same time. How does that sound?
Good thinking. It should work.
Since the drunk was already getting up from the sidewalk, Cole moved toward him, with Lauren right by his side. He slid his hand beneath his arms, hauled him to his feet then hustled him toward the door.
The drunk’s eyes rolled in his head. He slurred out a protest, but Cole kept him moving. He then shoved the door wide and pushed the drunk to the floor.
Cole took in the scene at once. The customers were gone and three of Julio’s men were counting money at a nearby table. They glanced at the drunk but not at Cole or at Lauren.
Cole levitated swiftly, as did Lauren and glided over the human’s inert form. Together, they moved off to one side.
One of Julio’s men hurried toward the drunk, picked him up then threw him back out onto the sidewalk. He slammed the door shut and locked it.
Cole took Lauren’s hand once more. As he did, he heard a woman’s muffled shout of pain.
The men counting the money just laughed.
One of them called out, “I don’t care what you’re doing in there, but you’d better keep her a virgin. Julio plans to auction off that young piece of ass.”
He squeezed Lauren’s hand. Let’s go get her.
Ready when you are.
Chapter Four
Lauren had never been so scared in her life, yet oddly exhilarated. Probably the adrenaline coursing through her blood.
She held Cole’s hand tight as he levitated like a bullet through the room. She used her own levitation ability to stick right next to him knowing they had to act fast to get the girl out of the club.
He reached the back of the building where a hall intersected and jutted both left and right. He waited, uncertain which way to go.
But when the girl cried out again, he whipped down the hall to the right. Lauren saw that a door was open halfway down and on the left. She must be in there. Besides, I can smell the wolf from here. He’s worked up.
