Wicked Edge (Realm Enforcers, #2)(75)

The Fire members billowed forward, already throwing punches.

Lucas wasted no time in flipping Pyro over and smacking his forehead into the concrete. A genuine smile, dark and grim, curved the shifter’s lips when Pyro began to gurgle up blood.

“I told you not to attack,” Daire muttered.

Two Fire members ran for Bear, only to be stopped by two angry Grizzly members.

Bear grabbed Daire’s arm, pivoted, and tackled him through the open door. Daire landed hard with a f*cking bear on his chest. His lungs protested, and his ass hurt from smashing onto a wrench. “Get off.”

Bear kicked shut the door and stood, holding a hand to Daire.

Daire took the hand and jumped to his feet, rubbing his butt. “Put your damn tools away.”

“You’re welcome.” Bear reached down and grabbed the wrench to toss it onto the counter. It clanked away and landed on the other side. “Damn it all to hell. Can’t you control those Fire idiots?”

“Apparently not.” Daire shoved rain off his face.

Bear sighed. “We have about five minutes until the cops show up.”

Sirens echoed down the lane.

“Make that one minute.” Bear hustled for a back door. “Follow me.”

Daire ducked his head and followed Bear through an office to a garage holding a Bentley, a new Porsche, and a Spyder. “Nice,” he muttered, careful not to touch anything.

“My mechanics are the best in the Northwest.” Bear ran through a back door to where a couple of bikes were parked. “Take the Harley.” He jumped onto a Victory Gunner.

A helicopter’s rotors split the rain-filled night, and a beam of light poured down from a police helicopter.

“Shit.” Bear started the bike and roared toward what looked like a trail.

Daire followed suit, his head down to avoid the rain.

The light swept to and from, and he tried to keep to the tree line. Garrett Kayrs had better have gotten clear before the cops showed up.

Red and blue swirled through the clouds, and the screech of vehicles stopping competed with the helicopter noise. Gunfire pinged through the air.

Shit. Who was shooting? Pyro had completely lost it. If Daire could get him alone, he might be able to finally get a line on both the distributor and manufacturer of Apollo. Or maybe it was time to just torture the club leader for information.

Daire followed Bear down a narrow path, ducking several times to avoid tree branches. Wind whipped into him, and the rain traced a chilly path down his neck and underneath his cut. He thought about using fire to warm up, but the helicopter might see the flames and investigate. Adrenaline flowed through his veins, and the need to get back home to Cee Cee compressed his lungs. Instinct bellowed for him to return and shield her.

The path wound around trees and bushes for several miles, finally ending up at a logging road halfway up a mountain.

An SUV blocked the road, and Detective Alexandra Monzelle leaned against the passenger side door, gun out and pointed at them. Rain matted her no-nonsense blond hair to her head, and her eyes glowed a dark blue through the darkness. She was small and lean . . . and knew how to shoot. She was also mated to Kellach, but that didn’t guarantee any cooperation, unfortunately. She’d shot him a couple of times, Daire was fairly certain.

Bear rolled to a stop first, and Daire followed suit, both cutting their engines.

“Welcome back,” Daire drawled, twisting his neck to look inside the vehicle. Empty. Good. She’d come alone and not with any other cops. “How was Ireland?”

“Lovely. Your aunt sends her love.” Alexandra jerked her head. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

Bear rested his arms on his handlebars. “Want to tell me how you even know this road exists?”

She eyed him. “I memorized every escape road within miles when I was investigating you.”

Bear grinned, flashing a dimple. “I think you’re still crushing on me, Detective.”

Daire rolled his eyes. “Bear, now isn’t the time to set yourself up for a death match with Kellach.”

“Ah, but she’d be worth it.” Bear winked.

Alexandra tightened her hold on the gun. “I’d prefer not to shoot you, Bear.”

“Sounds like foreplay to me,” the bear retorted.

Man, he really wanted to get shot. Weren’t most bears a honey pot away from insanity? Daire shook his head. The woman was as close to a sister-in-law as possible in his world, and while he had enough to deal with, he still felt concern. Though she’d mated Kellach, and her chromosomal pairs would increase to those of a mate and grant immortality, that took time. Right now, she was vulnerable. “Alexandra, you were shot way too recently. How are you?”

“Already healed,” she said.

Good. Daire cleared his throat. “You should have a partner or backup.”

She sniffed. “If I had backup, I’d be cuffing you and putting you in the back of the SUV. This way we can have a nice chat, and you can try to convince me not to cuff your asses.” She smiled, her aim staying true. “Give it a shot.”

“You can do whatever you want with my ass.” Bear chuckled. “I think I love you.”

Aye. Bear was nuts. Daire dug deep for patience yet once again. “Does Kellach know you’re out here alone?”

She released the safety on the gun.