Wolf's Hunger (Mafia Monsters #5) - Atlas Rose Page 0,2
my way, long white canines peeking beneath his lips before he lifted his head and rode the rest of the shift. I climbed in, inhaling the stench of hunger and rage, and ignored the glint of silver eyes in the dark.
“Phantom, come on!” Church snapped, and shoved the four-wheel drive into gear.
He strode past me, yanked the front passenger door open, and climbed inside.
“The files,” Church growled, and glanced his way. “We have to get the files.”
One glance toward him and the Alpha nodded. “Then we need to hurry. Mojin can’t hold it forever.”
Tires howled as the black Escalade leaped forward, tearing from the off-ramp of the bridge and toward the Hunting Ground. People walked the streets, staring at us as we shot forward.
“Stay in the car, Carina,” Arran urged.
“Like hell I will,” I growled as I holstered my gun.
The sound of a roaring engine tore my thoughts from the oncoming battle. Red and blue flashed from the shot-up patrol car. The windshield was shot to hell, large holes where the rounds had torn right through. But that hadn’t stopped the cop…
“Move!” Arran barked as the patrol car skidded sideways, coming to a stop in front of the Hunting Ground.
I shoved out of the car, leaving the door open behind me, and lunged after Arran as he raced for the rear of the club. Faint screams came from the front of the nightclub. More engines were coming, the distant roar ending suddenly as the door slammed shut behind me.
Footsteps beat like thunder in the hallway as Arran left me behind and raced for their rooms. A door opened at the opposite end of the hallway and a half-naked dancer stepped out.
“Back inside!” I yelled. “Cops are here.”
She was confused for a second, until the screams from the bar registered. I left her ran to the cracked open door of the Wolves’ den, and plunged through.
“I’ve got the files!” Church barked. “Let’s go!”
Phantom strode out of his bedroom with a duffel bag thrown over one shoulder, carrying a semi-automatic. Death echoed in his gaze as he met mine. Death and a promise. I won’t let them hurt you.
“We have to go.” Vitold came out of the study. “We have to leave now.”
The boom of a gunshot somewhere in the club made me flinch. Phantom curled his lips and bared his teeth. He wanted to fight and defend his territory. But this was no battle for strength, this was a fight with the law, one he wouldn’t win.
“Go,” Phantom commanded as terrified screams came from the front of the club. “Now!”
I tore my gun from my holster and followed them as they raced along the hallway once more and back outside. Red and blue flashed, mirrored in the Escalade’s windows.
“Get to the car!” Phantom ordered and tore away, racing to the front of the club.
“Phantom, no!” I screamed.
But there was no stopping him, no stopping all of this and, as the door of the four-wheel drive slammed shut behind me, I knew my life as I’d known it was over.
Tires and sirens howled as more patrol cars descended, following a black unmarked sedan that skidded to a stop, boxing the Escalade in. The engine of the four-wheel drive roared as it charged backwards, smashing into the hood of the unmarked with a crunch. Brute force shattered glass and metal as Church used the car like a battering ram.
“Carina!” Arran howled, throwing the back door open. Desperation raged in his eyes before the first shots rang out. I tore my gaze from his, my pulse deafening inside my head.
One step and I lifted my gun.
I couldn’t leave, couldn’t turn away from him…not anymore.
“Fuck!” Arran screamed as I lunged, charging for the corner of the building as the doors to the unmarked were shoved open.
“Police, don’t move!” came the screams.
But I didn’t slow, only charged around the front of the strip club as the doors were thrown open and patrons and dancers scrambled out. I was swallowed by the rush, slammed, barged into, and knocked sideways. My arm was punched, and my gun tore free. I heard it hit the pavement with a clatter before I was elbowed hard in my side.
Agony blended with that sickening, pulsing glow in my chest. I tried to shove out my arm, tried to focus on the ground. I tried to find Phantom and as the rush of bodies slowed, he was nowhere to be seen.