Dead of Winter (Battle of the Bulls #2) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,50

completely focused. Pantera was playing in the background, and the murmur of the announcer and the crowd outside added to the soundtrack. Dead was buzzing with tension the closer they got to the time.

“Ten minutes,” a handler called through the door with a soft knock.

“Yep!” Dead called out, but they didn’t even need that much time. Raven was already cleaning up his hair in the back, fading the shorter cut up to the hair she’d left longer on top. She was quick.

“I used to cut my Barbie and Ken dolls’ hair,” she said. “I also had a Yorkshire Terrier named Frederick for thirteen years, and I did all his grooming, so I’m pretty much an expert. Okay, I’m done.”

Dead straightened his spine but kept his eyes closed as she dusted hair off his chest with the flat of her hand.

“You can open your eyes,” she enlightened him.

“I’m scared.”

“Oh, fuck off, you aren’t scared of anything. You’re about to buck in front of fifteen thousand people. You’re fine.”

“Do I look sexy?” His eyes were still closed.

“I’d hit it,” she teased.

“That’s all I want.” He eased an eye open at the mirror, and then the other. “Holy hell, Raven!” He stood and locked his arms on the sink, turned his face side to side, admiring his reflection. “You’ve made me into a thirteen.”

“Okay, that’s a little confident.”

“You’re right. A fifteen.”

She belted out a laugh and put away the trimming kit.

He stood up straight and angled his face. “Do you like it?”

Canting her head, Raven studied him. The beard was only a few inches long now, and she’d faded the sideburns into the short length of his hair. It was longer on top and all mussed from her messing with it.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sexier man in all my life,” she answered truthfully.

He parted his lips to say something, but the door swung open and banked against the wall.

Quickdraw was there, his eyes wide, his nostrils flaring. “Something’s wrong.”

“What?” Dead grabbed her hand and pulled her to the open door as Quickdraw disappeared outside.

Tommy Hanes was a few doors down, yelling into one of the bull rooms, and a crowd was gathering around it. Down the other end of the alleyway, there was a similar crowd gathered at the last bull changing room.

“Help!” cried a voice in the room beside Dead’s room. Dead and Quickdraw rushed to the door.

Quickdraw tested the handle. “Locked.”

Dead took one step back and slammed his foot into the door with such force, the barrier shattered inward. Raven followed Quickdraw and Dead into the room and gasped at the man writhing on the floor.

“First Time Train Wreck,” Dead murmured, dropping to his knees beside him. The bull shifter was seizing, and Dead took his head in his hands and rested it against his lap. “We’re here. We got you.” He looked up at Quickdraw. “Call Cheyenne.”

“What does she need to bring?”

“The paramedics, and something to pump their stomachs.”

“What is it?” the behemoth asked softly as he dialed Cheyenne.

Train Wreck’s body relaxed, and he let out a shuddering gasp.

Raven slid to her knees and held his hand. “They’ve been drugged. Look at his eyes.”

His eyes were focused on Dead, and he was mouthing something, but his pupils were so blown, his eyes only had a thin rim of bright blue.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Dead murmured as Quickdraw talked to Cheyenne.

He was trying so bad to say something. Raven leaned closer. “What?”

“Can’t…change.”

Dead looked like he wanted to puke. “Fuck.”

Raven shook her head. She knew what this was. Knew why Dead felt sick. It was Filsa. But why? Money?

“Why weren’t you drugged?” she asked. “Why wasn’t Quickdraw? Wait, where’s Two Shots?”

Seemingly reaching the same thought at the same time, Dead asked low, “Can you go check on him and come right back? I don’t want you to see this part anyways. Take Quickdraw. Don’t go alone.”

“Okay.” She stood and bolted for the door, but she couldn’t help herself. She turned around right before Quickdraw ushered her out the door. Dead had rolled First Time Train Wreck onto his side and was murmuring something in his ear. Train Wreck was gagging.

She’d never wanted to cry and to kill at the same time. Someone had done something to that man. Someone had done something to at least two more of the bulls, too.

Two Shots. They had to find Two Shots.

“This way,” Quickdraw growled, shoving through a crowd to get farther down the hallway to the end rooms.

His shoulders were so wide