Leopard's Run (Leopard People 10)

“No. That’s weird, isn’t it?”

His heart jumped. “Get up right now, Ashe. Get dressed.”

The urgency to his tone was nothing compared to what he was feeling. He swore under his breath as he caught up his phone to warn the others. Don’t rely on smell. They can disguise their scent. That’s how they got to Ashe’s parents. They didn’t see the hit team coming because there was no way to identify them. Look inside the motel room.

Ashe hadn’t argued with him. She leapt out of bed and caught at her clothes, dragging on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

“Pack a bag. Hurry, baby. Fast. You’ve got two minutes to get whatever you think you need.”

She pulled a bag from the closet. “This is my ‘go’ bag. I’ve got everything in it to run.”

He was going to remember that. He caught her arm and gestured toward the door leading to the main part of the house while he looked at a text from the crew outside the residence.

Sorry, in the wind. They’re in the wind.

It was what he expected to hear, but he still wanted to put a fist through the wall. He should have gone with his first gut instinct—taken Ashe to Fyodor’s estate and made certain she was safe.

We’re coming out. Check rooftops and the trees.

Ashe was close to the front door. He made a sound and she halted, turning her head to look at him over her shoulder.

“I’m armed,” she acknowledged. “Two guns and a knife.”

“Most likely you won’t need them, malen’kiy smirch , but if you do, don’t hesitate and go for a kill.” He caught her shirt and pulled her up to her toes, looking down into her eyes so she knew he meant business. Inside, he was as cold as ice. A fucking freezer. He would kill in a heartbeat for her and never look back. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Timur. I won’t hesitate, and it will definitely be a kill shot. I don’t want them getting back up and coming at either one of us.”

He realized she was more apt to protect him than herself. He was staying close. He brushed a kiss over her forehead and released her. “Give me another minute. The boys will be waiting for us outside. They’re clearing the area and the car again, just to be safe.”

He texted Gorya. Get Fyodor and Evangeline to the safe room. He’s going to protest, and you don’t take any shit off him. Get him in there even if you have to knock the son of a bitch over the head. He might get mad, but I’ll come after you if anything happens to either one of them so don’t let him give you any crap.

Consider it done.

Timur didn’t envy his cousin the job of taking Fyodor, a man of action, to the safe room to wait it out with Evangeline, although having Evangeline there was an advantage. Fyodor would do anything to protect her. Timur knew that feeling now, the unreasonable fear that had him gripped by the balls. He had to protect Ashe at any cost to anyone or to himself. That was all that mattered to him right then.

“You stay tucked in close to me, Ashe. Don’t touch my arm, but stay right into my body.”

She nodded and drew her weapon, just as he drew his.

“Stay in sync with me. I’ll keep my steps shorter.” He was significantly taller than she was. “I’m not going to be looking at you, baby, so it’s up to you to stay tucked into my side.” He had pulled on his long trench coat. He had multiple weapons in it. It also gave him the advantage of having a garment that would flow around her as they moved together so if a sniper was taking aim at her, he would lose her with every step.

“Coming out.” He spoke into the small radio.

The front door was pulled open and Ashe stepped into Kyanite’s protection until Timur got through the doorway and closed the heavy oak door behind him. He moved forward, and then Ashe was between Kyanite and Timur, walking fast toward the car that was parked right out front. It was already turned toward the street, and the engine was on, with Rodion at the wheel.

They made it to the car, Ashe tucked in close to his body. She didn’t brush his arm, but he could feel her body against his with every step. She was silent and steady, setting a fast pace so they reached the vehicle quickly.

Kyanite and Timur swept the rooftops again, checking to make certain there was no sniper sitting up high waiting to get his shot. They were using Timur’s car, which was armor-plated for Fyodor and had bulletproof glass. That didn’t make them safe from every weapon, but certainly the majority.