In the Company of Wolves
Ellora's CaveeISBN 9781419920431
Available February 13, 2009
Red, a hard bodied, steel hearted bounty hunter, cares about only one thing—hunting and killing the man that murdered her grandmother in front of her when she was only twelve. Every bounty brings her closer to finding the Wolf's lair. But when he saves her from an assassination attempt, she discovers she may not want him dead after all.
In the Wolf's arms, she discovers a world of unparalleled craving. He's the first man that’s ever made her feel lusty and wanton, abandoning all thought and reason to be in his bed. With his hard body and punishing kisses, he pushes her beyond her physical and emotional limits to a passion-filled partnership built on trust, desire, and love. Three things she’s never allowed herself to experience in over seven years. But with the Wolf, it's all she’s ever desired.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Cigarette smoke hung in the air like a cancerous fog. The reek of old sweat and stale ale thickened the already stagnant odor of the old pub. Red took in a deep breath, reveling in its stink.
The usual mix of degenerates and lowlifes scattered around the room near her usual table. Farmers, blacksmiths and masons with a penchant for too much drink mingled with thieves, bandits and bounty hunters with a predilection for mayhem. Each drowned their woes in alcohol to forget the fact that their country was on the brink of war, with whom no one knew, and their people starved from too few harvests. The fact that the nobles did nothing but satisfy their own desires while their people died also added to the forlorn and empty looks on their weathered faces.
Red sat in the darkened corner and sucked it all in, glorying in the stench and decay. The continual rot and degeneration of Germania was not of her concern. The only thing that mattered to her right now was drinking.
She loved nothing more than the debauchery of Harry's Pub. This was her home. She traveled more than not, never sleeping in the same place for long. But when she was back in the wooded village, she always came back here. It was her sanctuary of sorts. A place to relax, well, as much as a bounty hunter could, and drink herself into a peaceful oblivion where she didn't have to think or feel.
Mary, the portly waitress, set another glass of vodka on Red's table. She cleared away the empties and collected her money without a word. She carried on without a glance at Red, obviously knowing Red's drinking habits enough to leave well alone.
Red picked up the short glass and slammed back the drink, setting the empty back on the table.
"Another." Her voice was low and gravely, barely audible above the murmur of the other patrons.
This time, Mary did look down, but the woman seemed off kilter. Or it could've been that Red's eyes were half closed and she leaned slightly to the left, almost falling off her stool. Absently, she ran a hand through her short, cropped scarlet hair and squinted, trying to see the waitress more clearly.
"I think you've had enough."
"I didn't ask for your opinion. I told you to bring me another drink." Red slammed her hand down on the table, rattling the shot glass and causing the wood to moan under the strain.
Lowering her gaze, Mary took the empty glass and set it on her tray. Without another word, she waddled back to the bar to fill the order.
Red slid a cigarette into her mouth and lit it. Stupid cow, she thought. The old broad should learn to mind her business. She definitely didn't need a caretaker. Not now, after surviving on her own for the last seven years. She didn't need anybody.
She glanced back to the bar, eager for that drink. A young man with light tussled hair sat on a stool at the bar and stared at her. He lifted his glass in salute.
Red looked away. She'd seen him around before. He was always looking at her, watching her. His name was Jack. That was all she knew, or cared to know. She was not looking for companions or friends. She was a loner by choice.
A shadow passed over her as a short glass of vodka appeared by her hand. Glancing up, Red found Jack staring down at her, a smile spreading across his clean-shaven boyish face.
"You looked thirsty."
Without acknowledgment, Red picked up the glass and took a sip.
"Can I join you?"
Red took a long drag on her cigarette and blew smoke in his direction.
Coughing, he sat down across from her. "My name's Jack." He stuck out his hand.
Red looked at it, up at his face and then smirked.
He dropped his hand and laughed nervously. "I guess you're not much of a talker. I heard that about you."
Red pounded back the rest of her drink, then slid her hand across the table and took Jack's glass. She drank that too. Maybe if she was rude enough, the boy would scamper away. She set the empty down sharply beside his hand, staring blankly into his face, hoping he understood her message. She had reasons for her solitude. Less people got hurt that way.
He laughed again. "I could get us more drinks."
"What do you want?"
"I just wanted to meet you."
"Why?"
"Because you're famous."
"Infamous, you mean." She rubbed her thumb absently over the thin pink scar that marred half her face. It ran from her left eyebrow down over her cheek to her chin-a souvenir from the past. It was a painful reminder of her failure.
"Same thing. You're a legend."
"Look, boy, are you here to blow smoke up my ass or are you asking me something?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you seem to know something about me, so you obviously know what I do for money." She slid a long knife out of the sheath strapped to her leg and set it on the table. It glinted in the flickering lamp light. "Do you want me to kill someone for you?"
"Goodness no." Jack sat back in his chair, his eyes round with shock.
"Then fuck off. I'm in no mood to pussyfoot around with some snot-nosed brat looking for a thrill."
"You have me all wrong." He put his hand up in defense.
"Do I?" She leaned forward, grinning, hoping he'd get the message and leave. The last thing she wanted tonight was conversation with a young, wet-behind-the-ears boy with no sense to speak of.
The pub door slammed open, snatching her attention. A cold wind blew across the room. Three large men, disheveled and dirty, stumbled in.
Sitting back in her chair, Red grabbed the knife and brought it down under the table. She looked over at the men as they lumbered up to the bar. Her body and mind tensed, readying for anything.
The Pig brothers were always looking for trouble.
"Barkeep. Three pints." Joe Pig slammed his beefy hand down on the counter. His brothers, John and Jimmy, took up stools next to him.
Red turned herself in her chair so she was facing the bar. She learned a long time ago never to leave her back open. Painful lessons learned the hard way.
Jack glanced over at the boys. "Who are they?"
"The Pig brothers."
"They look strange."
"They're albinos. Triplets."
Joe glanced around the bar. His beady pink eyes rested on Red and he smiled, his pointy little teeth brown from rot. "Well, looky here, boys. It's Red, the fearless bounty hunter." Turning to face her, they all smiled the same hungry grin.
Other patrons moved to the far corners with their drinks. Obviously they could sense trouble, but didn't want to leave just yet. They didn't want to miss the action. A good pub brawl was just the right form of entertainment on a cold cloudy night like this. Red had enjoyed her fair share over the years.
Red slid another cigarette out of her pack and put it in her mouth. She struck a match and lit it, blowing the smoke up lazily, never taking her eyes off the brothers.
The barkeep set their beer in front of them, and then retreated into a corner. Joe picked up his glass and chugged half of it back. Beer dribbled down his chin and stained his already grimy shirt. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Why, we were just thinking about you, Red, weren't we, boys?"
"Oh yeah," John said, his eyes alight with something akin to hunger. He rubbed a chubby hand over his crotch.
Joe picked up his beer and wandered closer to where Red sat. "We were thinking, what will Red do when the Wolf comes back to town?"
Red flinched, clenching her jaw. She flicked her cigarette butt toward Joe. It bounced off his chest and landed at his feet. Grinning maliciously, he crushed it under his boot.
"Ah, I see that the cold-hearted bitch does have some feelings after all."
Jack jumped up from his chair and pointed his finger at Joe. "Watch what you say about her!"
Joe laughed. "I'd put a leash on your boy-toy, Red. He's bound to get hurt."
"Do not threaten me, sir. I will have you arrested," Jack said his voice cracking.
Everyone in the bar burst out laughing.
"Sit. Down," Red demanded through clenched teeth.
Jack looked around at the laughing crowd. He huffed, then sat down obediently in his chair.
Joe chugged back the rest of his beer. He tossed the glass to Jack, who caught it clumsily, fumbled it and dropped it. It shattered into pieces on the floor.
"That's quite the watchdog you got there, girl. I wonder if he'll protect you when The Wolf comes hunting. I hear he's coming back to tie up some loose ends. And you, my dear, are a very loose end."
John and Jimmy got off their stools and stood on either side of Joe. They were all smiling.
"So what, the three little Pigs are his warm-up act? You come to deliver a stern warning? Surely I'm more of a threat than that."
Joe clenched his fists. "You talk tough, bitch. But you won't be talking shit when we hand deliver you to the big bad Wolf."
"I hear he's got something special for you," John said, eagerly bouncing from foot to foot. "Maybe he'll finish where he left off with that ugly mug of yours."
"Tell you what," she said, sniffing the air, "Why don't you crawl back into the shit pile you crawled out of and I might let you live."
"I don't think so." Joe spat onto the floor.
"Your funeral."
"We'll see," Joe stammered as he rushed forward.
Red pushed back in her chair. As she slid backwards, she kicked the table forward. The table flew ahead and hit Joe in the stomach. She twirled her knife around in her hand and flung it through the air.
Bull's-eye. It landed squarely in John's forehead, killing him instantly. He fell backward, eyes still wide in shock, and landed with a thud onto the floor. One down. Two to go.
Joe and Jimmy looked back briefly to see their brother dead on the floor.
"I'll kill you, bitch!" Joe grunted as he launched toward Red. Jimmy was right behind him, fists raised.
Red sprang up from the chair. She jumped high into the air and spun her leg around in a roundhouse kick. She caught Joe sharply in the jaw. He stumbled back from the blow.
Jimmy dodged out of the way from his stumbling brother. He swung his arm and landed a wild punch into Red's face. Her lips split open. Ducking his next punch, she came up and landed her own blow to his soft belly.
When Jimmy doubled over, she grabbed the back of his head and pushed him down as her knee came up right into his face. She heard his nose break. It had a distinctive crunching sound. He fell over, clutching his crushed nose.
Joe grabbed her around the neck. His beefy hand squeezed hard on her throat. He quickly backed her up into the wall. She punched at his thick head. But every blow seemed weak against the strength of his brutal hand at her throat.
He slammed her against the wall and raised her up. He was strong. Stronger than any man she had yet been up against.
"Let her go!" Jack launched at Joe, fists raised.
Joe backhanded him across the face and sent him reeling to the floor. He laughed, then leaned in close to Red's face. "I think I broke your little toy."
His breath smelt like rotting meat. Red cringed, but couldn't pull back. "Ever heard of dental hygiene? You can buy a toothbrush now, you know," she managed to squeak.
His smile faded. "You have a wicked tongue, girl. But after tonight I'll show you what your tongue is for."
He smashed his mouth to hers, his tongue snaking through her swollen lips. He invaded her mouth with it.
Red nearly gagged from the taste of him. She could feel his slimy tongue probing inside her mouth. He tasted of stale beer, sour milk and something so foul she could not name it.
She flailed her legs and arms, but to no avail. Her limbs were weakening due to the lack of air. Black spots clouded her eyes. She would soon pass out. In a last ditch effort, she brought her hands up to his face, her thumbs pressing into his eyes.
Joe started to squeal, just like the little pig he was. He let her go and grabbed her arms. But it was too late. Red had already dug her thumbs deep into the soft gel of his eyes.
Red fell to the floor, rubbing at her bruised neck as Joe stumbled around the bar, his hands over his gouged eyes.
"Oh my god! Someone help me! She blinded me! I can't see. Please, someone help me!"
Standing on shaky legs, she gripped the wall to steady herself. She walked over to where Joe stood babbling.
"Need some help?" she growled.
He put a bloody hand up in defense. "Stay away from me! You took my eyes! You took my eyes, you bitch!"
"You won't need them where you're going." Red reached around her sides and, with an uncanny speed, unsheathed two long blades from the holsters strapped to her back. She crossed her arms in front of her swiftly and gracefully. Joe gurgled and grabbed his throat. He fell to his knees, reaching up for an imaginary helping hand, and then fell forward onto the wooden floor, a last wet gurgle on his crimson-stained lips.
Silence reverberated throughout the room. None of the patrons dared move. They stared wide-eyed at the carnage.
After Red sheathed her knives, she sauntered over to where Jimmy still lay, hands cradling his nose. She stood over him menacingly.
He started to whimper. "Have mercy."
"I'm not going to kill you, Jimmy. I want you alive so you can take back a message to The Wolf. Tell him he may think he's hunting me, but I am nobody's prey."
Without a single glance at his fallen brothers, Jimmy scrambled to his feet and ran out of the pub into the cold unsympathetic night.
Red leaned over where John lay and pulled her knife out of his head. She wiped the blood on his shirt and sheathed it back on her leg. Sensing a presence behind her, she swung around, hands up, ready to strike.
Jack stood behind her. His cheek was red and already swelling from the blow Joe had landed. "Are you all right?"
Red turned from his caring blue eyes and went to the bar. "Nothing that won't heal." She picked up a neglected drink and pounded it back.
The alcohol stung her open cuts, but the burning felt good. Made her feel alive. She reached down to her belt and untied a little leather pouch. She set it on the bar counter.
"Give me a bottle of vodka. The rest's for the garbage disposal."
The barkeep set an unopened bottle of vodka in front of her. He took the pouch and upended it into his hand. Gold coins spilled out onto his palm. He held onto four coins and handed the pouch back to her.
With bottle in hand, Red walked to the exit. Jack followed silently behind her. She pushed opened the door and walked out into the brisk night. A rainstorm was brewing in the sky. She could smell the ozone in the air.
She walked slowly down the cobbled street, Jack still trailing behind her. She stopped and turned toward him. He looked like a lost little puppy. Red was not good with pets. She hated the responsibility for another's care. That was why she had no friends either. Too many obligations, too many friends lost.
"Go home."
"No. I want to go with you."
"Why?"
Hesitantly, Jack reached out and slid his thumb over her swollen lips. She didn't pull away. "Does it matter?"
Red turned and continued walking down the street. Jack followed. She reached the end of the street where a rundown boarding house stood slanting in its lot. She opened the door and turned back to Jack.
"If you're looking for a hug or a kind word in bed, you best go somewhere else. I won't be gentle."
"I know."