BooksBarbecue
Back Wild Fire Save as PDF
Chapters (27)
  1. Praise
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgements
  6. Chapter 1
  7. Chapter 2
  8. Chapter 3
  9. Chapter 4
  10. Chapter 5
  11. Chapter 6
  12. Chapter 7
  13. Chapter 8
  14. Chapter 9
  15. Chapter 10
  16. Chapter 11
  17. Chapter 12
  18. Chapter 13
  19. Chapter 14
  20. Chapter 15
  21. Chapter 16
  22. Chapter 17
  23. Chapter 18
  24. Chapter 19
  25. Chapter 20
  26. Chapter 21
  27. Teaser chapter

“I’m going home,” Alberto declared. “Now that I know you’re safe. I suggest you do the same. Harry, call my driver. I hope we meet again, Isabeau.”

“Your garden was lovely,” she said.

Felipe put a hand to his ear, listening to the voice coming over the radio. “We’re leaving, Isabeau. Elijah said to take you out front to the car.” He took her elbow.

To her dismay, the server, Teresa, was already in the car, looking as though she was going to cry. Isabeau climbed in wordlessly next to her, worried about Jeremiah, afraid for Teresa and wondering what exactly was going on.

Chapter 14

14

ISABEAU stared out the window as the car moved rapidly down the long, winding drive, avoiding everyone’s eyes. She knew they could smell Ottila’s scent on her. There were spots of blood on her dress, impossible to hide in the close confines of the vehicle. She heard Conner’s expletive when he saw the dark bruises marring her skin and the blood on her dress, but she didn’t look at him. She knew she was at her limit and just needed space. They all needed to give her space—especially Conner. Philip Sobre, Imelda Cortez and the rogue leopards disgusted her. She felt dirty and just wanted to find a good, hot shower.

The vehicle slowed and Leonardo shoved the door open. Jeremiah exploded out of the thicker forest and raced through the thinner stand of trees and brush. He was about halfway to the SUV when something heavy dropped from the trees on top of him, slamming him to the ground. Fur and teeth and man tumbled and rolled, thrashing. The rifle went flying.

Teresa began to scream and Elijah leaned over very casually and clipped her, at the same time pressing his thumb hard into a pressure point so that she slumped forward unconscious, her face a mask of horror. A roar of fury shook the SUV, and Felipe slammed on the breaks even as Conner leapt through the open door, stripping as he shifted, the vehicle spinning around and coming to a halt.

Isabeau blinked, shocked at the speed with which Conner made the transformation on the run, shedding his clothes at the same time. She’d seen Jeremiah practicing and she’d seen Felipe working with him, but it hadn’t prepared her for the actual dizzying speed. She wouldn’t have believed her own eyes had she not known the truth about the species. He shifted into a leopard so fast she wouldn’t have been able to process that he’d ever been a man.

Leonardo and Rio also jumped out of the car, nearly before it stopped spinning, but they were searching the trees for a sniper, back to back, sharp gazes examining every inch of the canopy, using their animal senses for knowledge, rifles ready.