“How’d you know it was Diego?” Drew asked.
Marcus peeked through the window and dropped to kneel under the sill, next to the Alpha. “I have a buddy in the FBI who called me ten minutes before the bear. They had some wildfires out in Colorado around the supermax and had to evacuate. Apparently the bus that was supposed to take Diego to another facility was forced off the road and the convicts escaped. The state police have been dealing with a hostage situation and thought Diego was part of a group that held a crew from a local fire department at gunpoint. He wasn’t. By the time they figured out he wasn’t there, he’d had twelve hours on the run. They didn’t think he’d know where to find her, but wanted to give me a heads-up. And then Gee called.
“Told me there were some ugly-looking men in the bar that scared the shit out of Xio. She isn’t frightened of much. I figured only one person could do that.”
“I think you’re dead-on. If I were to describe a Mexican drug lord, he’d look just like that gentleman in there.” Drew slid a couple of shells into his double-barrel shotgun and cocked it one-handed. “When this is over, the three of us need to sit down and talk. I want everything out on the table about her past—your past. I want to know the names of anyone who might be after either one of you. If you so much as farted in public and offended someone, I want to know.”
“Deal. We’ll talk. How many are in there?”
“Diego and five others, besides Xio and Gee. Look to be all armed. They’ve got Gee, and don’t ask me how they managed that. Nobody ever gets Gee. It’s like trying to stop a tank with your bare hands. It doesn’t happen unless he wants it to happen.”
Marcus nodded. That meant he had more control than he was letting on and knew they were outside. But how to surprise them without anyone getting shot and killed was another matter altogether.
The door opened. “I need this.” Marcus wrenched the shotgun from Drew’s hands and yelled as Xio stepped out with Diego right behind her. “Remember how we met?” She nodded and dropped to the ground.
Good girl.
Yeah, how could I forget? Her face had been sore for a week. Marcus lunged, jamming the butt of the weapon into the underside of Diego’s jaw, snapping his head back, and sending his weapon flying into the dirt ten feet away. Diego dropped to his knees with a grunt and did a face-plant into the wooden sidewalk. “Asshole.”
Marcus grabbed Xio, shoved her behind him, and tossed the shotgun back to Drew, who caught it. “Sorry. My mate. Handling it.” He dove inside the bar.
Xio tried to follow. Drew tightened his grip on her arm. “You heard him. He’s got this.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but sometimes a man has to know he can protect what is his. Let him. Sit with me. I have a feeling this will only take a second. He’s got a rather impressive law-enforcement record—and temper.” He released her arm and Xio sank beside him. Drew was right. Marcus needed to do this. He’d told her he had her back. He’d meant it and wanted to prove it. To himself—to her.
A couple of shots rang out, and the sound of smashing glass came from the other side of the door. “Marcus!”
Drew grabbed her arm and pulled her back down. “He’s fine. Just venting. We all have to do it once and a while.”
“Venting?” He could be killed. “I’m going in there.”
“No, you’re going to sit right here and wait. You’ll only distract him. I’m the Alpha and I’m telling you to sit.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. All of this was her fault, and Drew was right. Going in there would only distract Marcus. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done.
A man came flying through the door and hit the edge of the boardwalk before rolling over and landing with a loud oomph on the street. Another followed. Then three others, each with a crash as they shattered the large windows that made up the front of Gee’s bar.
Drew let go of her. “Now you can go in.” He rose to his feet, pointed his shotgun at the downed men, and signaled his men over with a whistle. Pack came from everywhere. “Put your hands up, please. The sheriff will be here shortly.”
Seconds later, Marcus walked out, his eyes glowing amber, his chest rising and falling as he took heavy breaths. He looked left and then right, zeroing in on where she crouched next to the building. He had indeed handled it—not that she couldn’t have, but something about that was so hot.
Gee walked out behind him. He looked at the windows and shook his head. “Damn wolves. Always making a mess.”