Hot Summer Love: A Multi-Author Box Set (Shifters in Love Book 2)

Layla’s voice reminded me where I was. My eyes popped open to see the woman I’d forgotten about looking at me warily. I hoped she would get over my reserve so that I could continue with the mission. I needed to search her house, but more importantly, I needed her to trust me. If I could get her on our side, she would be a great informant.

I opened my mouth to start my apologies and excuses when the living room window shattered. In a flash, I had Layla under me on the floor. I covered her while I listened for the threat. Car tires squealed, as an engine gunned down the street. I itched to chase after them, but I had to keep up appearances with Layla.

Thinking of Layla, I placed my hands on either side of her shoulders and rose up just enough to check that she was all right. One look at her face told me she wasn’t. Sightless eyes stared back at me, as a pool of blood formed on the floor under her head.

“Shit,” I whispered.

My hand shook slightly, as I turned her head to the side to see a bullet had pierced her temple. This was definitely a professional hit, and the only reason they had stopped at Layla and not come after me, was that it was a direct hit and the job was done. I wasn’t in the contract. Yet. Whoever hired the gunman would no doubt be looking for me, once he found out Layla had company.

Standing up, I looked down at the beautiful girl I once knew. After all these years as a soldier, death didn’t unsettle me much. I could usually separate myself from the deceased, but this was different. I’d known Layla my whole life. I hadn’t loved her, but she was a friend of sorts.

When I found out she was part of the shit going on in Wilde Mountain, I was disappointed, but I wanted to do more than complete a mission. I wanted to help her, get her out of whatever mess she was in, and I’d planned on it.

After my own clothing was in place I crouched down and fixed Layla’s gown, covering her nakedness the best I could, then I draped her robe over her lifeless body. I bowed my head and promised her I would find out who did this and why. She didn’t deserve this death. I truly believed she was a good woman, even if her mistakes were big.

I had to move quickly now. There was no time to waste. I had to do a quick search of Layla’s home and get out of there before anyone came looking.

First, I went to the broken window, keeping close to the wall in case someone remained watching, and took a deep breath through my nose. Only one scent lingered in the air. The gunman’s odor was unfamiliar, yet unforgettable. He would not be getting far, I sneered.

I quickly washed up in the kitchen, then walked purposely toward the hall. Just as I thought, the scent I was searching for became stronger. Alexander Wright Sr. left his trail all over Layla’s home, but it was much more pungent the closer I got to the basement.

The lock was no deterrent for me. I pulled out a small lock picking kit out of my back pocket and quickly had the door opened. A dark stairway led down into the basement. I kept the light off, not wanting to draw attention. From my surveillance, I knew there were small windows where light could be seen from outside.

Silently, I moved down each step until I reached the bottom floor. The basement was dark, with only a hint of moonlight streaming through the small windows near the ceiling. Looking around the large open space, I began to think it was empty, until I walked farther in. All four concrete walls were obscured by cardboard. Boxes upon boxes were stacked floor to ceiling.

I pulled one large box down and set it on the floor. My hand tingled, as the transformation shifted through my fingers. Using one sharp claw, I sliced through the packaging tape easily. Once the flaps were open, I shifted my hand back to human and looked inside.

It was exactly what I was looking for. Blocks of cocaine filled the container to the top, and I could guarantee the rest of the packages were the same.

I exhaled in a long frustrated sigh. I’d had a small hope that intelligence was wrong, and I would find nothing. I would have to tell Alex everything. Not only was Wilde Mountain turning into a drug ring, but the leader was none other than his own father.

My commander would be pissed, but I didn’t care. Alex deserved to know. If he wanted to be a part of the mission to take Alex Sr. down, then I wasn’t going to stop him and I didn’t think Teij would either.

After placing the box in between a few others, so as not to draw attention that someone was snooping, I took my boots off, then placed my socks inside them. I swiftly peeled off my jeans, tee shirt and underwear, folding them neatly beside my boots.

The process was not painless, but it wasn’t agony either. My bones and muscles realigned, as I fell to the floor on my hands and knees. My skin stretched and prickled, as fur grew. I held my breath, as my nose flattened. I found the feeling of air flowing through the fast changing passageway unnerving. My jaw ached as sharp fangs ripped through my gums. Only seconds passed before a golden jaguar stood in the middle of the basement, instead of a human.

I stretched to get some of the kinks out from the shift and shook the tingles off my skin before calling my partner. All soldiers of the Alpha Division had a mental connection once we shifted into animal form.

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