The gorilla roars and leaps from his perch, landing a few feet away from Grizz.
“He’s not gonna let Grizz leave without a fight,” Parker says. “Don’t got time for this. Cops are coming.”
“Feck, did you actually call them?” Declan gasps.
“I did,” Laurie says from the passenger seat of the Camaro.
The Irishman swears and grabs me. “Call him,” he orders.
“What?” I gape.
“Call him,” Declan repeats, and hands me something. A helmet-the one Laurie was wearing. “Call Grizz. Now!”
“Grizz,” I scream. The big bear is pacing back and forth, waiting for the gorilla to charge. “Grizz the cops are coming! You gotta come! Come back to me.”
Grizz turns and starts to shrink. The gorilla pounces, but at the last second, Grizz whirls. A blur and the gorilla’s down on the ground, shrinking back into a human body.
“Come on,” Declan shouts as sirens rise around us. “Now!”
The bear races towards us. Fur recedes from bloodied skin, and then it’s just Grizz running up to me and the bike.
“You’re naked, man, here,” Declan hands him a pair of sweatpants. I pull off the leather jacket and wince as Grizz shrugs that on over his bloody torso. He shoves his feet into the Timberlands and swings a big leg over his bike.
“Hop on,” he orders and my skin crackles with his dominance. Helmet secure on my head, I climb on behind Grizz and grab his jacket.
“Arms around me,” he says, and growls when I hesitate. I don’t want to hurt him but when I put my arms tentatively around his middle, he tugs me snug to his back.
“Tight, Kit,” he orders and kicks the bike off. The engine blasts to life and we zoom away, following the white Camaro in a twisting, turning escape route out of the warehouse district.
We turn onto the main road a second before a firetruck screams past, flashing red and flying towards the Fight Club as we make our getaway in the opposite direction.
Grizz
THE BIKE GROWLS as I weave between cars, pushing it faster and faster. Jordy’s fingers dig into me, but I don’t slow. I gotta get her home, get her safe before the power drains from my veins, leaving me too weak to defend her. Coming off the juice is always hard.
At least we’re not being followed. Just in case, I change lanes and turn onto a side street.
By the time my bike has climbed my mountain, the red hot rage simmering in my blood has cooled. I cut off the engine and slump forward, my limbs heavy and cold. My stomach a mass of knots. When I fight, I’m made of adrenaline. After the adrenaline leaves, nothing’s left.
My vision goes black a moment. I fight through the sludge of my own consciousness, back to reality, back to life. There was something I needed to do-
A slight weight moves behind me and I raise my head. Jordy. Gotta get her off the bike, get her safe.
“Grizz?” Jordy calls. She’s standing beside me now. I’m losing seconds, losing time.
Blinking, I shake my head. “Inside. Now.”
I haul my body off the bike, take a few steps and stagger.
“Grizz!” She presses to my side. Propping me up. Helping me walk. Not right. I should be helping her.
“Inside. Gotta get…safe…” My tongue is swollen, filling my mouth, making me mumble.
Keys clink and the door opens, the familiar scent of my den embracing me. Almost there. I power forward and fall to my knees before I reach my kitchen.
“Grizz, what’s wrong?” Jordy’s voice is high pitched. “What do you need?
“Coming off the fight. Be…fine.” I don’t know if I will be fine. It’s never been this bad before.
“It’s okay, just lie down.” Her hands pat over my body. Something cushions my head. My boots come off. “Grizz, can you hear me? Can I get you something?”
“Meat,” I groan and lick my lips. “Water.”
A rushing sound and she’s back, holding the cool rim of a glass to my lips. “Drink this.” Her breath comes in frantic little pants. I pat her leg. I want her to know I’ll be all right. The water rushes down my throat, clearing out my lungs. I can breathe. Yes, that’s it. Replace the juice with something clean and pure.
“Here,” Jordy says. Her voice is funny. Blood hits my lips and I snarl, grabbing the hunk of meat she found. It’s half frozen but my bear doesn’t care. I rip and gnaw into it, slowly coming back to myself. I’m on the tiles, lying on my back, my leather jacket under my head. Jordy kneels close to me. She gives me more water when I ask, and another hunk of meat.
I raise my heavy arm, find her face with my hand. I cup her cheek, frowning at the wetness I find there.
“It’s all right,” I mumble around my swollen tongue. “Just give me a second. Be right back.”
“Shhh.” She holds my hand to her face. “It’s okay. I’m here.” Beyond her is my front door. She could easily walk out and leave, return to her master, but she doesn’t.
“Stay with me,” I murmur. I don’t have the energy to order her.
“Of course,” she whispers and I let my head roll back as I slide out of consciousness.
I COME TO IN STAGES. There’s something soft under my head-softer than the leather jacket. A pillow. A slight body presses against my sore ribs. A lovely scent wafts up to my nose. Jordy. She’s lying next to me and my bear loves it.
I’m warm, too warm. Something’s draped over us and it smells of vampire. With a growl, I rip off the blanket I found on Jordy’s cage and toss it across the room. It lands by the door. I’ll burn it later. Don’t want to smell that vampire again.