better if he
brought all his people over at once and completely infiltrated the
Toevlucht Pride. His original idea was to bring his clan over in
small groups until no one remained in Africa. The few shifters he’d
brought with him had already established themselves in different
facets of El’s pride. They funneled important information which had
helped him form educated decisions. El wasn’t the only one who
could formulate and execute a plan. At the moment, Reese was his
only loose end. He probably should have put down the bastard weeks
ago.
El’s pride consisted of youngsters
playing full grown lions and lionesses. While his part of the Pride
were older, more battle worn. With everyone in position, they could
easily overtake the tribe after he killed El. Ellory sighed. Too
bad his brother needed to die sooner rather than later. It would
have been fun to make him suffer. No, tempting as it was to punish
El, he would stick to the original strategy and switch it around as
necessity dictated.
“ Give me your money.” The
voice came from the shadows between the buildings.
Ellory stopped. He’d been so caught up
in his strategies . He never picked up on his surroundings. Ellory
raised his head and sniffed the air; human. He wrinkled his nose
when the odor of sickness reached him. “No,” he started to stroll
away.
The man moved from the darkness and
aimed a small revolver at him. “I said, I want all your money.” He
cocked the gun. “Doesn’t matter how I get it, as long as I
do.”
Ellory noticed the slight shake in his
hand and the way his eye twitched. “I don’t think so. Run away
sickly human. There are much bigger things than you that go bump in
the night.”
The fella’s hand jerked, and he
stretched his arm. “Have it your way.”
Before he could pull the trigger,
Ellory partially shifted and leapt at the guy. Using his body to
push the assailants arm away he attacked, burying his claws in the
fella’s chest as he took him down. They crashed on the cement
walkway, and a loud pop rent the air. Ellory raised his paw and
swiped at the man’s throat aiming for his artery. Blood sprayed
across the walls and his chest. A final grunt and the-would-be
thief went still. Ellory pushed up off the dead man, stood, and
waited a moment before toeing him with his boot. When the guy
didn’t move, he shrugged and turned to hike back to the motel. The
phone call could wait, but the kill had given him a serious taste
for steak, a nice bloody one. He needed a shower and a change of
clothes, and then he would go to that diner. This time he would
drive.
***
El leaned back on the couch and
studied the pictures Gunter was showing him. They were of the
hidden remains of several rabbits surrounded by large paw prints.
He’d run those forests for miles, he knew the animals and humans
who hunted there. The deep indentations in the dirt didn’t match
any paws he’d seen in the past.
“ So, we have a nomad lion
stalking our pride.” He glanced at Gunter for confirmation. Beyond
them, he could hear Nae in the other room arguing with
someone.
He’d never thought to ask if she was
single. Her scent hit him, and he hadn’t really cared. But, if she
had a man in her life, he should probably warn her that if the
bastard came around, he would make the fucker disappear. El turned
his head toward the room.
“ Get you head around tribe
business.” Gunter growled.
“ It is. I’ll take care of
it tomorrow and hunt the asshole myself.” El answered
absently.
“ You shouldn’t go alone.
Take Trace with you.”
El snapped his head forward. “At what
point did you decide I’m a weak leader, hyena?”
“ Son, this mating shit is
screwing with your head. You go and battle a young lion intent on
taking the pride from you, and if you’re not focused, it could end
badly.”
“ Pride law demands that
any lion who defeats me inherits everything as my replacement,
including my woman. No way in hell that’s
brought all his people over at once and completely infiltrated the
Toevlucht Pride. His original idea was to bring his clan over in
small groups until no one remained in Africa. The few shifters he’d
brought with him had already established themselves in different
facets of El’s pride. They funneled important information which had
helped him form educated decisions. El wasn’t the only one who
could formulate and execute a plan. At the moment, Reese was his
only loose end. He probably should have put down the bastard weeks
ago.
El’s pride consisted of youngsters
playing full grown lions and lionesses. While his part of the Pride
were older, more battle worn. With everyone in position, they could
easily overtake the tribe after he killed El. Ellory sighed. Too
bad his brother needed to die sooner rather than later. It would
have been fun to make him suffer. No, tempting as it was to punish
El, he would stick to the original strategy and switch it around as
necessity dictated.
“ Give me your money.” The
voice came from the shadows between the buildings.
Ellory stopped. He’d been so caught up
in his strategies . He never picked up on his surroundings. Ellory
raised his head and sniffed the air; human. He wrinkled his nose
when the odor of sickness reached him. “No,” he started to stroll
away.
The man moved from the darkness and
aimed a small revolver at him. “I said, I want all your money.” He
cocked the gun. “Doesn’t matter how I get it, as long as I
do.”
Ellory noticed the slight shake in his
hand and the way his eye twitched. “I don’t think so. Run away
sickly human. There are much bigger things than you that go bump in
the night.”
The fella’s hand jerked, and he
stretched his arm. “Have it your way.”
Before he could pull the trigger,
Ellory partially shifted and leapt at the guy. Using his body to
push the assailants arm away he attacked, burying his claws in the
fella’s chest as he took him down. They crashed on the cement
walkway, and a loud pop rent the air. Ellory raised his paw and
swiped at the man’s throat aiming for his artery. Blood sprayed
across the walls and his chest. A final grunt and the-would-be
thief went still. Ellory pushed up off the dead man, stood, and
waited a moment before toeing him with his boot. When the guy
didn’t move, he shrugged and turned to hike back to the motel. The
phone call could wait, but the kill had given him a serious taste
for steak, a nice bloody one. He needed a shower and a change of
clothes, and then he would go to that diner. This time he would
drive.
***
El leaned back on the couch and
studied the pictures Gunter was showing him. They were of the
hidden remains of several rabbits surrounded by large paw prints.
He’d run those forests for miles, he knew the animals and humans
who hunted there. The deep indentations in the dirt didn’t match
any paws he’d seen in the past.
“ So, we have a nomad lion
stalking our pride.” He glanced at Gunter for confirmation. Beyond
them, he could hear Nae in the other room arguing with
someone.
He’d never thought to ask if she was
single. Her scent hit him, and he hadn’t really cared. But, if she
had a man in her life, he should probably warn her that if the
bastard came around, he would make the fucker disappear. El turned
his head toward the room.
“ Get you head around tribe
business.” Gunter growled.
“ It is. I’ll take care of
it tomorrow and hunt the asshole myself.” El answered
absently.
“ You shouldn’t go alone.
Take Trace with you.”
El snapped his head forward. “At what
point did you decide I’m a weak leader, hyena?”
“ Son, this mating shit is
screwing with your head. You go and battle a young lion intent on
taking the pride from you, and if you’re not focused, it could end
badly.”
“ Pride law demands that
any lion who defeats me inherits everything as my replacement,
including my woman. No way in hell that’s
Similar Books
