Wild by Eve Langlais

swapped bodies.
    Just in time because she slumped to the floor again. Rolling her onto her back, he bent over her to grab her just as her eyes fluttered open.
    Puzzlement made her brow crease. “Broderick?”
    â€œHold on, sweetheart, I got you.” Slinging her over his shoulder, he snagged her and did a one-handed grab at his pile of clothes as he moved rapidly up the hall. Shoving open the door allowed fresh air to rush into his starved lungs. But the air in here wouldn’t remain clean for long. Of the bears, there was no sign.
    The EXIT sign still glowed red at the back. However, the sliver of daylight was gone.
    Brody didn’t want to emerge onto a street with curious eyes, so he chose the back exit. Before opening the door, though, he took a moment to throw on his pants and his shirt, which he left unbuttoned, but no shoes. His mad grab had netted him only one, and he’d probably look dumb walking around in just one loafer.
    And there was no time to go back.
    The employee door slammed shut behind him, yet he could still smell the smoke. Was that lit strip coming from under the door the glow of flames?
    Time to blow this joint. Flinging Lulu over his shoulder once again, fireman style, Brody hit the bar to the exit door and then cursed as he bounced back.
    â€œBloody bastards. Don’t tell me they blocked this entrance, too.” Should he assume they’d probably done something to the front doors as well?
    He couldn’t really waste time finding out. He gave another shove at the exit door and was gratified by a groan of metal and the appearance, if brief, of daylight. He shoved again, really putting his shoulder to it, and the metal bin placed against the door screeched as it dragged across the concrete ground. He put Lulu down to the side and out of the way before he took a running start at the stubborn door.
    He hit the portal, and the bin went sliding with a god-awful sound. But at least he’d gotten them an exit.
    Quickly, he scooped up Lulu and carried her out. Luckily, the alley proved clear, and he made it to his car without getting unduly noticed. Even he would have been hard-pressed to explain his half-dressed state, smelling of smoke, and carrying an unconscious girl. Those kinds of stunts he’d left behind during his college days. Good times.
    He lay Lulu along the backseat of his practical sedan. Yes, he drove a Cadillac, one inherited after his grandfather died. Some of his friends mocked him for keeping it. It wasn’t exactly a cool car for a tiger of his caliber. In his defense, the thing drove like a dream, had all the bells and whistles, and the trunk was big enough for two bodies.
    And, yes, he knew this fact from experience.
    Right now all his trunk held was an emergency stash of clothes, protein bars, and a blanket. He hopped into the running shoes, sockless to save time, and snagged the woolly blanket. He tossed it over Lulu, hiding her from the casual onlooker. He needed to get her out of here without anyone seeing.
    It was pretty clear at this point that—whatever was going on with the club, between the audit and the bears—she was considered dispensable.
    Not to him.
    But where could he take her to keep her safe? Her place was out of the question. She needed to hide while he sorted things out. His place? Probably not a good idea either since he should also lay low. The bears had intended for them to both die in there.
    Their boss wouldn’t be too happy when they found out not only Lulu but also a direct link to Fabian had survived. Those bears might come after him again.
    Fun. His tiger didn’t mind, but he did. Safety for Lulu came first.
    So with the most likely spots vetoed, what did that leave?
    Less than a half hour later, his boss’s bellow was probably heard across a few states: “You mentally defective feline. You brought a human here!”
    There went his employee-of-the-month steak dinner.

 
    CHAPTER 8
    Waking to