Free Shut Up and Kiss Me by Christie Craig Page A

squeezed Sky’s arm. “Now, go find Blue Eyes. I saw her again when they were bringing me here. She’s in trouble. Your woman needs you.”
    Shala refused to die.
    She needed a weapon. She thought of the gun she’d seen in Sky’s closet, but was it loaded? Remembering the knife Sky had left in the sink, she crawled to the kitchencounter. Behind her, she heard someone trying to open the door.
    She rose to her knees and reached into the sink. Something heavy hit the front door, like a big shoulder or foot. Panicking, she felt her hand close around what felt like a knife, and the blade sliced into her palm. Well, it passed the slice-through-human-skin test. Ignoring the pain, she pulled it toward her.
    “God damn!”
    Screams came from the porch, along with a loud thud like something heavy falling. Something heavy, as in a big man wearing a ski mask. Feeling brave—or maybe just stupid—Shala stood and ran to the window. The intruder lay on his back, kicking violently at Sky’s dogs. Finally, he rolled. The dogs moved after him, growling, their lips curled and their teeth bared. Shala saw what looked like the gun lying behind them. The man rolled off the porch. One of the dogs followed. The man scrambled to his feet and took off back to his car. Shala stood frozen, holding her breath, the knife still gripped in her hand. The car fishtailed off the curb and sped away down the dirt road.
    Collapsing against the wall, Shala kept her eyes on the porch, where the second dog joined the first. Both beasts turned around. Two pairs of eyes met hers, two pairs of bright gold eyes. Shala had never come face-to-face with a wolf, but she’d seen enough pictures to recognize one. These animals on Sky Gomez’s front porch were more wolf than dog. They’d saved her life, but she wasn’t eager to confront them. Not after seeing them in action.
    A question derailed those thoughts: how had this hardened criminal learned where she was? He hadn’t followed her here tonight; she’d been looking out for him. She remembered Sky Gomez’s sudden supposed emergency that had left her here alone. Sure, he’d said he was on the pro-Winters side, but hadn’t Mayor Johnsonclaimed most of the Natives were against her? If he was on her side, why was he taking her camera?
    Something wet and warm oozed down her palm. Blood spattered the wood floor.
    Sky bit back the retort that Blue Eyes wasn’t his woman. Arguing with the old man now would be futile. Then they took Redfoot away, and it was almost an hour before Henry came back and informed Sky that his scan was clear. But to be safe, they were keeping Redfoot overnight.
    “He’s sleeping now,” Henry explained to both Sky and Maria. “But there’s a cot in his room if someone wants to stay with him.”
    “Since you’re picking up Jose, I’ll stay here,” Maria offered. Jose had called right after Redfoot was carted off to be tested. He’d be flying in at nine A . M.
    While his foster sister stepped off to call her boyfriend, Sky peeked in on Redfoot. The old man was asleep. Sky eased toward the bed, remembering his thoughts when the old man had passed out in his arms.
    “Love you,” he whispered.
    He was a step out the door when he heard, “Me, too. Now find Blue Eyes.”
    Shaking his head, Sky started out to his truck. Emotion filled his chest, but when he climbed into his cab, he leaned his head back and relaxed for the first time since he’d received the call.
    Now find Blue Eyes.
    He remembered leaving Shala at his place. Remembered wanting to kiss her. Remembered wanting to do more than kiss her. Then his mind hit instant replay, and he recalled something she asked: Did you check? Did you even look at the shots?
    He’d been damn sure at first that she was the one to take the picture, but he hadn’t seen her take the shot. Then, three minutes after she insisted on her innocence, he’dbelieved her. Reaching down to the floorboard of the passenger seat, Sky lifted Shala’s