Free Under the Full Moon (Crimson Romance) by Bobbi Romans Page B

Beth asked, clearly growing impatient to find out what was going on.
    “Yeah. They are rather bad about the whole female thing. Like having a vagina knocks us down the self defense steps a rung or two.”
    “Well, they can kiss my ass — I’m going over.” Beth opened the handle and Grace joined her. She wasn’t keen on taking orders, no matter how well intended, either.
    As they approached the guys, the big bus driver man shot her a funny expression before turning his attention back to Damien and Moss.
    “It’s how we roll. Don’t like, don’t come. Everyone else has been introduced to the group this way. I understand your hesitations; however, it’s this way or no way.”
    “What’s going on? What way or no way?” Beth asked, going to stand next to her man.
    “We either agree to ride with him blindfolded or we go back home.”
    “Oh hell no. No one is blindfolding me. Uh uh. No way, no how.” Beth shook her head backing toward her Jeep. “Been there, done that, not going back.”
    Grace knew Beth referred to when Octavia had kidnapped her, but she understood B.E.A.R.’s need for caution. She wasn’t crazy about the plan either. No one with any common sense would trust strangers with such strong ties to the society, namely the departed Octavia, without some major reservations.
    It was time to take a risk.
    “I’m in,” Grace announced, stepping forward.
    “Me, too,” Trick declared, also walking over to the side of the bus. “But dude, seriously … you drive the short bus?”
    The big guy snorted and raised his chin, humor lighting his eyes.
    “Are you crazy? You’re going to let some stranger blindfold you and drive you off to God only knows where?” Beth asked sounding both angry and incredulous.
    “Think about it. All of us have ties, regardless of how bad they are, with Octavia and Demetrius. Would you trust us?” Grace answered trying to sound calm, even though her insides were bubbling with anxiety.
    “True, but we don’t know him anymore than he knows us.”
    Grace watched the debate roll through Beth’s eyes. Her niece didn’t want to go, but damn sure didn’t want them going along without her either.
    “Fine. Let’s do this.”
    Moss pulled Beth protectively into the crook of his arm.
    The burly guy didn’t seem the least bit offended by any of their hesitations and waited patiently in the driver’s seat for them to load up. After everyone took their seats — Beth with Moss, she with Damien and Trick clear in the back by the emergency door — Branch, as he claimed he was named, blindfolded them.
    You didn’t have to be magically inclined to feel the tension roiling off everyone. What choice did they really have? None. If there was even a shot in hell they could get some answers and end all this shit, she was taking it.
    Grace just prayed the ending came with a happily ever after … and not the other kind. The dead kind.

Chapter Eleven
    They hadn’t even made it halfway to headquarters before shit happened. One minute they sat blindfolded on the short bus heading to meet with the ones claiming to have the answers to their questions, the next minute they were ass over end.
    Grace heard the explosion at the same time as the others, and ripped her blindfold off to see the bus teeter off its wheels and slide down the highway on its side. Sparks flew as metal met asphalt in a hideous scraping motion.
    Thunderous shots rang out, as shattering windows that rained glass down upon them all.
    “Get to the front of the bus,” Branch bellowed amid the pandemonium. “The shots are coming from behind us.” The tree-sized man wobbled down the center aisle before the bus had even come to a stop. He had a gun in one hand and a radio in the other.
    “B.E.A.R. to base — we’ve an emergency.” Grace prayed the walkie worked with the ungodly reception in these parts.
    “Keep behind the seats until I tell you otherwise.” So much for that advice, Grace thought when both Damien and