Free Wolf Unbound: Aspen Valley Wolf Pack by Amber Ella Monroe Page B

here.”
    He rolled to a complete stop next to the car, cut the engine, and helped her off the bike. She pulled her own helmet off and gave it back to him.
    “ Whew. Finally. You’re a good driver and all, but others on the road…not so much,” she joked.
    He grinned. “Yeah, you’ve gotta look out for the folks who should’ve never been granted a driver’s license.”
    He knocked on the tinted windows of the sedan and then glanced around nervously. The driver had yet to reveal himself.
    “So, where’s the driver?” she asked.
    Garrett frowned. “He’s supposed to be here.” He sniffed at the air and a look of dread swept over his face. He leaned down and retrieved a handgun from the inside his boot.
    “You were carrying a gun?” she shrieked. It was the first time she’d seen someone, up, close, and personal—clutching one the way he did.
    “Something’s not right,” he said. “Stay close to me.”
    They circled around the car. When they reached the front, she spotted red smears on the hood and the headlamps. Blood. There wasn’t a lot of it. But still…
    “Oh God.”
    “Dammit,” Garrett exclaimed.
    A dead man lay on the ground in the tall unkempt grass. It appeared that he’d succumbed to his wound—a shot to the chest. His hands looked ice cold, gray, and rigid as he clutched his chest near the point of entry.
    Autumn screamed. A blood curdling scream that rung out across the field. She doubled over in panic and hurled dry air. She tasted the remnants of her breakfast, but nothing came up.
    Garrett knelt next to the man and took his pulse. “He’s been dead a while.”
    “Who would do this? Was that the lawyer?”
    “No. Jack was his driver.” He rose swiftly with the gun still gripped in his hands. “We’ve gotta get out of here. I think we’ve been compromised.”
    Not even a split second later, a distant sound caught in Autumn’s ears. The deep rumbling of an engine grew louder as it advanced in their direction. A black pickup truck burst out from the wooded area and across the tall fields of grass and came barreling right at them.
    Her mouth went dry. Her chest tightened and heart slammed repeatedly against her breastbone. She swung her attention to Garrett, hoping that he had an explanation for this. Any kind of explanation. She saw a different Garrett than the man that had saved her. His eyes had turned dark, almost black. His lips were pulled taut. The uneasiness on his face changed to a look of horror.
    “Garrett…what’s going on?” she asked.
    He grabbed her arm and began backing her up in the direction of the motorcycle. “We’ve got company. Bad company. Stay back behind the car and I’ll handle this.” He fished another small handgun from under his shirt and shoved it into her palm. “If anyone or anything comes at you, shoot ‘em.”
    “Oh God.” She trembled, nearly dropping the gun.
    She did as he said, rushing back to the edge of the highway. She slipped behind the white sedan, the gun shaking in her hand.
    Dust billowed up and carried on the wind toward her. Her mouth was already dry as heck and her lungs were burning from exertion. The dust stinging her eyes only made it worst.
    The black pickup truck came to an abrupt halt just five feet in front of Garrett. Two men jumped out. One of them was holding a gun. The second man reached into the backseat and pulled out a hostage who had been blindfolded and had his hands tied behind his back.
    Autumn shielded her eyes from the blazing hot sun with her hand and almost couldn’t believe her luck when she spotted Simon out in the field, shoving the hostage forward.
    Oh, my God. This was all her fault. The driver had died because of her. Someone else was in trouble because of her.
    “Well, well, well…” Simon drawled.
    “Let Edward go. He did nothing wrong.” Garrett growled.
    “Oh, really now?” Simon replied. “Because I know a couple of women back at Mina’s strip joint who beg to differ. He’s a