Free LIAM (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues, Book 2) by Shannon Mayer Page B

anything. And if he can manipulate water he could be an asset.”
    “No. We don’t split up,” I said. “Right now, we have the advantage and it will cut time if we go together. We can leave from your apartment.”
    Her jaw twitched, a flash of anger there, defiance.
    I held up my hands. “I’m not trying to control you. I used to be a cop. I bossed people around for a living.” I winked at her, softening what I was saying. I hoped.
    She let out a sigh. “I hate that you’re right.”
    “Don’t get used to it. My mate is right more than me.”
    The three of us stepped onto the sidewalk. To my right, Levi’s stomach let out a growl that made my wolf twitch and whine with agreement. I paused at the door to the bakery.
    “Give me two minutes.” I stepped in, and ordered up a mixed bag of pastries and three large coffees. The lady at the counter was quiet, her eyes downcast.
    “Thanks,” I said as I took the bag and my change.
    “Don’t hurt her,” she said.
    Now that stopped my feet. “Excuse me?”
    The woman looked up, brown eyes full of determination that I wouldn’t have expected from such a quiet mouse of a girl. “Mai is my friend. She’s been through a lot, losing her son and her husband going missing. Don’t hurt her. Please.”
    I nodded, glad for the additional information. “I’m not going to hurt her. I’m going to get her out of this town.”
    She let out a sigh of relief. “Then the breakfast is on me.” She handed me back my twenty-dollar bill. “Tell her Alena wishes her luck. I think things will get better for her if she goes with you.”
    I reached across the counter and shook her hand. “You got it, Alena of Vanilla and Honey.”
    She smiled, a blush spreading over her pale cheeks. “Thank you.”
    I strode out of the shop and handed out the coffees. As we walked, I told Mai what Alena had said. She smiled, but it was sad. “She’s a nice girl, but I think she should keep the luck for herself. Her life is hardly an easy one.”
    She continued to talk about her friend, but I zoned out, instead focusing on the situation around us. Mai didn’t notice, but we were slowly being surrounded by ogres. A bus pulled up to a stop about ten feet in front of us, and I hurried Mai and Levi forward. “Onto the bus, now.”
    “It’s going the wrong direction,” Mai spluttered, and then she looked behind us and gasped. She leapt onto the bus and I shoved Levi on behind her. “Go. Levi, take her to where Ophelia dropped us when you get what you need. Get her back to Rylee, understand? No matter what.” I handed them the bag of weapons, taking only two out for myself. A short sword and an oversized curved skinning knife I could hold with a fist.
    “Wait, what are you doing?” Levi yelled.
    “Buying you time,” I said. “Keep her safe, Levi.”
    The look on his face shifted from fear to determination and he nodded. “I will.”
    The bus door shut behind them and the driver pulled away, maybe sensing it would be best for his vehicle to get its ass in gear.
    “Well, well. A wolf in sheep’s clothing perhaps?”
    I turned to face a black-skinned ogre who stood at least eight feet tall. “No, a wolf in wolf’s clothing.”
     
     

CHAPTER 5
     
    “ MY NAME IS Pic, and I am the leader of this territory.” The ogre that I’d pegged at eight feet took a few more steps in my direction. Make that nine feet tall and easily three feet across the shoulders. He pulled a large sword from his back, the blade splitting at the handle into two blades. He took a lazy swing with it in my direction but I didn’t move. I knew a bluff move when I saw one. “Are you not going to introduce yourself?”
    I shrugged and did a lazy loop with my own weapon. “Nah. You win. Your sword is bigger than mine.”
    The other ogres all laughed, guffawing. Dick humor, nothing new there.
    Pic grinned. “I almost hate to kill you with a sense of humor like that. But you were with one of our females. That is not