Free Growl (Winter Pass Wolves Book 2) by Vivian Wood, Amelie Hunt Page B

state house, that was very costly. These things cost money, Brooke, and campaign donations would never have been enough. Now I need to repay my debts, and it’s more than you could possibly work out .”
    “Killing me isn’t going to get you anything,” Brooke said. Lynne’s white SUV came into view, parked at the end of a freshly-made dirt path through the woods. Brooke started thinking of those abduction PSAs she’d seen in college. Never let an assailant take you to a second location . “I’m not getting in the car with you, Lynne.”
    “No, you’re not,” Lynne said, stopping by the SUV’s flat hood and tossing the papers down. “You’re going to sign these, to start.”
    Brooke picked them up, accepting the pen that Lynne shoved at her. She leafed through the documents, which contained dozens of bank accounts and the deed to Winter Pass.
    “I don’t understand,” she said, looking up at Lynne. “You can’t think I’ll sign these. I don’t even have the… I don’t, the authority to sign these.”
    “You do, actually. I’ve made sure that you’re the sole signatory on everything,” Lynne said, her lips thinning.
    “Why would I do this? If I sign these, you’ll just kill me,” Brooke said, her heart pounding against her ribs.
    “Actually, I won’t. Like I said, even though I keep finding more and more money that your parents stashed away, it’s not going to be enough to pay my creditors and still give me the life I want.” Lynne licked her lips, her greed and uncertainty showing for the briefest moment. “Ah, there’s the second part of the plan, pulling up now.”
    A black Humvee trundled up the path, pulling to a stop behind her. No doubt, the same Humvee that Harlan had spotted previously… filled with what the guys called Hunters .
    “Oh god…” Brooke said, goosebumps breaking out over her skin.
    “Doubt that’s going to help you now,” Lynne said, looking amused. “These guys are paying a huge amount of money for you, did you know? I’m not sure if they want to vivisect you, or make you pop out wolf babies for them to hunt… honestly, I don’t really care. They’re going to make me rich and give Travis the connections he needs to fulfill his political aspirations.”
    “You’re doing business with men who would gladly hang your son’s skin on a wall?” Brooke asked, horrified.
    “What?” Lynne asked, frowning. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Travis is a shifter. He’s never going to be president, or anything close to it. Not if guys like these have anything to do with it,” Brooke said, looking at the camo-suited guys climbing out of the Humvee.
    “Lies aren’t going to save you now, you stupid bitch,” Lynne snarled. “Sign the damn papers or I’m going to shoot you right here, right now. I’ll wound you and drive you out into the woods and let them hunt you down.”
    “You’re crazy,” Brooke said, shaking her head. “You really didn’t think this plan through. I’m not going to help you!”
    “Of course you are,” Lynne said, her nostrils flaring. She took the safety off the gun with an audible click, pointing the gun straight at Brooke’s heart. In that moment, Brooke saw Lynne with such clarity: her desperation, her willingness to do absolutely anything to get what she wanted, the fact that she’d dug herself in so deep that she would likely never escape…
    “Lower your weapon,” barked one of the Hunters, approaching with a rifle aimed at Lynne. “That’s our property you’re endangering.”
    “Not until she signs these papers, she isn’t,” Lynne said, the whites of her eyes showing as she stared Brooke down.
    Out of the corner of Brooke’s eye, she glimpsed movement. A hint of coppery red, just the color of Penny’s hair. Squeezing her eyes shut, Brooke prayed that Penny wouldn’t give herself away and end up caught, too. Maybe she could run for help.
    “Shoot her,” one of the guys said. Brooke’s stomach dropped,