Free The Real Italian Alphas by Bonnie Burrows Page B

who ordered the hit?”
    “What’s the matter, Gabriel, are you afraid of a little negotiating?”
    “No, by all means, let’s go.” he said. “Only be careful, ma bella, Lupo is partial to feisty women. He could very well decide to keep you for himself.”
    “As if I’d allow it.” she growled as she flexed her newly strengthened muscles.
    “Just because you’re strong does not mean you are invincible, Betsy.” he felt the need to tell her.
    “Well, whatever we’re doing, we should probably go do it,” growled Rico. “This pack of hounds isn’t going to stay dead very long.”
    “You’ve got that right,” Gabriel agreed. “Let’s go.”
    *
    Betsy imagined the three of them made a strange sight as they piled into the limousine with a driver, waiting outside the warehouse. They were all still in wolf form. She almost giggled as they passed a street bum seated near a garbage can who sat there with his mouth hanging open. She asked, “Aren’t you afraid he’s going to tell someone about us?”
    “If he does, they’ll just think he’s really drunk.” Rico pointed out, making Gabriel and Betsy laugh.
    “Don’t look now, but we seem to have company already.” said Rico as he looked in his rearview mirror. The largest of the wolf brothers was loping along behind them. He floored it, easily keeping ahead of their would-be attacker, but only just.
    “I hope Lupo’s ready for a party.” said Gabriel.
    “He’d better be.” said Betsy. “I’m not giving up without a fight.”
    Gabriel nodded as he looked behind them. Then he said, “You may just get your wish, ma bella .”
    Betsy was certain that she would.
     
    *
    The tension in the car mounted as Rico continued to drive at breakneck speed out of the city and onto the highway towards Buffalo. They turned onto a long, winding road somewhere along the way, and the turns in the road slowly allowed the pursuing werewolves to creep closer. By the time the car crashed through an old, rusted gateway locked shut with a huge padlock, their pursuers were less than ten yards behind.
    “What are we going to do?” Betsy asked the others.
    “We’re almost there,” Gabriel told her. “With any luck, we’ll be able to make it inside before they catch up to us.”
    “No, I mean, what are we going to do about them?” she repeated, pointing ahead of them rather than behind. About twenty very large werewolves were standing there watching them approach.
    “They’re not attacking us.” Rico said. “That, at least, is a good thing. They must have been ordered to let us pass.”
    “Unless they’re simply waiting for the back-up group to catch up and pen us in.” Gabriel pointed out.
    “Bite your tongue.” Rico growled. “I think Lupo might have decided to grant us an audience. At least I hope so.”
    “Drive right into the garage, Rico.” Gabriel suggested. “If Lupo doesn’t intend to have us killed, these boys have probably been sent out here to keep our pursuers busy long enough for us to get inside.”
    “I think you’re right,” Rico agreed. He drove right inside the garage and then slammed on the brakes in quick succession. Since they were all wolves at the moment, none of them were overly affected by the impact.
    “Run for it.” Gabriel told Betsy. She wasn’t quite used to her legs in her current form, but she managed to figure them out quickly as he grabbed her hand and dragged her along behind him. Her heart pounded in her chest at they ran through a door and entered a fancy-looking and rather calm room. Several gentlemen sat around, reading newspapers. They only looked up briefly when the three werewolves entered.
    “Excuse me,” said the doorman. “It’s considered quite rude to come in here in your enhanced forms. Please be kind enough to transfigure, and I will lead you to your destination. I assume you’ve come to speak to the Master?”
    “Yes, of course.” said Gabriel as he took on his human form. Rico also