This ‘August’… I don’t know why he’s after Reuben’s family so suddenly, or why he even bothered to sell out my identity if he was going to go to war with them.
Maybe it was to confuse them—to create internal strife while simultaneously attacking them from all sides. Whatever the case, he’s dangerous. He did too much damage in too little time. He must have prepared this for months and to go after the Don… to go after Reuben’s brothers and use them to draw out the rest of the family…
Whoever he is, he’s a threat. I couldn’t sit by and just watch him get away with this…
Not if I want to protect Reuben.
I land at Reuben’s feet, flapping my wings loudly so as not to jump him, but he doesn’t even flinch when I shift. Into a large black tiger up to his waist with a powerful body.
The men closest to him stagger back but there’s only excitement in Reuben’s eyes under the dim streetlight.
“Hold fire.” His command stops any panicked shots and he raises a hand for them to lower their weapons before stepping close to me, placing a hand on my head, completely unafraid.
Crazy bastard.
I could bite you in half if I wanted.
“Can you see them?” There’s a familiar grin on his face—a familiar madness that makes my tail curl and draws my gaze to the black ribbon that’s still tied messily into his hair.
I nod once, huffing through my nose, and my desire to protect him is even stronger now just by being close to him—it makes me flex my claws and paw the ground with a ready growl.
He places a hand under my maw firmly to pull my gaze up, and the way he’s looking at me, I could be convinced that I was the man, and he the tiger.
“Drag them out for me.” It is a command coated in honey.
A command said with the same tone of a man looking at his lover, deliberately low and breathy.
Ugh.
I would have done it even if you hadn’t tried to fucking seduce me.
I’m a tiger for god’s sake.
My tail lashes with new annoyance but I can’t be certain if it’s towards him or myself.
“Is that…?” Gabriel’s voice pulls us out of our—whatever the fuck that was, I still don’t know.
“He hasn’t told me his name yet.” Reuben places a hand on my head, before turning to Gabriel, “Call him Christian for now. Watch his back for me.”
“Which… part of his back needs watching exactly?” Gabriel mumbles.
Xavier smacks him over the head lightly, “Let’s go. We can clear the way.”
Strange that no one seems surprised by the fact that I’m a fucking tiger.
I was expecting a lot more… violence and denial.
I huff once, rubbing my head against Reuben’s hand inconspicuously. Idon’t look back as I charge into the trees, with Xavier and Gabriel following as best they can.
My hunt is precise and deadly. The enemy thought to use the trees as cover, but I can smell them; I lead Gabriel and Xavier to their hiding place, and they’re sorely unprepared…
But who is really, to face down a tiger when they’re expecting armed men?
Before their shock has even settled, I’ve snapped their necks with my teeth. Gabriel and Xavier shoot them down while their terror is drawn to me, and even when they’ve broken out of their shock, their courage is the first to break. Their terror consumes them as they shoot at me blindly, screaming like children. All their experience and their backbone, gone in an instant when faced with an unforeseen predator.
They are scattered through the trees, but we make quick work of them—at least twelve men even before we’ve entered the building.
It’s becoming more and more clear that August truly did intend for a war.
