Jayce felt like he should be doing more. He figured he could fly down the chimney and perhaps trip anyone running for the stairs—or blind them with a well-placed peck to the eyes. A broken leg should slow them. He knew the chimney would be the last thing to burn, so he had a handy escape route.
He flapped his wings and rose above the house, diving down the chimney to the blare of smoke alarms. Yeah, they should be up and looking for an escape route any minute now.
He landed on the oversized crystal chandelier in the two-story foyer. From there he had a great vantage point of the grand curved staircase. Hopefully, he could describe the mayhem to Kristine after all was said and done. She might appreciate a blow-by-blow account of her enemies’ demise.
Seeing the power his lover possessed, he had to wonder why Amy didn’t use the same tactics to get away. Did she know them as friends when she’d lived there before? Did they not know she was a dragon? Kristine’s mother had impressed upon her the paranormal law toneverreveal herself to humans—just ashisparents had dictated to him and his brothers.
But Kristine certainly wasn’t worried about that now. He imagined the neighbors would be waking up and calling the fire department as soon as they noticed the formidable smoke and sparks rising over the woods.
Ah, here came the criminals at last. One was in his robe. The other two were shrugging into their clothing as they ran.
“Grab the tranq gun,” the one in the lead yelled.
“But, boss…”
That must be Donkey Pizzle…saving himself first without regard to the others.
The leader didn’t wait to hear the guy’s objection. He just shouted louder over his shoulder, “The tranq gun! Get it!Now!”
Jayce couldn’t let them get away. They knew about Kristine. They’d go after her, and apparently, they knew how to subdue a dragon.
He saw his opening. Jayce flew at the distracted leader as he reached the top of the stairs and was turning his head back to center. Aiming for Donkey Pizzle’s left eye, his beak hit soft tissue, and the guy hollered. The tyrant began swearing and grabbing at the air.
Jayce managed to get away and flew at the second guy.
“Son of a bitch! What the hell is that thing?” he yelled and crouched in time to avoid the same fate. The third guy made an about-face and ran.
Jayce flew faster and latched onto the third guy’s back with his talons, sinking his sharp beak into his neck. If he hit the right nerve, he could paralyze him or make him forget about getting that tranquilizer gun.
The guy sank to the floor, moaning.
Donkey Pizzle was making his way down the stairs, holding onto the railing with both hands. Jayce flew between the legs of the one who was now at the top of the stairs, hoping to take them both out with one trip.
The guy grabbed at him but missed. He also missed the step and stumbled. Snatching the rail, he managed to catch himself and avoid falling. Now Jayce’s only option to stop their leader was to go after Donkey Pizzle directly.
Because the element of surprise was gone, he was taking a risk. Jayce thought about Kristine and what Amy had told her—about how these guys had no conscience. Contract killings, using the homeless and drug addicts to pull off heists, plus drug smuggling and gun running. Smoke filled the stairway, so he could probably sneak through Donkey Pizzle’s legs from behind.
He tried it, but as soon as he brushed the leader’s leg with his wing, a hand shot out and grabbed his tail feathers. It hurt, but he didn’t care. He needed to stop this monster.
Unfortunately, the one who was stopped was Jayce.
“Get to the basement,” the guy behind him yelled.
“Not until I fuck up this bird!”
Jayce struggled to get away. He turned and pecked the guy’s hand, but Donkey Pizzle hung on tight. Then Jayce felt his body swing hard to the right—and the room went black.
