Page 70 of Israel

Why?

Because this was a fucking trap.

The knowledge slammed into his head just as he heard the faint creak of a door across the landing. Israel dived out of the way, and heard the hiss of a trank dart as it flew past his head.

The psycho wanted them both. And that sure as hell was not going to end well for either of them.

Another dart pinged off the stairs. Israel tried to drag Ashley further out of the line of fire, to a place where they both could get away, but he was boxed in.

There was only one choice.

He did a dive roll and sprang towards the door. Another dart pinged by him and ricocheted off of the metal railing, its point piercing the thin skin just under his jaw. Immediately he felt a lethargy spread through him.

Israel stumbled forward, lunging for the door. Just as he reached it, it burst open and Roger stood before him, red-haired and innocent. He shot again, and Israel went down, snarling, teeth bared.

The man walked past him and picked up Ashley. Israel snarled again, straining to reach him, but the man just grinned. Now he was wearing Mike Watson’s face. As Israel watched, the face blurred and shifted—and turned into his own. He picked up Ashley and cradled her in his arms.

Everything blurred. Israel heard the metal stairwell door slam shut, and he was alone. He could feel a burning in his veins. This wasn’t a tranquilizer, or a paralytic.

It was some kind of shifter toxin.

His fingers thick and slow, Israel fumbled in his pocket for the tiny plastic vial that all Silverlake Enforcers carried, ever since they’d obtained samples of a lethal shifter toxin and its antidote from one of Alexander Grant’s labs. He slipped it into his mouth and bit down, the bitter taste spreading over his tongue.

He hoped to hell it was the right antidote.