Page 40 of Shephard

When he was finished, his entire body was shaking.

“I nweed a dwink,” he slurred.

“The only thing you’re getting is a one-way ticket back to the party or straight to your bed. If I had my way, I’d toss you in jail.” She threw open the back door before grabbing him by the shirt collar, wincing from the stench wafting between us. “Don’t you dare get any vomit on my seat or I’ll make you lick it up.”

Marcus was stupid enough to laugh.

I had to stop her from punching him in the mouth. I shook my head, even issuing a slight tsking sound just for her benefit and annoyance. I had my hand wrapped around her fist and she immediately tried to jerk it away.

“Not so fast, sweetheart. You need to promise you’ll be nice to the arrogant rich kid.”

She glared at me, even daring to shine the powerful light in my eyes. “I don’t make promises. I make threats that I enjoy keeping. Stay in the Jeep, Marcus. Fall the fuck asleep.”

I only hoped for his sake that he did.

“I’ll keep the windows open,” she muttered before heading to the driver’s side. I sensed she wanted to ask more than a few questions but knew she wouldn’t do so in front of the kid, even if he was unconscious. She definitely didn’t trust anyone but her dog.

I threw open the passenger door when another sound piqued my attention. Pepper was way ahead of me, her growls matching her stance.

Denise was immediately by her side, stroking the top of her pup’s head as she scanned the forest in front of us once again.

“Stay in the goddamn Jeep,” I told the not so happy guest before closing the door. He wouldn’t freeze or get eaten by a wild animal.

Yet.

CHAPTER 12

Shephard

Denise’s face was pinched, her entire demeanor having changed.

“What’s bothering you?” I asked.

Her laugh was subtle yet anguished. “What isn’t?”

“Why do you need to be such a hard-ass, Denise?”

“Look who’s talking. I don’t like this.” She was staring into the line of trees, her chest rising and falling from her labored breathing. I could tell her instincts were spot on. There was a sense of foreboding that hadn’t occurred until seconds before

I moved beside her, listening to the sounds of the forest.

Pepper was chomping at the bit to hunt. Denise bent down, whispering in her ear and issuing a release command. The dog was well trained. So was his mistress.

“The news report was accurate. Correct?” I asked just before she took off jogging.

She glared at me.

“The murders,” I continued.

“Don’t be a tourist.”

“I’m not. I live here now, but I’m much more. You already figured that out. If you can get that huge chip off your shoulder, you’ll see I can help.”

“Chip? You have a freaking boulder, buddy. And what are you trying to do, become a member of ZZ Top?”

Her insults didn’t faze me. She was dancing on shattered glass trying to jump into the middle of a situation with no backup.

Which meant she could easily get herself killed.