Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Bacon?” I whispered, seeking shelter behind the oak tree. I shone the light on the spot where Bacon was looking but saw nothing but trees, their frost-covered branches glittering in the beam of my flashlight. Beyond the light cone, the gnarly trees and shrubs appeared menacing. I listened for any sounds, but I couldn’t make out anything except for Bacon’s growls, which grew in volume. My own breathing echoed in my ears.
“Bacon?”
He jumped forward, then snarled again as if he was about to attack the shadows at any moment. Fear grabbed me.
And then I heard a twig break. Bacon stormed into the darkness. A shot rang out. Bears didn’t shoot weapons.
Maybe it was Maximus or Growl looking for me? “Maximus?” I called.
No answer. Instead another shot, but not at me.
I froze for a moment, terrified, but then I shook out of my reverie and began to move away from the oak tree. I tried to be quiet, but my heavy boots and my lacking sense of balance due to my belly made it difficult.
I wanted to call for Bacon, but what if that alerted whoever was out here to my whereabouts? I had been stupid to scream Maximus’s name and had to hope I could hide quickly.
Oh, Bacon.
A scream sounded, angry shouts in Russian, then more shots and furious snarls. I started running, holding my belly with one hand to protect my baby. I hadn’t heard Russian in a long time, not since the capture, and the sound increased my terror. The flashlight gave me away, but I wasn’t sure I could find my way back to the house without it. Steps scrunched somewhere to my left. I tossed the flashlight away and tried to get my bearings with just the moonlight to guide me.
My heart pounded in my chest from exertion and fear. I could barely breathe.
Shots rang out again. Were they aiming at me? Or still trying to kill poor Bacon?
I tried to run faster, but my belly made it difficult. Why did I have to come out here tonight? Was peace of mind really worth it? What if my baby got hurt?
Steps sounded behind me, coming closer and closer. I braced myself for an attack, but instead, Bacon dashed past me. Part of his fur was dark. I could only assume it was blood. I hoped it wasn’t his own. He limped slightly, but he stayed close to me. My bodyguard.
But now new steps came up behind us. Still distant but catching up.
I bit my lip, forcing myself to go faster even as my muscles spasmed.
A tall figure stormed my way from the right. I hoped Bacon would take him down, even if the poor guy was already injured from protecting me.
The impact didn’t come. Instead, strong arms engulfed me in a warm embrace. “Sara, what the hell are you doing out here?”
“There are Russians following me,” I pressed out, then gasped for breath. Relief washed through my body like a wave.
Growl appeared behind Maximus, a shotgun in hand. I realized they were both only in pajamas and heavy boots. “Let’s get back to the house. Your mother’s alone.”
“Oh no,” I breathed out.
“The dogs will protect her,” Maximus assured me, but Growl’s obvious worry made me anxious. I didn’t want to be responsible for Cara getting hurt. Especially not because of my irresponsible actions.
Maximus lifted me in his arms and began running as if I weighed nothing, while his father guarded our backs with a pointed gun. Bacon dashed past us. Growl stopped abruptly and fired three shots in close succession. I clung to Maximus, my ears ringing from the shots. Maximus tightened his hold on me and sped up even more. Within a few minutes, we were back at the house. Cara was on the porch in a heavy down coat over her nightgown, with the four pit bulls positioned beside her like guards and a shotgun in hand. Spotlights illuminated the area, making stars dance in my vision from the sudden brightness.
“Go back in. Bratva is here,” Growl ordered. I’d never heard him talk to Cara like that. She didn’t hesitate and moved inside. Before we could follow, a shot rang out. Maximus dropped to the ground with me under him. Fear surged through me. Had he been hit? When I saw his grim expression as he pulled me behind his truck parked in the driveway, I breathed a sigh of relief. He’d ducked down to protect us. Growl turned on his heel, no longer heading for the house, and hid behind his own truck before he fired in the direction of the woods. The pit bulls inside the house with Cara barked angrily, ready to jump into the fight.
More shots were fired. I had trouble locating where they came from. Then something small landed next to Growl’s truck.