Coming Up Aces (The Hounds of Zeus MC #9)

Prologue

Rayna kept her eyes peeled for wildlife as she drove the back way toward New Troy. Headlights shined behind her, and when they brightened, Rayna slowed down. Big mistake. The car sped up, moving into the oncoming lane, then rammed into her rear quarter panel. Rayna was a skilled driver, but the car fishtailed a few times before the other vehicle rammed into hers again. The force of the impact had her rear tires sliding toward the shoulder. The other car continued pushing until Rayna was in the weeds, then wedged against a tree. By the time she regained her bearings, her door was flung open, and a strong hand grabbed her left wrist. The seatbelt held her in place as she struggled against her attacker.

“Let go of me!” Her claws popped out on her right hand, and she raked her sharp nails across the attached arm.

“You fucking bitch!” a familiar voice shouted, his grip faltering.

Rayna disengaged the seatbelt, but as soon as she was free, the man struck again with his uninjured hand, punching her in the temple. Fuck. Her head throbbed, and her vision dimmed. The man once again pulled her left arm, and Rayna grabbed for purchase, missing the steering wheel, and her claws dug along the door’s interior. The male’s grip was strong. Since she didn’t want her shoulder to be dislocated, Rayna allowed herself to be dragged from the car.

Drawing on her beast’s abilities, Rayna twisted, landing on her feet. The man had a gun trained on her, but she was fast enough to claw him a second time on the wounded arm holding his pistol. He screamed, releasing both her wrist and his weapon. Rayna didn’t give him time to retaliate. She popped a front kick into his stomach, sending him flying. She retracted her claws, picked up his gun, and moved toward him, but another voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Stop right there, Agent Bellamy.”

Rayna raised both hands in the air, finger on the trigger guard, and turned. The second man stood on the far side of his vehicle, shielded. His pistol was aimed at her chest.

“What’s going on?” Rayna allowed her voice to tremble.

“What the fuck are you?” he asked.

“Shoot her!” her attacker yelled. “Look at what she did to me!” Rayna didn’t have to look to know his arm was torn apart, dripping blood.

When the man raised his gun, Rayna screamed, “No!”