Chapter Ten
“No you don’t.” Darcy forced his arm to relax, then tried the clicking noise, but Atlas was determined to get to the squirrel. “If you rodents weren’t such menaces, my mornings would go a lot smoother!”
Darcy stood there, refusing to move until the Great Dane settled down.
“I got laid,” he huffed at Atlas, then said to Princess Consuela, “Cover your ears, sweetie. You’re not allowed to hear this. It’s guy talk.”
Meatball barked.
“Don’t yell at me. I was being considerate of your girlfriend’s sensibilities. But as I was saying, the wolf claimed me. Which means you four have to listen to me now.”
Jimbo turned in circles then graced the tree lawn with a squat.
Darcy rolled his eyes, pulling out a potty bag. “You could’ve just flipped me off,” he grumbled.
What did Jimbo’s pet parents feed the poor guy?
His jaw dropped when Meatball decided to get frisky with the sausage dog. “No!” Darcy shooed him away. “Since when have you two become that serious?” Jeez. It was as if his night with Luca somehow inspired Meatball’s romantic ambitions. “You guys are starting a full rebellion on me!”
“They’re just doing what comes naturally.”
Darcy glanced at the stranger to his right just as Meatball, Atlas, and Jimbo growled. Princess Consuela darted between Darcy’s legs, trembling.
This guy couldn’t be human. Not from their reaction. Darcy gripped their leashes tighter, trying to take a step back with Consuela cowering at his feet.
“Thanks for advice.” Darcy bent down to disentangle Princess Consuela’s leash from her paws, and as he did, he noticed a small pool of yellow liquid glistening on the sidewalk. The red flags in his head weren’t just waving. They were having a whole parade.
Carefully, he unraveled her leash, ready to get away from the stranger. But when he turned left, he spotted another guy standing there with a look that dared Darcy to try.
Heart hammering, his gaze darted uneasily between the two strangers now flanking him.
He wished like hell Luca was there, but his work had backed up while he recovered.
His elegido was probably under a car right now, listening to whatever was playing on the radio while Darcy stood there wondering how to get out of this.
The trio of dogs maintained their low growls, but Darcy could see them trembling.
“What do you want?” He tightened his hold on the leashes. Not because he was afraid they’d attack. Darcy was scared they would take off. Or maybe they would attack, only to get hurt trying to protect him.
“Oh, just out for a morning stroll,” the first guy replied. The smile that stretched across his face wasn’t comforting. It was razor-edged and cold.
The dogs pressed closer to Darcy, their bodies forming a protective semicircle.
The second man stepped closer, his hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets. “Nice dogs you got there. Real protective.” His voice carried a subtle threat that made Darcy’s skin crawl.
“Yeah, well, they’re good judges of character.” Darcy’s voice came out steadier than he felt. The new confidence he’d discovered yesterday was still there, simmering beneath the surface despite his fear.
“That so?” The first man’s laugh was sharp, brittle. “Wonder what they’re judging about us.”
Darcy’s pulse hammered against his throat. These weren’t random strangers making small talk. The way they moved, the calculated positioning—this was planned. And whatever they were, the dogs’ instincts screamed danger.
“Yeah, well, we’re just heading home,” Darcy said, trying to keep his voice firm while slowly backing toward the street. Maybe if he could flag down a car, get witnesses...
“No need to rush off.” The first man stepped closer, and Darcy caught a whiff of something rank beneath cheap cologne. “We’re just curious about your boyfriend. The mechanic.”
Ice flooded Darcy’s veins. They knew about Luca.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He continued his careful retreat, but the second man had already moved to cut off his escape route.
“Oh, I think you do.” The first man’s grin widened, showing teeth that seemed too sharp. “See, those wolves cost us Rico. Since no one is willing to go after Diablo, well…”
“Again, what do you want?” Darcy demanded. They were going to do whatever they wanted regardless, so why give them power by being afraid? Oh, he was afraid, but nobody was going to make him cower.
The trauma that used to trigger him was now fuel for his defiance. He wasn’t going to let bullies—whether they were corrupt cops, abusive uncles, or supernatural predators—make him shrink.
“Simple.” The first man pulled out his phone, holding it up. “You’re going to call your wolf. Tell him you need help. When he shows up...” He shrugged. “Well, let’s just say third time’s the charm.”
The pieces clicked into place. Hyenas. These had to be the hyenas Luca mentioned. These bastards had already tried to kill Luca twice—the shootout and the frame job with Gilmore. Now they wanted to use Darcy as bait for a third attempt.
Which meant Gilmore was working with them.
Darcy’s mouth went dry as he realized how exposed he was out here, just him and four dogs against two predators.
The first man’s smile widened, showing too many teeth. “We also know you’re the wolf’s little pet.”
The word “pet” hit Darcy like a slap. His jaw clenched as that familiar surge of defiance sparked in his chest. “I’m nobody’s pet.”
“Oh, but you are.” The second man pulled his hands from his pockets, revealing scarred knuckles. “You belong to Luca Alfaro. That makes you our concern.”
Atlas let out a deep bark, straining against his leash. The Great Dane’s hackles were raised, making him look even more imposing. Jimbo and Meatball flanked him, their growls growing more menacing.
“Easy, boys,” Darcy whispered, but part of him was grateful for their fierce loyalty.
“Call them off,” the second man ordered.
“They’re not attack dogs,” Darcy said. “They’re just nervous around strangers who smell like...” He paused then decided to go for broke. “Like scavengers.”
Both men’s faces darkened. The first one took a step forward, and suddenly the air felt charged with violence.
“You got a smart mouth for someone who’s all alone,” he snarled.
“I’m not alone.” Darcy lifted his chin. “I’ve got my pack right here.”
As if on cue, all four dogs moved into a tighter formation around him. Princess Consuela might’ve still been shaking, but she planted herself firmly between Darcy and the strangers, her tiny body vibrating with protective fury.
The second man laughed. “You think a bunch of house pets are gonna save you?”
“Fuck around and find out.”
Both men laughed, the sound harsh and grating. “There’s that fire,” the second one said. “We heard you went up against Deputy Gilmore yesterday. Got the deputy all worked up. Impressive for a human.”
“Call your wolf,” the first one snarled.
“Like hell.” The words tumbled out before Darcy could stop them. Three days ago, he would have frozen in terror. But that was before he’d found something worth fighting for.
“Now.”
“No.” The word came out stronger than he felt.
“No?” The second man’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t think you understand. This isn’t a request.”
Meatball’s growl deepened, the pit bull’s muscles coiled tight. Atlas stepped forward, his massive frame creating a barrier between Darcy and the men. Even little Princess Consuela had finally stopped shaking, her tiny teeth bared.
“Actually, I think you’re the ones who don’t understand,” Darcy said, drawing strength from the dogs’ courage. “I’m not calling anyone. And I’m not going anywhere with you.”
The first man’s smile faded. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, pet. Your choice.”
“Neither,” Darcy replied calmly. “I choose option three.”
“Which is?”
He dropped the leashes.
“Attack!” he commanded, putting every ounce of authority he could muster into his voice.
For a split second, nothing happened.