“Oh, thank God.” She remained on the floor limp and used up from the ordeal. Tears flowed from her eyes.
Kiara went to the next wolf and repeated the process until all nine wolves were restored. She’d never heard so many ‘thank-you’s’ in her life.
~ ~ ~
Warren watched Kiara. She had her hand clutched tightly to the bottle of green liquid. She went back to the first wolf. Even though he could tell the woman was no longer stuck in her half-shift, Kiara had her take another drink. “More will help. You’ll see.”
“I’m already better,” but she drank anyway. “Thank you, witch. You’ve been good to us on the Strip. Everyone says so.” A weary smile touched her lips.
Ralph squatted on his haunches and took hold of the woman’s hand. “Glad you’re out of pain, Serena.”
“That was so not fun.” Her stage make-up was smeared. More tears rolled down her cheeks. “But the others—”
“Don’t think about that now.”
The women still wore their scanty costumes. Shifting absorbed clothing then restored it in the original state, one of the pluses of their wolf lives.
But it was Kiara he tracked. His focus on her had a predatory quality. He could admit that much to himself. He wished like hell she wasn’t showing so much kindness to the wolves. It only made him want her more and he didn’t need yet another reason to keep her in Savage.
He turned his focus to the safe room itself. It contained cases of water, blankets, emergency kits, even boxes of prepper-type food. Ralph had been wise to build it into his facility. He’d shown a lot of foresight. “Ralph, got a second?”
The warlock rose up then stepped close. He was tall, maybe six-three and very lean. He wore black eye-liner on upper and lower lids. His lips were turned down and a shard of pain glinted in his eyes.
He’d lost wolves tonight.
Warren kept his voice low. “I’m sorry about what’s happened to your club and to your people.” He planted a hand on the warlock’s shoulder. “I know you cared about them, more than any other owner on the Strip. But can you tell me again what happened? Give as much detail as possible.”
Ralph’s nostrils flared slightly. In that small movement, Warren knew he was thinking about the lives lost. “I should have protected them better.” He shook his head. “But Julio’s men came through the door and started firing. My bouncers fought back, but they were overrun within a minute or two. I was back here, in my office, watching the nightmare on the security feeds.
“I heard the shots and a lot of screaming.” Ralph glanced back at the women. All eyes were on him now, even Kiara’s as he recounted the nightmare. His dark eyes were wide, lips parted, his complexion pale.
“I called out for any who were nearby.” He inclined his head to the wolves in the safe room. “They came running from the dressing rooms behind the stage. I’d already opened the safe-room door and ushered them inside. Others were trapped out there. I only sealed the door when I heard how close the gunshots sounded.”
“It was deafening,” one of the women added.
Warren glanced at the wolf who had spoken. Kiara had pulled some of the gray, wool blankets off th
e shelves and was unfurling them for the women and covering them up. They were all sitting against the wall and huddled together. Tears streamed down several faces. Wolves needed to be close to each other. He felt their communion like a soft breeze through his soul, one of the best parts of pack-life, even if the pack worked in a sex-club.
Warren searched each face for a moment, then realized the worst part of the situation for Ralph. “Where’s Susie?”
Ralph had been closely involved with a wolf for years. She’d been one of his strippers. But when they’d gotten close, she’d started managing the books for him instead.
Ralph spoke quietly and dropped his gaze to the floor. “I don’t know. In her dressing room, I think, near the stage.”
Warren decided to contact Fergus telepathically to keep the conversation away from Ralph and the wolves. He asked about the current state of the club and the position of Julio’s force.
Fergus laid it out. The Hummer took off, but it looks like Julio is preparing to send his men back into the building. Mary’s still hovering in her dreamglide. She says the building is clear, but not for long. There’s at least one woman still alive. She’s in the dressing room directly behind the stage.
Warren knew what had to be done. I’ll take it from here.
He shut down his connection to Fergus then opened up to Kiara telepathically. He told her what was going on, then added, This could be dangerous.
Having distributed the last of the blankets, Kiara turned to face him. She tucked the potion-water back into her satchel then slid the strap over her head once more. We’ve got to try. Julio’s men will kill anyone left alive.
He glanced around. You should stay here. I can find this woman and deliver the water myself.
She lifted her chin. Like hell, Warren. We need to slip inside my spell and do it quick.