Cold Moon Rising: A New Adult Paranormal Romance (Cry Wolf) Read Free Page A

mistake again.”
    “You’re kidding.” Even in the dark, I could see Lloyd’s skin pale at the veiled threat. If their boss scared these two, then I never wanted to meet him. “You don’t think he’ll have us killed, do you?”
    “How long have you known me? Do you really think I’d joke about something like that?” He snarled the words sounding every bit the predator. “No, I wouldn’t. If he’d kill us for making this mistake, he’d undoubtedly make us kill this little girlie, so don’t even think I’m fucking overreacting.” Brad cut his gaze back to me through the rearview mirror. “Now, tell us your damn address.”
    Nausea roiled through my gut, but I forced myself to remain calm. Puking would only leave me in a worse mess than what I already faced. The scents in the car didn’t help. Sweat, old coffee and fast food permeated the air. Did these guys live in the van? How long had they been stalking me?
    This evening just kept getting worse. “553 Chestnut Street, Apartment 202.” Even to my own ears, I sounded weak, but who could blame me in this situation? From the hostile look in Brad’s eyes, I knew weakness would secure my death. I couldn’t be helpless if I wanted to make it out alive.
    “Oh God, we went to the wrong street number. What’s your name, girl?” Lloyd unbuckled his seatbelt, but Brad grabbed him by the front of the shirt keeping him in place.
    “Sit back down. There’s a cop about to pass us. We don’t need to be pulled over.” Brad narrowed his eyes at me. “And you, shut your mouth, or I’ll snap your neck.”
    Lloyd gave me a sad smile as if he knew what Brad was capable of. They were partners, but Brad was stronger. He had no chance against Brad, so he refastened his seat belt returning his gaze to the road.
    Within moments, the tension balling up in Brad’s shoulders lessened, and he rolled his neck and shoulders. He muttered under his breath, “Damn police.”
    “Your name?” Lloyd asked, drawing my attention back to him. Maybe he’d regained some self-confidence with Brad calmer.
    “Kelly.”
    They already knew my address. Besides, Lloyd was being quite nice. If I could get on his good side, it wouldn’t hurt, and Brad was already bullying him, so why make his life worse? He was the only one who might consider helping me.
    He scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry you’re in this mess.”
    “We should’ve known.” Brad huffed and shook his head. “She’s not as strong as any of the shapeshifters I’ve seen in the past. When she saw your tranquilizer gun, she bolted. Any real shifter probably would’ve attacked us.”
    My eyebrows drew together. I didn’t just hear what I thought I heard. The van’s engine muffled their voices a little at times. It was possible I mistook what Brad said. “What? Shapeshifters?” They had to be on drugs. That was the only logical excuse for them to have thought I was some kind of supernatural being. Those were creatures of books and movies, not the real-life victims of kidnappings.
    “I meant exactly what I said. Shapeshifters as in werewolves and wereleopards. Yes, they’re real, and we’re taking you to a laboratory full of them.” He sneered at me. “You’ll be a guinea pig for the rest of your life, at least until our boss tires with you.”
    “What the hell, man? You shouldn’t have opened your big mouth about this. Now what will we do?” Lloyd crossed his arms over his chest and stared out the passenger window. “Besides, she’s human. Like you said, they’re not going to want her.”
    “You sure about that? I overheard one of the lab rats say the shifters might be able to infect humans with either a bite or scratch. They’re not exactly certain about it, but...” Brad chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves. “We just might be able to keep ourselves alive after all.”
    Icy sweat trickled down my back. This had to be the worst evening ever. If these jerks had anything to do with it, I