Eye of the Tiger Read Free

along with three other men, had started with another faction of the group before being moved to this more hands-on division three weeks ago. Since that was what Commander Green had wanted, Zak hadn’t fought when the first guys he’d started hanging with had asked if he would transfer over with a few of them. Still, Zak had no intel on what might be on the agenda. He needed to get a report to the Coalition but didn’t have anything solid.
    While this faction was more organized, it also kept things under wrap better than the other Zak had infiltrated. He grew more restless as he didn’t know what would happen next. If anything. Upper management wouldn’t say it, but the SIP was hiding. Sure they used the word ‘regrouping’ but Zak knew that was bullshit.
    With the cops and Coalition hunting them, the group had backed off recruitment and grown more secretive.
    Rumors floating around that the cops had tried to get a couple of men working on the inside before disappearing caused Zak to worry about his own safety. With the Coalition’s help, Zak’s background check had passed when he’d first joined, but he wasn’t certain if another more extensive run was done that he would still hold up.
    Facing back toward the bar, he caught the bartender’s gaze. Discretely he shook his head at the man then pushed away from the bar. Calvin could pass on any information Zak could dig up—when he dug something up. He could see the worry in Calvin’s gaze every night but Zak wasn’t sure how he could assure his partner. He didn’t know if that was even possible. Zak was beginning to doubt his mission. Maybe his work in the SIP had gone as far as it could.
    A loud commotion from the corner pulled Zak’s attention. Beside him Luca cursed quietly before shouldering past Zak. The boys had gotten enough alcohol in them and were now ready for a fight. This was usually the part of the night that he and Luca had to wrangle the drunken men out before the others caused too much trouble and the law got called.
    Keeping a low profile was important to them all.
    By the time Zak closed in, he knew it was too late. By the looks of things one of the other patrons had objected to Pete Browning’s handling of the waitress. As soon as Pete started to feel up the poor woman, the stranger jumped up.
    The stranger landed his fist on Pete’s chin, knocking him back before all hell broke loose.
    Zak had to watch his own back when two men blocked his path and went after him. Since he was a shifter, he had to be careful of his strength against the humans. He dropped them quickly and in time to duck as another stranger went flying over his head.
    “Damn it, Luca!” he hollered.
    “Sorry,” Luca said, laughing. He threw another man in another direction.
    The obvious glee in Luca’s eyes as he punched someone had Zak shaking his head. Ignoring his friend, he stomped over to where Pete had fallen.
    “Pete,” Zak called, reaching down to lift him to his feet. “You okay, man?”
    “Sure…man…” Pete slurred, leaning heavily against Zak.
    Whistling sharply, he drew the attention of his group. “Let’s go, boys.”
    It was chaotic but Zak and Luca got the others into the back of the truck where they would no doubt pass out soon.
    “I’ll drive,” Luca offered.
    Since Zak knew he’d had too much to drink himself, he passed over the keys of the old pickup. The vehicle belonged to the farm and was the only means of transportation they had access to.
    After slamming the passenger door, Zak leaned his head back. When was this going to be over?
     
     

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    The bright sunlight was too much to handle as Zak stomped down the stairs toward the training center. Normally he watched his alcohol intake but he’d been off his game the night before. Pulling on his dark sunglasses, he felt only a little relief.
    “I was just coming to track your ass down,” Luca said, coming from around the house.
    Pausing so Luca could catch up, Zak