Ollie wrapped me in a hug, patting my back. I shocked myself by hugging him back.
“Stay safe,” Ollie said, releasing me a moment later.
“Always,” I responded.
Ollie snorted a laugh. “Now we both know that’s a lie, but whatever. Bye.”
“See you.”
I watched Ollie get into his car and drive off. For a few moments, I stood on the curb, enjoying the light breeze, then shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and walked north along the sidewalk. I was pretty sure I’d seen a hotel somewhere near here last time.
Even with my senses slightly dulled from the alcohol, I caught the distant sound of footsteps. It wasn’t that late, andthere were still plenty of people out and about, but what really piqued my interest was that the footfalls stopped whenever mine did.
As I waited for the light to change, I yawned and surreptitiously glanced back, making it look like I was drunk. Sure enough, two hulking figures stood about twenty meters behind me, tucked into the shadows of a building. Not good.
Was this ever going to be over?
As soon as the light changed, I crossed the street, making sure to catch my right toe behind my left heel and stumble, barely righting myself before tumbling to the ground. Hopefully, if the guys following me thought I was hammered, they’d be less prepared.
A block down, I spotted an alleyway between two buildings. A good spot to lay a trap. Behind me, the men were still keeping their distance. That was good. It would give me a couple seconds to prepare myself.
Leaning my left shoulder against the brick of the building, I walked along, making it look like the wall was all that held me up as I walked. As soon as I reached the alley, I ducked left and rushed between the buildings.
My pursuers immediately broke into a run. Spinning, I readied myself, grabbing a heavy steel trashcan lid and lifting it over my head. When a burly guy with a shaved head and a thick beard rounded the corner, I didn’t hesitate. I brought the lid down on his skull with all my strength, and he went down, face slamming into the pavement.
His friend, shocked by the sudden and unexpected violence, froze for a half-instant. That was all I needed. I smacked the man in the throat with the side of my hand, an inch or two below his Adam’s apple. His eyes went comically wide, his hands instinctively going to his neck. While he gasped for air, I shoved him back against the wall, his head bouncing off the bricks.
Shoving my forearm into his chest, I waited until he recovered before grabbing his free hand and twisting it behind his back. The guy let out a moan of pain and spun, trying to relieve the pain in his wrist. Dumb move on his part. I crushed his face and chest against the wall, then yanked his arm up, nearly pulling his shoulder free from its socket.
He squirmed in my grip. “Stop! Stop! Stop!”
I eased the pressure enough to let him think, but not enough for him to get away. “Who are you?” I growled, my lips inches from his ear, though I already knew.
“Ah! Fuck. Let me go. That hurts,” he hissed.
Just to be a dick, I lifted his arm higher, drawing a ragged scream from his mouth before lowering the hand to where I’d had it a moment before.
“You see, friend,” I said, “I’min charge right now. You don’t get to make demands. Now, who the fuck are you?”
“Phone,” he gasped. “Pocket.”
Glancing down, I saw the outline of a cell phone in the guy’s pants. I used my free hand to dig it out. It showed a call in progress. Someone was on the line, waiting while these two pricks tried to jump me.
“Hello?” I said into the phone.
“Filthyfuckinglone wolf,” Rick growled from the other end of the line.
“Hey, Ricky. How are you doing?”
Rick made some inarticulate sound that was somewhere between a growl and a snarl. “I’m gonna peel the skin from your body. Make a rug from your pelt. How does that sound?” he asked, his breath coming in quick gasps. His voice was off, slightly slurred. Almost as though his canines were too large and there was too much saliva in his mouth. Christ, he sounded like he was going feral.
“Make a rug,” he went on in that same manic tone. “Then Cameron will get on her knees, using your fur as cushioning, and suck my?—”
I snarled. “Are we going to discuss something, or are you going to keep blustering like the rich jackass you are?”
“Discuss something?” Rick said. “We’ll discuss how I’m going to rip your fucking guts out. How I’m going to cut your goddamn dick off. How I’m gonna?—”
“I guess not. Ricky, does dear Daddy know you’re doing this right now? I’m pretty sure ordering two guys to attack someone is probably a violation of whatever parole you’re on right now. That would not be good. Papa Lincoln might have to spank his baby boy.”
