Blood Red (10 page)

Vivi Anna

out!”

Before the words were out of her mouth, The Wolf was on Jack. He came up from behind. He grabbed his chin, lifting his head and sliced the knife across his throat in one swift stroke.

Red charged at him, even before Jack’s body hit the ground. “You bastard!”

She unsheathed her dagger and slashed out at him.

He dodged it and grabbed her arm. He swung her around so she collided into him. He brought his arm around her. He had her in a tight hold, his arm around her neck, his knife pointing into the soft spot under her ear. She struggled against him.

“Keep moving and I will slide this point in.” His voice was deep and husky.

“You’d better do it, then, because once I’m loose I will hunt you down and kill you. Not even death could stop me.” Her voice was calm and cold.

“Good thing I came to your rescue, then.”

“What? What nonsense are you sprouting?”

“This boy. He was going to kill you.”

Red struggled against him. She stomped on his foot, trying to break his hold on her. He didn’t budge.

“You’re a bloody liar!”

“Am I? Look.” He moved her so she could look down at Jack’s body. “He has something of yours.”

Lightening cracked the sky, illuminated the forest.

She looked down at Jack’s hands. He held two of her longest and deadliest knives. She stopped struggling under The Wolf’s hold. She took deep breaths and calmed herself. She had been a stupid fool, thinking only with her loins.

18

Blood Red

“He was an assassin sent to kill you.”

“So what, you saved me so you could kill me yourself?”

“No.” He released his hold, and pushed her forward out of arms reach.

She turned and looked at him. “What do you mean, no?”

“I’m not here to kill you.” He sheathed his knife into his leg holder.

“Somehow I don’t believe you, you filthy, lying, murderous bastard.”

“Believe what you want, Red, but I’m here to protect you.”

Red sucked in a breath. “Don’t use my name. Don’t ever say it again. You have no right to utter it.”

“Suit yourself. But right now we don’t have time for your petty grievances.”

“Petty grievances? My grandma’s murder is not a petty grievance!” She launched at him, arms flying.

She landed two solid blows to his face before he had a chance to deflect her next flurry of moves.

She was quick. She had lightning-fast reflexes. She threw punch after punch at him, backing him up. He knew of her skills, had watched her over the years develop her ability. She was strong, fast, and mean.

He had seen the carnage she left over the last seven years.

Red threw a kick. It just missed his groin. He grabbed her leg and pulled her up. She landed hard on her back. Before he could advance, she had sprung back up again, throwing another kick. She missed again. The Wolf deflected her blows. This time, he 19