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Artem stopped at the edge of the vegetable garden, but when he saw Dymka burst from the house, he turned tail and ran. Dymka rushed past one of Lazar’s lieutenants, who gave a startled shout and then turned his automatic toward the big leopard. It would be impossible for any of them not to know Mitya’s cat. They’d all participated in beating him and fighting with him on the pretense of training him.
He lifted the automatic and the sound of a rifle was almost simultaneous with the bullet that took the back of the lieutenant’s head. He went down to his knees and then he fell forward, his face in the dirt, his nerveless finger never finding the trigger.
Dymka put on a burst of speed, launching himself in the air, extending his front legs to hook his claws in Artem’s hindquarters. He dragged the cat to a halt and slammed him to the ground, refusing to let him go. His hooked nails pierced deep as he bit down on the spine. The cat screamed, the sound reverberating through the night.
Another of Lazar’s most trusted men rushed up to the two leopards, putting the barrel of his gun almost right at Dymka’s head. Dymka had no choice but to release Artem and throw himself sideways to avoid the shot. A rifle sounded again, and a hole blossomed through the back of the man’s neck and out his throat. The spinal cord was severed instantly. Mitya knew him. He had been Lazar’s friend for over twenty years. He was just as perverted and corrupt as Lazar.
Artem was off and running again, determined to get away. Dymka refused to let him, not even when he rushed between two of Lazar’s soldiers. Before either could react, one was down, and the second shot was almost on top of the first. The second soldier went down hard. Dymka just had a glimpse of the spray of blood across the leaves and dirt. Artem had stopped to look back to see if the two men would shoot his pursuer.
Dymka hit the golden leopard in his side with enough force that it had to feel as if a freight train had struck him. The blow drove through the cat, breaking bones. Artem let out another scream and tried to get up. He managed to make it to his feet, but staggered, trying to turn. Dymka hit him from the other side, the blow just as vicious, breaking more ribs.
The leopard’s cry was a steady shriek now. Dymka had no mercy. He snapped the right back leg and then the left one, so that the cat couldn’t walk. Artem tried to drag himself away, but Dymka wouldn’t let him. Artem hadn’t helped Damir, and Dymka had always despised the golden cat anyway. He caught hold of the neck to deliver the suffocating bite and silence the shrieking for good.
As he held Artem in that death bite, waiting for the kill, a shadow emerged from the trees, yellow eyes staring malevolently. The eyes focused completely on Mitya and then the big cat swiped at the leaves and debris with his paw, indicating his contempt. He let out a roaring challenge.
There will be another someone close. Perhaps more than one, Mitya cautioned his leopard. Dymka had fought three cats. He’d run a distance. He had to be growing tired, which was what Lazar had counted on.
I smell them. They think to hide their stench from me by staying downwind, but it shifts every few minutes and I caught their scents. Lazar has two of his favorite partners stalking me.
Mitya could feel his leopard’s wrath, the rage that swirled in his gut and welled up like a volcano. Dymka wanted to rush Lazar’s cat. He was eager to meet the experienced fighter in a battle and see who emerged the victor. Mitya held him back.
Let him come to you. Take this opportunity to rest. He wants to issue a challenge, to intimidate and rile you up so you aren’t thinking in battle. He’s older, Dymka, but he’s experienced. You need to settle down and remember every battle technique. What he favors.
He favors having his lieutenants cheat and fight with him.
Dymka was not wrong. Lazar would fight, but he didn’t like to get ripped up. The moment a younger leopard looked as if it might score on him, he signaled to his allies and they rushed the leopard and delivered a savage retribution.
Lazar’s leopard rushed at them and then broke off before he got too close. Mitya had seen this type of challenge hundreds of times. Many male leopards used it, particularly when there was a female in heat they wanted to claim. Whether they liked it or not, the males were affected by Jewel’s heat. Lazar didn’t have as much control over his leopard as he used to, or he wouldn’t have allowed that particular challenge. Kazimer, Lazar’s leopard, knew Dymka was Jewel’s mate. The leopard had his own agenda for fighting Dymka that had nothing to do with Lazar’s agenda.
Kazimer wants Jewel for himself. Dymka snarled it.
Ania is sitting up there on that roof with a sniper rifle picking off anyone coming near us. She’s not going to let Kazimer or Lazar near her, Mitya assured. Stay in control. Fight your fight, not his.
Mitya had learned discipline in a hard school, and he was determined that his leopard stay controlled. They’d practiced daily for just this occasion. He wasn’t about to let Jewel’s pheromones make his leopard insane enough to make mistakes and lose this fight.
Take him down fast. Don’t challenge him. Just kill him.
Dymka watched Kazimer get closer and closer with each swipe of his paw, his sawing challenge filling the air. Bolstered by his own adrenaline and rage, and the need for the female, Kazimer grew bolder, coming once more at Dymka to issue his very vocal challenge.
Dymka went from absolute stillness to blurring action in the space of half a second. He rushed the other male, taking him in the side, smashing into him and driving him off his feet. Kazimer was fast, faster than Mitya thought he could be, but he wasn’t a match for Dymka’s speed. He couldn’t get out of the way, nor get to his feet in time to keep Dymka from ripping long streaks into his side. When he rolled to try to get to his feet, the vicious claws hooked into his belly and ripped there as well.
Lazar’s two lieutenants burst from the trees, each coming in from a different direction. They ran full out to get to their leader; as his personal guards, they had profited from his leadership and had enjoyed whatever they desired for years. Mitya recognized both leopards. These men had enjoyed hurting him for Lazar, forcing Dymka out to protect him when he was a boy. They were both cruel and vicious, determined to kill him and keep Lazar alive.
Guga was a big man with huge hands. He liked to cuff children, knocking them off their feet as they ran for school or to stores. He laughed when they were hurt. He was always the first man to enjoy the rape of a female, pushing all the others out of the way. All that translated into a leopard that was huge, with enormous claws and a vicious, cruel temperament.
Dymka held Kazimer down easily, found his spine through the loose fur and bit down. He held steady as Guga charged. Mitya could see the snarling, malicious animal getting larger and larger, his eyes twin pinpoints of light in all those spots. He kept coming, but Dymka refused to relinquish his hold on Kazimer.
Shockingly, the big cat suddenly plowed to a stop, his back legs dragging in the dirt as if he’d put the brakes on. Mitya was looking right into his face. He could actually feel the blast of hot air the leopard wheezed out as he neared Dymka. The cat looked as if he’d smashed headfirst into a brick wall. Red blood poured from his snarling face as he stared at them, uncomprehending. The blood originated from right between his eyes, running down his nose and dripping to the ground. He shook his head. Stared at them. Tried to take a step.
Mitya registered the second shot when it came. He hadn’t heard the first. He’d been too focused on Dymka and his bite, severing the spinal column of Lazar’s big male. His leopard still refused to let go, even when Lazar’s cat went limp, submitting. Dymka refused to accept his recognition of defeat. He wanted Lazar and Kazimer dead and wouldn’t accept anything less.
Fidel, Lazar’s second-in-command, rushed them from the other direction. He had slowed his attack, leery once he saw Guga go down. Dymka shook Kazimer, his gaze on Fidel, hatred and a cold fury in every line of his body. He dropped Kazimer onto the ground, swiping contemptu
ously with his paw and roaring a challenge at Fidel. To Mitya’s shock, Fidel, that invincible leopard who had always been monstrous and seemed undefeatable, turned and ran. Dymka was on him in seconds, bringing him down as if he were a small deer in the forest.
* * *
• • •
ANIA didn’t have a clear shot at the big leopard fast approaching Dymka as Mitya’s large male delivered the killing bite to Lazar. Her heart had been pounding out of control, but now, seeing Dymka’s complete confidence and the other leopard turning to run from him, she breathed a sigh of relief. That didn’t stop her from keeping an eye to the scope, just in case she needed to aid Dymka, although she was fairly certain the big leopard wouldn’t appreciate any interference. No one was going to kill that leopard, or her man, Mitya. Not when she had a rifle in her hands.
A whisper of sound had her turning, and her blood ran cold. A leopard had managed to climb onto the roof and was stalking her, already too close. Almost on top of her. She tried to turn toward him, dropping the rifle because he was too close, and pulling the smaller Glock from her waistband as the leopard’s hot breath blasted in her face. Malevolent eyes stared down at her, nose wrinkled, lips pulled back in a snarl.
Jewel rose fast, looking to protect her, but she fought back the change, knowing her little female had no chance against the male. She kept the gun down by her side, out of sight, hoping the male would want to force her to shift rather than kill her outright.
He thrust his head closer, the warning sounds rumbling from his throat, his eyes never leaving her face. She’d have one shot. If she didn’t kill him, he’d kill her. Without warning, he hooked his claw into her leg and ripped down from her thigh to her calf. Pain was bright hot and excruciating. She heard herself scream and hastily shut it off in midcry. That would only divide Dymka’s attention, and she knew he was fighting the leopard he’d chased down.
Tears flooded, blurring her vision, but she hung on to the gun as the leopard dragged her across the roof by his claw. The tiles scraped at the skin on her back, but she barely felt it, not with the rake mark down her leg and the hooked nail embedded in her calf.
She took a breath, forced calm into her panicked mind and made the decision to shoot. She wasn’t going to survive with him dragging her around, and he was strong enough to do it all day. He was definitely trying to force her to shift, in order for his leopard to get at Jewel.
She took another deep breath. He was staring at her with that same malicious stare, his claw hooked into her leg, basically telling her the next swipe was going to hurt even more. She brought up the Glock fast and fired two rounds in rapid succession. The first one struck the leopard as he jumped to the side, clipping his ear. The second missed altogether.
As he leapt away from her, he slid on the tiles and nearly went over the edge of the roof. Ania threw herself forward, headfirst, trying to get another shot as the leopard’s back legs went into the air. He dug his claws into the tiles and heaved, throwing himself forward and almost on top of her.
As she fired, she heard the sound of at least two other guns unloading. The big male’s momentum carried him forward and then he dropped right on top of her, his weight indicating he was dead. There was no movement. Nothing.
Ania could barely breathe with the heavy weight on her. She tried pushing him off, but it was impossible. Then, suddenly, he was lifted off her, and she was staring up at Vikenti and Zinoviy. The looks of fear turned to grins.
“You’re alive.”
“Just barely. He was crushing me.”
Vikenti crouched down to examine her leg while Zinoviy casually removed the weapon from her hand.
Vikenti whistled softly. “He got you good. This is going to be one ugly scar.”
She glared at him. “Very funny. Did Dymka manage to kill that last leopard?”
“He made short work of him,” Zinoviy assured. “They’re on their way back, just making certain they’ve got every one of the bastards. Fyodor, Timur and Gorya along with everyone else have thoroughly wiped them out. No one will be going back to the lair from here.”
“Is everyone okay?”
“We lost two of our men. Four wounded severely and two more with not-so-bad injuries, from what Fyodor is reporting. Mop-up is still going on.” Vikenti reached down and lifted her easily. “Let’s get you inside where the doc can take a look at you. Leopards can give you a very nasty infection.”
Zinoviy shoved the leopard carcass from the roof and watched it drop to the ground below. “Your man isn’t going to be happy that one’s already dead. He’ll probably skin it and use that for target practice.”
Ania shuddered. “I’d rather he not do that.”
The two men grinned at each other and then Zinoviy leapt to the ground and looked up, holding out his hands.
“Don’t you dare drop me,” she commanded, grasping at Vikenti’s shirt.
Vikenti laughed and made the leap with her in his arms.
20
“COME here, kotyonok,” Mitya said, his voice gentle.
Ania turned from where she was staring out the window of their bedroom to look at him. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand held out to her. Just looking at him sent butterflies winging like mad in her stomach. He was handsome in his rough way, and that appealed to her. There was never going to be a boyish quality to Mitya. He was a man, and one who was always in control of what was happening around him.
She loved him. Really loved him. The last couple of weeks had really made her see there was far more to Mitya than the wild lover she knew. He was gentle and sweet, caring for her while the injury from the leopard healed. He waited on her, bringing her meals himself. He spent time with her, playing chess and watching movies that made her cry. Well, he watched her, and she watched the movies.
Mostly he pored over her plans to redesign the garage for her work. He made suggestions when he thought they would help, and it surprised her that almost every suggestion was an excellent one. She loved that and loved that he seemed every bit as enthusiastic about her new venture as she was.
It was amazing to be able to sketch ideas and show them to him, watch his face light up as if he really appreciated each drawing. Sometimes he liked them so much he wanted to frame them. She already had several ideas for cars, but they had to get the garage pulled together first, so she’d tried to keep her mind on all the details needed to get her business up and running. Mitya helped her with staying on task. Even Sevastyan was on board, although he mostly thought in terms of security and how best to protect her when she worked in the huge, temperature-controlled garage.
Ania crossed the room to take Mitya’s hand. He pulled her onto his lap, smoothing back her hair and wrapping his arms around her. She was learning all kinds of things about him. He liked her close to him when they talked. He listened when she had something to say. He laughed more without Dymka’s constant raging. The male leopard was calmer, which gave Mitya more time to relax.
“I know it’s been difficult to stay cooped up, Ania,” Mitya said. “Doc said it was necessary until that rake mark closed and there was no chance of infection.”
She leaned into him, inhaling his scent. She loved the way he smelled. “I didn’t mind, I caught up on my reading and managed to sketch and design and lay out the garage the way I think will work best. It worked out.”
He nuzzled her shoulder, then his teeth tugged at her earlobe. “Did you learn anything I might need to try on you from those romance novels of yours?”
She laughed and turned her face up to look at him. “I think you know more than enough to keep me satisfied for the next hundred years.”
He kissed her chin and nibbled his way up to her lower lip, teeth catching and tugging gently before letting her go. “I’m always willing to learn more.”
“If you know any more, honey, you might kill me.”
Mitya laughed. Sh
e loved it when he laughed. It was still so rare that when he did, she felt like he was giving her a gift. She touched his lips. Traced them with her fingertips. Lightly. Barely there. Just touching him sent a tremor through her body.
He had added privacy screens to the windows of the garage, because he’d already planned out, very vocally, that he should be able to visit often and who knew what would happen? If there were cars and back seats lying around . . . He made her laugh so often with his outrageous suggestions she found herself smiling most of the time.
“I just want you to know, Mitya, that I’m so thankful I’m with you. I look at you and melt inside. I can’t possibly ever tell you how much you mean to me. When I saw Dymka charging after that leopard, uncaring that Lazar’s men were everywhere and they had guns, my heart was in my throat. I thought you would be killed, and I never would have the chance to tell you how much you matter to me. That I love you more than anything.”
Maybe she hadn’t known until that exact moment, when Dymka had burst out of the house chasing a leopard through Lazar’s armed soldiers, just how much he mattered. She had been upset that she wasn’t in the safe room where he would have wanted her. Until that moment. Until she knew she wasn’t going to let anything, or anyone, take Mitya from her. She had skills, and they’d been put into play. She hadn’t missed a single shot.
His rough features softened. “I’m so in love with you, Ania, sometimes I can’t breathe. I always worry that I’m too rough with you. A leopard’s heat is difficult at best and sometimes brutal. We got brutal. I would start out trying to be careful of you and then the wild was there. No, more like savage. I couldn’t keep control like I needed to. I was afraid you’d want to run from me.”
She framed his face with her hands. “It was the same way with me. Fortunately, whatever you were feeling, I was too. I like when we’re wild like that. I like when you’re gentle and I can feel love when you touch me.”