Page 12 of Grizzly Sleuth
He emerged with a roar, and Svetlana screamed as the startled agents fired, which was when she realized those weren’t regular guns, but the tranquilizing kind. Either they missed or adrenaline kept Yuri from succumbing to the drug as he batted aside the closest man and turned his gaze on the next. Seeing them taking aim, she yelled, “Run, Yuri.”
His shaggy head swiveled in her direction. Their eyes met. In that split second, she saw him debating if he should fight.
If he did, they’d drug and cage him. Possibly even kill him.
She shook her head. For once, he listened.
With a snarl of rage, he bounded off.
Pockmark spat, “Don’t let him get away.”
The agents that could bolted after the bear, but not Pockmark. He kept his grip on Svetlana and snarled, “You’d better hope we find the beast.”
Or what? If they murdered her, then at least she’d die knowing her brother lived.
Chapter Four
Sleep eluded Idris.The reason? The knowledge that Svetlana and her brother would be leaving town.
Idris had found another bear, something he’d never expected. He wasn’t alone, not that the knowledge did anything to help him. His situation differed vastly from Yuri’s, who’d not been subjected to intense and painful treatments, but rather claimed he’d been God-blessed. Still, it had been nice, if even for a brief moment, to find someone who understood.
Sure, he had his military mates who had gone through the same trauma as him; however, he’d felt an instant kinship to the other bear—and attraction to Yuri’s sister.
A woman who’d not been daunted by his beastly side.
Someone who could handle it and knew how to keep the secret.
A sexy honey treat for a very hungry bear.
Perhaps he should have asked if he could tag along, if even for a little while. Seen if he could learn something from Yuri. How to control the shift. Use it to his advantage. Kiss Svetlana’s sweet-looking lips…
Perhaps it wasn’t too late. After all, didn’t Svetlana plan to hit the bar after closing? It wouldn’t hurt to head over and?—
Tap.Tap.
The light knocking at his door brought a frown. No one should be visiting at this hour. For one, he had no local friends, and two, even those he did still talk to had no idea where to find him. Most likely it was a person who’d gotten the wrong door. He ignored it.
Tap.Tap. This time, the faint rapping came with a whispered, “I know you’re inside. Let me in.”
The familiar voice widened Idris’s eyes, and he flew to the door to open it. A naked Yuri quickly entered, huffing, “I don’t think they followed me, but I’d still recommend you shut the door.”
A statement that screamed trouble, yet Idris didn’t toss Yuri out. Couldn’t. He just wasn’t built to turn aside someone in need.
Idris shut the portal before asking, “What are you doing here? Where’s Svetlana?”
“They have her.”
“Who is they?”
Yuri’s lips twisted as he spat, “The KGB.”
A chill went through Idris. “What happened?”
“I’m not entirely sure. The gunshot was what first woke me. I was in the truck sleeping off the booze. From what I could glean from that point, the KGB set an ambush for us in the alley.”
News to chill Idris’ blood. “You obviously escaped. What about Svetlana? You said they have her. Is she okay?”
Yuri shrugged, and his lips turned down. “I don’t know.”
