Read Online Spotting His Leopard (Shifters, Inc.) by Georgette St. Clair - Free Book Online Page B

going to be hunting for us.”
                    “Take the anklet off me,” she said. She was still trapped in human form.
                    “Not right now, thanks.”
                    He snatched a knapsack that was sitting on top of a chest of drawers. She stumbled over to the coffee table and grabbed her purse, then he got a firm grip on her arm and rushed her out the door and down the hallway, towards the rear staircase.
                    “Take the damn anklet off! You might need me to shift and defend us!” she protested, then spat out a mouthful of blood as they hurried down the stairs.
                    He snorted. “Nahh, I’ll take my chances.”
                    He paused when they stepped outside, the bright sunlight of the day blasting them. “Give me a minute. I need to think where we can go. I could call Maji,” he muttered. “But I hate to get him involved in this. Whatever this is.”
                    “I know where to go,” she said. He glanced at her suspiciously.
                    “Look, as you already pointed out, I’m a criminal. That means I know people in low places. People who would hide us from the cops.”
                    “Fine,” he bit out, but he didn’t look happy about it. 
                    She’d memorized numerous escape routes on the island, as she did with every city, every town, every place she visited or lived in.  She quickly led him down alleyways, through narrow side streets, heading towards the shanty town. She didn’t bother to check to see if he was following her; she was too busy trying not to pass out.
     
    * * *
                    “Just for a day or two,” she said to Tana as they limped up to a corrugated tin shack.
                    Tana watched her anxiously.
                    “I’ll be fine,” she assured her.
                    Tana looked at Tyler with suspicion. “Who is this man? Did he hurt you?” Her little fangs briefly descended and she let out a low, feline hiss.
                     “He didn’t hurt me,” she assured Tana. “It was the police who hurt both of us.”
                    Tana nodded, satisfied. A beatdown from the police was something that she could empathize with.
                    Tana’s little gang had gathered around, and Pern stepped forward, holding his hand out.
                    “Pay the man,” she said to Tyler. “They’re giving us shelter, and taking a risk.”
                    “So I’m the one who should pay him? I just saved your life,” he growled, but pulled out his wallet.
                    “One thousand milukas,” the boy said.
                    Gwenneth held up her hand. “No. Five hundred. And that’s very generous.”
                    Pern shrugged. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”
                    A man? This kid’s voice hadn’t changed yet.  She remembered Farruki saying that the day before, and grimaced. That man was the role model for these kids, and there was nothing she could do about it.
                    Tyler peeled off the bills and slapped them into the boy’s hand. He turned and walked away.
                    Tana frowned. “I do not think that Farruki saw you come here, but I can’t be sure. If he saw you, he might turn you in to the police,” she said, her voice low. “He does that sometimes, if they offer a high enough price. That is against the guild rules,” she added, in scandalized tones.
                  “Be careful. Don’t get on his bad side.” Gwenneth leaned on Tyler so she wouldn’t fall over. He felt warm and strong and solid.
    “If I see him come in, I will warn you with a