Wild Ride Read Online Free Page B

Glenda, who was no waif herself. “If that’s the way you want it,” he said, smiling, and Glenda took a step forward, lowering her head, looking dangerously intent.
    What the hell?
Mab thought. “Hey,” she said, and they both jerked around to look at her. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but knock it off.”
    Ray looked back at Glenda, and when he spoke again, it was very softly. “Don’t cross me, Glenda. You have no idea how powerful I really am.”
    Then he turned and walked past Delpha and out the back door, and a moment later, they heard the outside door slam in the hall.
    â€œYeah, well, you have no idea how powerful
I
am, you dipstick,” Glenda said to the doorway, and then she turned back to Mab and said brightly, “How about that tea?”
    There was something bad going on here, Mab was sure of it, but she had a head injury and she was really tired, and her reality had been bent enough for one night.
    â€œWonderful,” she said, and went back to sit down at the counter.
    Â 
    T he impact from the shot hitting his vest knocked Ethan backwards and made the old bullet in his chest sear as he slammed into the ground. The shooter, dressed all in black and wearing a mask and night-vision goggles, watched him for a moment and then sprinted away toward the front of the park. Ethan tried to raise the pistol and fire, but the pain in his chest was too much. He let his head fall back and closed his eyes and waited to die.
    After a few moments, when the pain receded and he was still breathing,he opened his eyes and saw Gus leaning over him, concerned. “You all right?”
    â€œWho was that?” Ethan managed to get out.
    â€œNo idea.”
    â€œThis happen often?”
    â€œFirst time,” Gus said, helping Ethan up to a sitting position.
    â€œGreat.” Ethan tried taking a deeper breath. The pain was still bad but bearable now.
    â€œWe got other problems,” Gus said. “Only four rattles. Means a demon is out.” He shook his head. “If we’re lucky, it’s Fufluns and not Selvans or that devil Kharos.”
    Ethan rubbed his chest, still trying to breathe. “Gus, forget the demon stories. We got somebody in the park with a gun—”
    â€œWhat stories?” Gus looked insulted. “What we got is a demon on the loose.” He shook his head. “I shoulda guessed that when Mab got run down.”
    Gus believed there were demons. Ethan closed his eyes. He’d been away too long. Gus was losing more than his hearing, and Glenda had probably been trying to hold it together on her own. That impulse he’d had to come home, maybe it wasn’t so insane after all.
    Even if it did mean he’d gotten shot again.
    â€œWe gotta call the cops,” Ethan said, trying to stand up on his own, his difficulty part pain and part alcohol.
    â€œNo cops,” Gus said. “Cops can’t fight demons.”
    â€œForget the demons.” Ethan levered himself to his feet using Gus’s shoulder. “We got a shooter—
ouch
.” He winced and put his hand over his chest. “
Damn
it.”
    â€œWe should go to the first-aid station,” Gus said, trying to support Ethan.
    â€œBullet didn’t penetrate my Kevlar,” Ethan said.
    â€œWe better go anyway.” Gus slung an arm around Ethan. “You know how Glenda is.”
    Ethan was in too much pain to argue. He nodded and started down the midway, leaning on the old man.
    â€œReal glad you’re home,” Gus said. “You got here just in time.”
    â€œYeah,” Ethan said, and kept walking.
    Â 
    G lenda put a cup of hot water in front of Mab, dumping in a peppermint tea bag. “This’ll make you feel better, honey.”
    Mab pulled the mug closer. “I’m sorry about Ray. Sometimes he’s a little creepy.”
    Glenda nodded. “Your family’s social skills could use some