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.They were the wolves, my allies.The dark patch Billy had been running for gave a little whimper, and I thought I saw the moon glint off of Georgia's tawny coat.I looked around and counted the fallen.Six.I couldn't tell them apart very well, couldn't tell which of them, if any, was Tera, but I counted six fallen wolves upon the ground.All of them, I thought, with a panicked rush of fear.All of them had been taken."Come on, " Harris said, his voice tight, strained."Fuck MacFinn, he isn't showing up.Let's take them out, all of them, and go find Dresden.""We'll get to your belt soon enough, kid," Wilson snorted, his fingers stroking at the fur belt over his belly."If you hadn't been so stupid as to lose it—"Harris snarled, and Denton shook Benn from his side to get between the other two men."Shut up.Now.We don't have time for this.Harris, we'll go after the wizard as soon as we can.Wilson, keep your fat mouth shut, if you like your tongue where it is.And both of you back off." The men made low, growling noises, but they took steps away from one another.I licked my lips.I was shaking.The gun felt heavy in my hand.There were only the four of them, I thought.They weren't more than thirty feet away.I could start shooting right now.If I got lucky, I could down them all.They were werewolves, but they weren't invincible.I slipped the safety off of the pistol, and drew in a steadying breath.It was a damn fool thing to do, and I knew it.Life is not the movies.It wasn't likely that I would be able to shoot them all before they could draw and shoot back.But I didn't have much choice.Denton turned toward the first hillock, with its artfully ruined temple, and waved."All right," he called."That's all of them."A pair of shapes appeared in the lights that shone on the temple, and then came down the hill toward Denton and the Hexenwulfen.Marcone was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and a hunter's vest, and he bore a gleaming rifle, an enormous scope mounted on it, in one hand.Hendricks, hulking beside him in muscle-bound silence, was dressed in what looked like black military fatigues, bearing the gun I'd seen earlier, a knife, and various other gear.Hendricks's eyes flickered over Denton and his associates warily.I stared at Marcone in shock.It took me a moment to pick my jaw up off the ground and to piece together what was going on.Marcone didn't know.He didn't know that Denton and company were out to get him.They must have blamed the other killings on MacFinn and the Alphas.So now Denton had Marcone and the Alphas there.Once MacFinn arrived, he would be able to kill everyone he wanted dead, everyone who knew what was going on, and be able to make up any story he damned well pleased.Everyone but me, that is.He did not, as yet, have his hands on me."These are all we saw on the monitors," Marcone corrected."There was a malfunction in camera six, at the rear line of the property.Mr.Dresden and such malfunctions tend to go hand in hand."Dammit."Are you sure the wizard isn't one of them?" Denton demanded."One of these wolves?""I think not," Marcone answered."But I suppose anything is possible."Denton scowled."Then he's not here.""If he truly offered you a challenge, he's here," Marcone said, his tone completely confident."I'm certain of it.""And he just watched his werewolf friends get shot down?" Denton asked."Wolves run faster than men," Marcone pointed out."Possibly, he hasn't caught up to them yet.He could even be watching us now.""You're giving him too much credit," Denton said.But I saw his eyes shift instinctively toward the blackness of the growth of woods.If I stood up, he would be looking right at me.I froze, holding my breath."Am I?" Marcone smiled, and leaned down to pluck the feathered dart from Billy's furry flank."The tranquilizers likely won't hold these beasts for very long.Decisions need to be made, gentlemen.And if you are to hold to your end of the bargain, you had best get to work producing."I don't know if Marcone noticed Benn's sudden tension, the way she slid her hands over her stomach, but I did."Kill these dogs now," she said in a low, heated voice."It prevents complications later in the evening."Marcone tsked."Shortsighted.Let MacFinn tear them to pieces when he arrives, and any medical examiner won't bother to look for the tranquilizers.If one of you does it, it will create awkward questions once forensics takes a look at things.And I thought that was the point of you coming to me with this offer.Reducing questions."Benn lifted her lips away from her teeth, and I saw the tips of her breasts stiffen beneath her white shirt."I hate slimy scum like you, Marcone," she purred, sliding her hand from her thigh up over her hip and beneath the buttons of her shirt.Marcone's eyes narrowed on her, and as though connected to the crime lord by a telepathic leash, Hendricks made one simple motion, a shift of his forward arm, that chambered a round on the gun with a cold little click-clack.Denton gave Marcone a sharp look and took hold of Benn's wrist with his hand.The woman tensed for a second, resisting him, but then she allowed Denton to draw her hand away from the belt that was surely beneath her shirt.Denton released her, and Benn lowered her hands, visibly relaxing.Marcone and Hendricks never so much as blinked, or broke a sweat.Fragile situations like this one were evidently second nature to them.I let out the breath I'd been holding for a long time.Six to one and ready for a fight.If I attacked them now, I didn't have a prayer.If I tried to move, to fade back into the trees, they would be likely to notice me.Damn.Denton glanced at the trees once more, and I held my breath again."Don't worry, Marcone," he said."We'll turn the wizard over to you, once we find him
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