Chapter 160

Armed with twin Berettas and a prominent double-edged knife from Nika’s collection, I headed alone into the wooded hill, following the smell of blood and footprints. It was like a radioactive road, impossible to miss. I had briefly considered the Mauser hanging shiny and perfect above the mantel, but figured I would have to shoot at point-blank range if I wanted the job done right. That meant agile movements; I couldn’t afford the extra weight of a long-range weapon.

I wasn’t going to lose. I wasn’t going to falter. The bastard had put his claws on my daughter, and even if the girl didn’t have a single scratch, he was going to eat lead for breakfast.

I didn’t need my second skin. I needed to put a bullet between his eyes, and that would be it.

Knowing that I didn’t have nearly Nika’s aim didn’t scare me. I was desperate enough to try. The trail headed north, toward the territory of the caves. A small part of me wished they didn’t know the terrain as well as we did,