âNon-stop action, pulse-pounding suspense, and red-hot
romance⦠Kait Ballengerâs Execution Underground series delivers in spades!â âJaime Rush, New York Times bestselling author
âAction and romance in one mesmerizing story.
A phenomenal start to the Execution Underground series. Shadow Hunter will leave you breathless and demanding more.â âCecy Robson, author of Sealed with a Curse
âTaut with action, suspense, and romance that sizzles,
Shadow Hunter is an evocative prelude to whatâs certain to be an exciting new series! Fans of JR Ward are going to love the sexy warriors of Kait Ballengerâs Execution Underground.â âKate SeRine, author of Red and The Better to See You
CHAPTER ONE
JACE MCCANNON PALMED the Mateba and clicked back the gunâs hammer. The cold grip panels of the modified revolver sat comfortably in his hand. Six silver bullets for a rogue werewolf. Limited shots. But he was feeling lucky.
He gripped the gun with both hands and lowered it to his side, slipping in and out of the shadows. The rank scent of garbage, car exhaust and piss wafted into his nose as he reached the alleyway. Ah, the sweet aroma of Rochesterâs slums. He ran his tongue over his teeth, jonesing for a cigarette to drown out the smell and steady the adrenaline buzz creeping through his veins. Damn, he wanted to find this son of a bitch.
Resting his back against a brick building, he paused and glanced up. The white moon stared down at the Earth, calling him. Heat prickled beneath his skin.
He wrenched his gaze from the tempting sky and forced himself into the moment. Inhaling deeply, he rushed around the corner and scanned the area, pointing his gun into the darkness. No one. No werewolves, no hobos. Damn, not even the prostitutes were roaming.
Not that he blamed them. Regular killings werenât anything to call home aboutâhappened all the time. But this was different. Innocent women being found with their organs slung around their corpses, Jack-the-Ripper style. The worst part? Jace had no idea where to find the sick fuck responsible, and the thought of the young womenâs pain sent his blood boiling.
He explored the alley, gun still at the ready and eyes searching for any sign of movement. A rustling noise hissed from around the next corner. Jace held his gun tight and sneaked down the narrow passage toward it. The sound grew louder, and he quickened his pace. When he reached the bend he stopped, listening closely. He threw himself around the corner, gun ready and his finger on the trigger.
A plastic bag caught on a Dumpster swished in the light wind. He cursed under his breath. Maybe he wasnât so lucky tonight. He pushed his fingers through his hair. The cell phone jammed in the pocket of his jeans vibrated. He pulled out the annoying piece of shit and read the screen: David.
He jabbed his thumb into one of the buttons, hoping it was the right one, and shoved the phone to his ear. âYeah?â
âMeeting in an hour.â Davidâs deep voice rumbled over the line.
Aw, hell. Jace shook his head. âDonât toy with me. Iâve got business.â
âIâm not shittinâ you, J. One hour, and you better show or Damonâs gonna rip my head off. I told him Iâd get you here.â
Jace frowned. He hated being forced to carry a damn cell phone. He didnât enjoy people contacting him whenever they pleased. âItâs nearly the full moon, David. This is my prime time. You know that.â
âYou donât have to preach to me. Damonâs the one riding your ass like a Grand Canyon donkey, not me.â David paused for a moment. âHeâs gonna want a report tonight.â
âYeah, yeah, I hear ya. Iâll have something.â
âSure you hear me, and I like to dress up in tutus while my girl spanks me and calls me Big Daddy.â
Jace smirked. âHey, if thatâs what gets you off...â
âShut it,â David said. âYouâve gotta report tonight or Damon will go postal. So what are you gonna tell him?â
Jace glanced into the empty darkness surrounding him. âSame thing I told him last timeâjack shit. Iâm not opening my damn mouth until Iâve got their packmaster bound and chained, or, preferably, Iâm carrying his head on a silver platter courtesy of my bare hands.â
David let out a frustrated sigh. âI thought you said you had something.â
âI do.â Jace lowered his voice. It didnât matter that he was alone; some things he couldnât say aloud if he wanted to keep his sanity. âIâve got a scent, and itâs familiar, so I smell it everywhere. Trailing this monsterâs stink is about as much fun as shooting myself in the foot.â