One Down: Bayou Heat (Pantera Security League Book 1) by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright Page A

shock held them frozen in place. Cerviel smiled, giving them a finger wave before he was leaping onto the back of the smaller man.
    The human crumbled beneath the impact, smacking his head on a rock hard enough to knock him unconscious.
    Cerviel kicked the limp body out of the way. He didn’t want to trip over the idiot.
    The larger guard grunted, grabbing his gun and squeezing off a wild shot. No surprise that it went wide. Cerviel doubted the man could hit the broad side of a barn even if he was aiming.
    With a roundhouse kick, Cerviel knocked the weapon from the man’s hand. Then, staking a spot on higher ground, he spread his legs wide. He waited for his opponent to either try and charge him, or flee in terror.
    He wasn’t disappointed when the man decided to charge.
    Cerviel’s hunger to destroy Donaldson extended to the bastards who wore his uniform.
    Waiting for the man to take his first swing, Cerviel grabbed the massive fist. Crushing the man’s fingers, he lifted his free arm to use his elbow to smash his nose.
    The man shrieked like a howler monkey, backing away to cover his busted nose with his mangled fingers. “You son of a bitch,” he whimpered.
    Or at least that’s what Cerviel thought he said. It was difficult to understand the words as his face began to swell.
    Cerviel smiled. He could have toppled the guard backward with one shove. The bulk of his upper body not only impeded his ability to fight, but it made him top-heavy.
    But what was the fun in that?
    Instead he again aimed a kick at the man, connecting his heel squarely against his ‘nads. There was a piercing screech. An octave above a high C. Cerviel took a second to appreciate his handiwork, then, strolling forward, he planted the tip of his finger between the man’s crossed eyes to give him a small shove.
    The guard fell backward, landing against the side of the hill. Then, blessed gravity took over as the loose dirt beneath the man’s heavy frame gave way.
    Toppling head over heels he tumbled down the hill, picking up speed until he hit the bottom with shuddering force.
    Cerviel peered over the edge.
    The man lay spread-eagled, his head tilted to an odd angle as he stared blindly at the sky.
    Satisfied, Cerviel stepped back. Time to head to the…
    He abruptly stilled as he caught a familiar scent.
    Donaldson.
    Well, well. The man had gone to the trouble of personally climbing the mountain, just so Cerviel could kill him.
    Pretty damned thoughtful of him.
    Cerviel hissed in anticipation.
    Time for a little fun.
    Hurrying toward a pile of large rocks that created a natural barrier, he waited for the approaching male to round the tip of the rocks. Then, with a smooth motion he stepped forward.
    “Hello, Donaldson.”
    The man jerked to a halt, his arm lifting to reveal the small silver pistol he held in his hand.
    “Don’t move,” he commanded.
    Cerviel smiled with a lethal anticipation.
    The man looked like a toad with his short, squat body. Despite the chilled air a film of sweat glistened on the dome of his head, trickling into the fringe of hair that refused to concede defeat.
    “I was afraid I might not get the opportunity to kill you with my bare hands,” Cerviel drawled. “You’ve made it so much easier.”
    The pale gaze flickered over Cerviel’s shoulder. “Where’s the female?”
    Cerviel shrugged. “Out of your reach.”
    Donaldson stretched his lips into what was supposed to be a sneer, but instead was just a weird contortion of his face.
    “Come out, Hallie,” he called out loudly, waving his gun. “Before I shoot your Prince Charming.”
    Cerviel stilled, afraid the dumbass might shoot him by accident. “I told you, you piece of rotting shit,” he said, stepping forward as the man started to backtrack, “she’s long gone.”
    “Don’t move,” Donaldson snapped, giving another wave of his gun.
    Idiot. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Cerviel drawled, taking another step. “I can’t rip out your throat from