The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 217

Chapter 217

Clearly, the person who’d just been here got spooked and bolted when they heard the ominous thudding of the takin’s hooves.

Nina wondered, ‘Was the one who ran off the murderer, or was it Lorelai?’

Just then, the lead takin’s ears twitched, like it’d picked up something. He said, “That person didn’t get far, just hiding in the grass off to our left, just ahead.”

Nina thought, ‘Man, having a takin with crazy good hearing is like bringing a walking radar, total cheat mode.

The lead takin asked, “Nina, want me to call the others over now?”

“Big Bull, not yet,” Nina replied, her eyes narrowing with focus.

If that person hadn’t gone far, it meant he was still hiding nearby, secretly watching.

If the whole herd rolled in, it’d definitely freak him out and make him run.

Nina slid off the takin, acting like she was just checking the bag, but really she whispered into her jacket pocket, “Misty Fang, wake up.”

There was a soft rustling, and Misty Fang wriggled out of Nina’s pocket.

“I’m here. Are we checking out some hotties?” Misty Fang asked.

“You and your obsession with cute guys. When we get off this mountain, I’ll hand you over to Mr. Quinn so you can stare at him all day,” Nina replied, her voice barely above a breath. “Just watch my blind spot, okay?”

As soon as Misty Fang heard Nina mention Jevon, the guy who wanted to stuff her for his collection, her fangirl mode shut off instantly. She said, “No, please!

“I’m on guard duty!”

With just the moonlight shining down, Misty Fang’s pale body and Nina’s white jacket practically melted into each other; you could barely tell where one ended and the other began.

Nina made sure her voice was loud enough to carry, grumbling and worn out as she called out to the lead takin.

Nina said, “Seriously, this is all on you for running so fast; now we’ve lost everyone else.

She kept talking, naturally leaning against Big Bull’s side, muttering under her breath like she couldn’t help complaining to her partner. “Wrangling you VIP animals is no joke; every single one of you’s got a bigger ego than the next.

“I thought working for the Forestry Department meant a cushy office job, but here I am, pulling a night shift out here in the mountains instead.”

10:37 Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 217

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Using her body as cover, Nina whispered super quietly to Big Bull, “Watch our backs and let me know if anything moves, okay?”

She deliberately stepped a few paces away from Big Bull and crouched down, making herself look completely vulnerable with her back wide open.

If the person hiding in the grass was just some innocent bystander needing help, if they heard she was with the Forestry Department, they’d probably speak up and ask for help.

But if it was a bad guy, this would be the perfect chance to sneak up on her or pull something shady.

Just then, Big Bull let out a low, warning grunt. He said, “He’s heading your way.”

At almost the same moment, Misty Fang, draped over her shoulder, said, “Nina, there’s a guy in black coming out of the grass; he’s got a knife.”

Even though she was confident, Nina’s heart still jumped.

If it weren’t for Misty Fang’s heads-up, she wouldn’t have noticed at all; the guy was moving so quietly, his footsteps were basically silent.

Nina stayed crouched, thinking, ‘Should I just let Big Bull ram the guy, or?’

“Let me do it,” Misty Fang said, eager and ready to go: “I’ll scare him so bad he’ll wish he never showed up.”

After her time coaching the National Swim Team, Misty Fang had mastered all sorts of ways to get swimmers to dig deep; freaking out bad guys was just another game to her.

Just as the guy in black was about to grab Nina’s shoulder, a flash of white shot out like lightning.

Misty Fang reared up, hovering right in front of his face, her crimson tongue flicking and hissing menacingly.

Those sharp fangs were dripping with crystal-clear poison, just one drop away from disaster.

The guy shouted, “Shit!

“Snake!”

The guy in black was scared out of his wits by the sudden shock, dropping his knife with a loud clatter.

He let out a scream and scrambled back, rolling and crawling like crazy to get away.

But he tripped and crashed to the ground, then scrambled up, hands and knees flailing, and took off running.

Right then, Nina felt her skin tingle all over.

Not for fear, but for pure adrenaline.

Because as the guy in black hit the ground, she spun and caught a full view of his face.

He was another most-wanted criminal.

10:37 Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 217

Ryland had been on the run for twelve years, the mastermind behind a cross-state smuggling ring, with multiple murders on his hands.

Five years ago, he vanished without a trace, leaving the cops with no leads. Turns out, he’d been hiding out deep in the mountains all this time.

Nina felt a surge of energy, like she’d just been plugged into a power outlet. She practically sprinted back to Big Bull and vaulted onto his back.

“Big Bull, go after him,” Nina said, slapped his neck, her voice sharp and decisive. “He’s probably the one who set you guys up for murder.”

Big Bull’s eyes went wide, white mist snorting from his nostrils in fury. His hooves slammed the ground, ready to charge after the guy.

“Hold up. Don’t just charge in!” Nina shouted.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Don’t get too close; if you corner him, he might jump. We need him alive.”

Ryland was the ringleader of the whole gang. Catching him alive meant they could squeeze out more secrets, and maybe bust the rest of his crew, too.

“Big Bull, let the herd know, let’s close in from every direction!” Nina shouted, clinging to his back.

Big Bull understood, slowed his pace, and threw his head back, unleashing a deep, thunderous roar that cut right through the thick fog.

In the next instant, it felt like the whole mountain had come alive.

From every direction, near and far, the air filled with the wild cries and calls of animals answering back.

Nina was stunned. She asked, “So many reinforcements?!”

Big Bull flicked his tail proudly and replied, “The eight you saw earlier were just our elite squad.”

Takin were the undisputed kings at the top of the food chain.

Nina was totally blown away.

‘Wait, did he just send a message to the whole takin herd?’ Nina thought, her jaw practically hitting the floor.

Ever since she signed that special contract with the police, Nina had been grinding hard. Any free moment, she was memorizing every detail about those wanted criminals, studying mugshots until she could recite their vicious faces in her sleep.

All so that one day, with her animal intel network, she could hunt down these dangerous fugitives and drag them back to justice, one by one.

Looks like the universe really does reward the determined.

Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 217

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