One man sat behind an ostentatious leather desk while three others stood against the far wall, their mouths open and eyes glued to the snarling wolves that had apparently jumped in the window.
Good old Chuck and Alex were two of the guys. Apparently the drunks had survived the evening.
Glass scattered across the room, shards sticking out of leather furniture and in the oak floor.
The men from the commune stepped gingerly past the broken sliding glass door and surveyed the scene.
Damn it. They were supposed to cover the north side.
Alex made a dash for the window, and Mason punched him in the throat. Alex hit the ground.
Nice move. Kane gave a short nod to Mason, who nodded back, his blue eyes sparkling. The guy was actually enjoying himself.
“You Hanson?” Kane faced the man behind the desk.
Fat jiggled beneath Hanson’s jaw as he nodded, mouth wide, thinning gray hair standing up on his head. “Yes.”
“Where’s Hilde Freebird?” Kane fought a grin as the younger wolf nipped at Chuck, who shrank back against a billowing velvet curtain.
Hanson coughed. “I don’t know.”
Sometimes the direct approach was best. Kane grabbed a silver letter opener off the desk and threw it, lodging the sharp edge in Hanson’s left shoulder.
The man yowled in pain.
The wolves echoed the howl.
A soft gasp behind him caught him up short. Heat flared along his neck. Amber needed to learn to stay where he put her. He kept his gaze on the bleeding rancher as he addressed her. “You agreed to stay in the car.”
“I changed my mind.” Her boots crunched through glass as she scurried to his side.
Kane tuned his senses to survey the rest of the house. Nobody else was in the building. “Fine. Go search for your granny.” By the time Amber returned, he’d know everything Hanson knew.
Amber nodded and ran from the room. The ex-doctor limped off to help her. Mason kept watch by the gaping hole in the wall, and the wolves remained still.
The rancher sighed. “Listen. I have no clue where Hilde Freebird is. We went to the hospital to get her, and she was already gone. You have my word.” He gingerly reached for the protruding letter opener, grimacing as his fingers touched. With a groan, he yanked the weapon out. “Leave my house now, and I won’t call the police.” Blood slid down his shirtfront and over his protruding belly.
Chuck made a move.
Terrent stopped him, knocking the guy down and landing on his chest, teeth bared. The wolf ’s paws were wider than a normal man’s hands, his claws dangerous and extended. But he hadn’t used them. Yet.
Chuck whimpered. “Get him off.”
Hanson’s other two thugs remained still and silent.
Kane didn’t have time for this shit. Reaching over the desk, he grabbed Hanson by the collar and threw him across the room. The man hit the mantel and fell hard. He cried out as his face impacted the floor. A second later the stuffed wolf head landed on his legs.
Grabbing the bloody letter opener, Kane stalked across the room and dropped to his haunches. He placed the sharp end against Hanson’s good shoulder. “Tell me where she is. Now.”
“I, I, don’t know,” Hanson sobbed.
Kane pressed the metal into the man’s flesh.
The rancher cried out, his entire body shaking. The smell of urine filled the air. “I really don’t know,” he gasped.
Sometimes Kane just couldn’t get a break. Taking a deep breath, he allowed himself to feel. Just for a second. Hanson’s fear and pain slammed into him, and he shoved the sensations aside. Then he delved deeper, using the empathic abilities he hated. Irritation and frustration mingled in his gut.
The guy was telling the truth. Shutting off all emotion, Kane tightened his hold on the weapon. “Okay. Here’s the deal. We’re leaving here, and you and your men won’t tell a soul about us. Got it?” He shoved slightly.
“Yes,” Hanson groaned, his entire body shaking.
“And you’ll forget your plans for the northern rocks and never bother the village again. Right?”
“Yes.” Hanson’s shoulders slumped against the floor.
Kane turned so the other men couldn’t see and allowed his fangs to drop and black to shoot through the violet of his eyes. “If you bother them again, I’ll be back. And I’ll eat you for dinner.”
The man gasped, and then his eyes rolled back in his head. He relaxed in unconsciousness.
Kane rose, facing the wolves. “We’re good here. If you wouldn’t mind, would you keep an eye on the village for the time being?”
Terrent growled twice, his saliva dropping onto Chuck’s neck.
Kane fought for patience. “I know you’d like to kill him, but I’d consider it a favor if you allowed him to live this time.”
Terrent gave a disgusted snort, tossing his head toward the mounted wolf head.
“Fine. If you want to kill him, hurry the hell up.” Kane didn’t have time for this crap.
The wolf smiled.
Chuck whimpered.
Panting, the wolf seemed to consider the situation. Then he gave almost a bored, canine shrug. With a quick swipe to Chuck’s nose, he turned and leaped through the window. Joshua followed suit.
Mason scratched his head, eyes alight with intelligence. “Something tells me that was no ordinary wolf.”
“No. And I’d appreciate it if you kept that to yourself,” Kane said.
Slowly, Mason nodded. “That would be best.”
Kane pivoted to find a pale Amber in the doorway. Shock covered her face as she stared at the still bleeding Hanson. “You stabbed him again.”
“He’ll live.” Kane strode forward and grabbed her arm. “Say good-bye to Mason and let’s go.”
A rustle sounded in warning. Kane shoved her out of the way and turned in time to hear the firing of a gun. The bullet impacted his chest in a burst of pain. Leaping across the room, he grabbed the gun from Chuck and slammed his forehead into the guy’s already scratched nose. Chuck flopped into unconsciousness. Kane crushed the weapon into bits.
Mason’s eyes widened as he leaned against the broken door frame. “Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine.” Kane took a deep breath, his chest hurting like hell.
The ex-doctor ran into the room, his spectacles lopsided on his face. “I heard a gunshot.”
“Everyone is fine,” Kane said mildly, wanting to snarl instead.
Mason nodded, his lips twisting as he glanced at Amber. “She’s not safe with us, is she?”
“No. But we’ll keep her safe.” Kane took a deep breath.
Mason nodded, holding out his arms.
Amber rushed into them for a huge hug. “I’ll miss you.”
“Ditto, Freebird.” Mason dropped a fatherly-type kiss on her forehead. “When things calm down, you’d better call.”
“I promise.” She wiped away a tear as she hurried over and hugged the doctor. Then she turned toward Kane.
He nodded. “We have to go.”
Quick steps had them through the house and across the lawn. The storm had opened up to shoot clumps of snow down on their heads. The wind whirled more white around them and made sight difficult.
He opened the passenger side of the Chevy and lifted her inside, pushing her to the driver’s position. “Drive while I heal.” Blood dripped down his chest, not nearly as warm as the irritation filling his gut. Terrent had warned him about the presence of weapons. Two seconds using his empathic abilities, and he forgot logic. Which was why he never used them. What if he’d allowed Amber to get hurt?
With a growl, he ripped off his shirt as Amber pulled the truck onto the main road. A bullet hole dotted an inch above his heart. “Good thing Chuck is a lousy aim.”
Amber clutched the steering wheel, struggling to stay on the road. Wind threw snow against the windows in a fierce tantrum. She blinked back tears at the thought of leaving Mason, Dr. Bill, and the rest of the family. As soon as she found Grandma Hilde and figured out a safe path for them, she’d call the others.