Kel-Tec rifle, said Adam, visibly dragging himself into a businesslike manner. Built to fire pistol cartridges out of pistol magazines.
Ben handed it over, and Adam pulled the magazine. Jerking his hand back with a hiss, he dropped it on my counter. Nine millimeter, he said. Silver ammunition. He looked at me. Im pretty sure that was a nine millimeter or a thirty-eight you were holding on Heart.
The topic of my transgression was not dropped, just set aside for business. I wished we could just get it over with.
Nine millimeter, I agreed. She could have shot someone, and theyd have blamed it on the bounty hunter. How likely is it that someone would have done a ballistics test and noticed one of the bullets didnt come from the same gun?
Someone was supposed to die, said Ben. Thats what I think.
Agreed, said Zee from the garage doorway. Samuel moveda little stiff-legged, but he movedso Zee could come into the office.
Ballistics wouldnt have mattered, said Zee. Making one bullet match another is cake if the fae is dealing with silver. Even a few with little magic could handle it. Iron is impossible for most fae to work, lead isnt much better, but silver . . . Silver accepts magic easily and keeps it.
My walking stick had silver on it.
Zee continued speaking. The bullet would take on the appearance of the others. A little more glamour, and the extra bullet disappears. And whoever that was, they werent minor faethey had a fair touch of The HuntThe Wild Hunt.
I dont know what that means. But our fae assassin had been out to kill werewolves. To kill Adam. I needed to find out as much as I could.
In this case, mindless violence, Zee told me. The kind that leaves a man looking at the bodies and wondering why he decided to pull the trigger when he only intended to make a point. If I hadnt been here to counter it . . . He shrugged and looked at Adam. Someone wanted you dead with the blame easily placed, so no one would look too closely.
Adam put the gun down on the counter next to the magazine, grabbed Bens coat, and tossed it on top of them. I havent ticked off the fae recently. Have I?
Zee shook his head. If anything, it goes the other way. It must be an individual. He frowned, and said reluctantly, Someone could have hired her, I suppose.
Ben said, Ive never seen a fae who used modern weaponry. He turned to Adam. I know she was fae and allbut could she be one of the trophy hunters?
Trophy hunters? Zee asked before I could.
David has captured two people and killed a third hunting him this year, Adam said. One was a big-game hunter; one turned out to be a serial killer whod been preying upon marines from the local base and decided to take on bigger prey. And one was a bounty hunterthough theres no bounty on Davids head any more than there is on mine. It looked like he just wanted to try his hand at hunting a werewolf.
David Christiansen? I asked. Christiansen was a mercenary whose small troop specialized in rescuing hostagesId met him once before hed become famous. When he retrieved some kids from a terrorist camp in South America, a photographer got a series of really terrific shots that made Christiansen look heroic and sweet. The photos made national newsand the Marrok chose David to be the first werewolf to admit what he was to the publicand thus the most famous werewolf around.
Yes, Adam said.
The Most Dangerous Game,I murmured. See? An education wasnt wasted on me, no matter what my mother says.
This doesnt feel like that, though, said Adam. This wasnt personal. Heart wasnt hunting me for thrills, or at least not only for thrills. Someone set him up.
And not very well either, I added. He didnt know who you wereand all his producer would have had to do was a simple Internet search for a photo. Youd think someone sending him out after you would make sure he knew who to shoot if you were the target.
Adam tapped his foot. This feels like a professional job. A lot of planning, a lot of work to kill someone in the most public way possible. And, most telling, when it didnt work according to planshe withdrew.
Not someone,I said. You. It makes sense. She didnt want Heart killing you; she wanted to do it herself.
No. It was Ben. I was wrong to suggest a trophy hunter. This didnt have that feel. It wasnt personal. A woman out for bloodassuming fae females are like the rest of the cu
Theres a lady present, growled Adam. Watch your language.
Ben grinned at me. Fine. Assuming fae ladies are like other ladies, this one would have been excited, triumphant over the kill. And enraged when I came along and ruined her fun. She didnt even hesitate when she spotted me. Dropped the gun and ranno fuss, no bother.
Well trained, said Adam. Or just a cool thinker. He looked at me. And while I admit it looks as though I was the target, it could as easily have been Zee or you. Heart had silver bulletsso the assassin used them, too. It doesnt mean she was hunting werewolves, not when we know Heart was.
Tony opened the front door. You okay, Mercy?
Fine, I lied, but I didnt expect anyone here to believe me anyway.
Tony frowned at me, then turned his attention to Adam. You have any enemies we should know about? Sounds like Hearts producer wanted some more publicitybut we wont know for certain until we run her down. He had the right paperwork, other than the small fact that it isnt legitimate. There was a series of victim photos, too. Well look into how she got them when we talk to her.
Internet, said Ben. Theres a website devoted to pictures of dead bodies.
We all looked at him, and he smirked. Hey. Dont look at meits the job. He saw Tonys blank face and continued. Information technologies, ITyou know, computers. At work, when we get bored, we issue challengeslike the person who can come up with the worst website gets taken out to lunch. I got the free lunchthe dead-bodies guy was the runner-up. When I chatted up the bounty hunters people, they showed me the photos of the bodies in the file. The dead-bodies website has a section devoted to animal kills. I recognized one of the photos from that.
You are a sick, sick man, I told him.
Thank you, Ben replied, looking modest.
Someones after you, Tony told Adam.
See, I said. Tony thinks youre the target, too.
Adam shrugged. Ill be careful.
Werewolves are tough, and Adam tougher than mostbut Id seen a lot of them die.
Yeah, well, you keep me on speed dial and dont kill anyone if you can help it. Tony looked at me again. Hey, Mercy. Did you talk to Sylvia? She looked pretty upset when she left. Are they all right? His heart was in his eyes. He was interested in her and had approached her once. Shed told him she didnt date people she worked withand that had been that, as far as she was concerned.
She wasnt happy about Heart pointing a gun at Maia, I told him. But I think she was madder at me than Heart. He didnt bring in a werewolf for her kids to play with.
His face went police-officer blank. What?
Yeah, I said. I dont think shell be coming here to get her car fixed anymore. Gabriels not coming back either.
You did what?
Cut it out, growled Adam. He gestured at Sam. This wolf would never harm a hair on a childs head, and Mercy knew it.
Special circumstances today, I reminded Adam harshlyhow could he have forgotten that we werent dealing with Samuel but with his wolf? She was right to be angry. If Id remembered Sylvia and the girls were going to be here, I wouldnt have brought him.
Were they in any danger? asked Tony.
No, said Adam, and he meant it.
Did Mercy know that?
Yes, Adam said right over the top of my no. Shes just feeling guilty because she thinks she should have told Sylvia anyway.
Tony looked at me. Sylvias not unreasonable. He paused and gave me a little smile. Not really. If you explained
Theyre gone, I told him. Its for the best. Since Ive started running around with the wolvesand fae and vampiresthis is not a safe place anymore.
Is it safe for you? he asked.
Before I had to answer, the door opened one more time and Kelly Heart came in. My office isnt too bigand it was already holding me, Zee, Sam, Adam, Ben, and Tony. Kelly was one and a half persons too many. Sam growled at the bounty hunter, but hed have to go over Zee, Adam, and me to get to himor hop over the counter.
Mr. Heart? I asked.
My camera people tell me that someone borked the cameras in the van. He looked at Ben. Who smirked. Sams growls were getting a little louder.
After a moment, Heart shrugged. Pretty tough to do. It left us with just the data from Joes camera, which ends with Ms. Thompson disarming me. The cameras arent coming out of my salary, anyway. He looked at me. You moved pretty damned fast.
Not a werewolf, I told him in bored tones as I shoved my way past Ben so I had my back to the counter. Not much better, because Sam could just jump on top of it, then over me, but maybe Id slow him down.
I just came to get the gun. He smiled at me. My crew is extremely concerned that we might lose the silver bullets.
Mercy, said Tony. If you are okay, I dont need to know about any gun I might have to include in my report.
Were fine, I told him. Adams here.
Yeah, said Tony wryly after a quick glance at Adam. I think youre safe enough, Mercy. Ill get back to work. He opened the door. You sure you dont want me to talk to Sylvia?
Im sure, I said. This is easier. Better.
All right. He left, and there were still too many people in the room.
So now that the cops are gone, are you going to tell me what this morning was all about? Heart asked. Why someone would get us all the way out here from California to play an elaborate practical joke that could have gotten people killed?
No, said Adam.
Heart took two steps forward and stood over Adam. What did your errand boy go chasing after across the street?
Before I could mention that threatening a werewolf was a little rash, Adam had the bounty hunter pinned against the door, with a forearm across his throat. Heart was taller, bigger, and more obviously muscledbut he wasnt a werewolf.
Not your business, said Adam in a low, hungry voice.
Hes not the enemy, I told Adam. Dont kill him. And, Mr. Heart, if you are going to hunt werewolves, you ought to do your homework. Dont try threatening an Alpha. They dont like it.
Adam increased the pressure against the bounty hunters throat, but Heart, after an abortive effort to break free, quit struggling.
Adam took a step back, opening and closing his hands several timesmaybe to shake off the desire to hit the bounty hunter. When he turned his back on Heart, I think everyone took a relieved breath.
Im as upset as you are, Heart told Adam. Daphne . . . My producer is missing. Shes a good person. Someone gave her that file and had her send me after you. Shes not in her office, shes not answering her phone, and her housekeeper hasnt seen her for three days. And I dont even know where to look.
Adam sighed and stretched his shoulders to relieve the tension. I dont know where she is. I dont know who planned this or whyor even if I was the real target. Give me your card. If I find out something that might help, Ill get in touch.
Is your producer fae? I asked him. Adam put his hand on my shouldera clear signal I should shut up. He didnt want me making Heart curious. I was more worried that he might know something that we neededsomething that might tell us if the intended victim was Adam.
No, Heart said. Why? Do the fae have something to do with it?
Not that we know of, said Adam.
Then why ask about fae?
You sound a little too certain that your producer isnt a fae, observed Ben.
Shes a member of several fae hate groupswhich takes guts in Hollywood todayand likes to rant about how the country is succumbing to the wiles of the Wee Folk.
When did you find out they were sending you here? I asked.
Heart turned to me, his face thoughtful. Yesterday morning. Yes, that means that Daphne hadnt been home for two days before that. He smiled at me. You were supposed to be the Alphas eye candy.
Adam laughed.
What? I asked him. You dont think Id be good eye candy? I looked down at my overalls and grease-stained hands. Id torn another nail to the quick.
Honey is eye candy, said Ben apologetically. Youre . . . just you.
Mine, said Adam, edging between Heart and me. Mine is what she is.
Heart took out another card and gave it to me. Call me if you have any more questions. Or if someone knows something that might help me find Daphne. Shes good people. I dont see her pulling this as a prank or publicity stunt.
Heart gave Adam a nod and left. Ben followed him out the doorand Sam wiggled through before the door closed.
Zee looked at Adam and me. Ill just go keep an eye on Samuel, shall I? That way, if he hunts someone down, I can share in the spoils.
And you can give Heart back his gun, I told him.
Zee grinned cheerfully and produced a hunk of metal that was sort of prettysteel shot with silver. Ill be sure he leaves with it. He shut the door to the garage behind him, leaving me alone with Adam.
Mercy, Adam said. And his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of its case on his belt with an impatient jerk. He glanced at the number, took a deep breath, and answered it.
Hauptman, he grunted.
Adam, said the Marroks easy voice. I need you to locate Mercy and my son.
I know where they are, Adam said, meeting my eyes. No such thing as a private phone conversation with me or any of the wolves around. Adam could have chosen to take the phone call outside, where he could have talked to Bran in private.
There was a little pause.
Ah. Would you be so good as to put one or the other on the phone?
I think, Adam said carefully, that it might be a little precipitous to do that.
Another long pause, and Brans voice was cooler when he spoke. I see. Be very careful here, Adam.
I believe I am, Adam said.
I can talk to him, I said, knowing Bran would hear me.
Adam was putting himself up as a shield between Samuel and his father. If something happened, Bran would hold him responsible.
I love Bran. He, as much as my foster parents, raised me. But Im not blind about it. His first directive is to protect the wolves. If that meant killing his son, he would do itbut he would kill Adam faster.
Adam said, No. My territory, my responsibility.
Fine, said the Marrok. If I or mine can help, you will call me.
Yes, Adam said. Ill call you by the end of the week with the results.
Mercy, Bran said. I hope this is the best path.
For Samuel, I said. For me, for you. I think it is. Maybe not so much for Adam.
Adam has always had . . . heroic tendencies.
I touched Adams arm. Hes my hero.
There was another pause. In person, Bran doesnt think out his comments as much. The phone is difficult because wolves communicate so much with their bodies.
That is the most romantic thing Ive ever heard you say, Bran said. Be careful, Adam, or youll turn her into a real girl.
Adam looked at me. I like her just the way she is, Bran. And he meant it, greasy overalls, broken fingernails, and all.
Bran laughed, then stopped. Take care of my son. And dont wait until it is too late to call me. He hung up.
Thank you, I told Adam.
He put his cell phone away. I didnt do it for you, he said. Wolf in charge or not, Samuel obviously isnt as dangerous as most of us would be. There are some advantages to being very old. But the letter of the law is what Bran has to follow. If he knew exactly what was going on, hed have to carry out the sentence.
You dont?
Adam shrugged. I guess Im not much for following orders as written. I prefer the spirit to the letter of the law.
Id never thought of him that way. I should have remembered . . . the line between black and white is the one he draws.
I looked down. So, I suppose an apology is too little, too late.
What are you planning on apologizing for? Dear Adam, Im so sorry I tried to keep you from knowing that Samuel lost it? Im sorry I used the problems between us to drive you away so I could deal with it? Or, and this one is my favorite, Im sorry I couldnt tell you what was going on, but I couldnt trust you to deal with it the way I wanted it dealt with? Hed started out sounding amused, but by the last one his voice was sharp enough to cut leather.
I kept quiet. I do know how to do that. Sometimes. When Im in the wrong.
He sighed. I dont think an apology will do, Mercy. Because an apology implies that you wouldnt do it again. And, under the circumstances, you wouldnt do anything differently, would you?
No.
And you shouldnt have to apologize for being right, he said, with a sigh. Much as Id like to tell you differently.
I jerked my head up and saw that he was perfectly serious.
If you had called me to tell me that Samuel had lost it, Id have come over and killed him. Put him down with a bullet because I dont know that I could take him in a fight. Ive seen wolves whove lost it before, and so have you.
I swallowed. Nodded.
What I know, that you do not, is how the wolf longs to hunt, to feel blood in his teeth. The kill . . . He glanced away and back. On his own, my wolf would never have let that bounty hunter leave here alive after he held a gun on me. I doubt that hed have put up with having babies crawl all over him. Sorrow passed over his face. Even with Jesse, my own daughter . . . I would not trust him. But Samuels wolf managed to deal. So well give him a chance. A week. And after that week, well let you go talk to the Marrok and tell him how his son has kept his cool for a solid week. And maybe you can buy more time for him.
I am sorry, I said in a low voice. I played on your guilt to keep you away.
He leaned against the counter and folded his arms. You didnt lie, though, did you, Mercy? The pack bothers you, and so do I.
I just need time to get used to it.
He looked at meand I squirmed just as Id seen his daughter do under that look.
Dont lie to me, Mercy. Not to me. No lies between us.
I rubbed my eyesI was not in tears. I wasnt. It was just the adrenaline letdown after taking on a gunman with a rogue werewolf at my back.
Adam turned his back to me. I thought it was so I wouldnt see the look on his face. Until he grabbed the counter and broke it in halfsending my cash register and a pile of receipts and book-keeping stuff boiling to the floor.
Oddly, my first reaction to the violence was the dismayed recognition that without Gabriel, it would be my job to figure out how all those papers needed to be reorganized to keep the IRS off my back.
Then Adam howled. An unearthly sound to come out of a mans throatId only heard it once before out of a wolfs. My foster father, Bryan, when he held his wife, his mates body, in his hands.
I took a step toward himand Sam was standing between us, his head lowered in readiness.
The door between my office and the garage is steel set in steel. After Sams entrance, it was also bent and broken, dangling from one hinge. I hadnt heard it go; Id only been able to hear Adam.
Who had made no sound, I realized. His cry had hit me from a different place altogether, where our bond tied me to him and him to me.
Adam didnt turn around. Dont be afraid of me, he whispered. Dont leave me.
No lies between us.
I blew out a breath, took a couple steps back, and flopped in one of the battered chairs that lined the wall, trying, with my casual pose, to defuse the situation. Adam, I dont have the sense to be afraid of Sam in the state hes in now. I dont know why you think Id be smart enough to be afraid of you. It would be smarter to be more afraid of a werewolf so upset that he took out a counter Zee had built than of a little paperwork and the IRS.
Ask Samuel to leave us.
Sam? I asked. Hed heard Adam.
He growled, and Adam returned the favor. With interest.
Sam, I said, exasperated. Hes my mate. Hes not going to hurt me. Go away.
Sam looked at me, then returned his attention to Adams back. I could see that back tighten up as if Adam could feel Sams gaze. Maybe he could.
Why dont you go see what Zee is up to? I asked. Youre not helping here.
Sam whined. Took a half step toward Adam.
Sam, please. I couldnt stand it if they ended up fighting. Someone would die.
The big white werewolf turned reluctantly and walked stiffly, with frequent pauses to see if Adam had moved at all. Finally, he hopped over the wreckage of the door and was gone.
Adam? I asked.
But he didnt answer. If hed been human, Id have bugged himjust to get it over with. Id hurt him, and I waited to take my punishment. Id been taught you make your choices and live with the consequences long before Id first read Immanuel Kant in college.
But he wasnt human. And just then, if I was any judge, he was fighting his wolf. Being Alpha, being dominant, didnt make that fight any easier, maybe the opposite. Being stubborn helpedand Adam was well qualified on that front.
Getting Sam to leave helped more. The only other thing I could do to help was to sit quietly and wait while Adam stared at the wreckage hed made of my office.
For Adam, screwed-up bonding thing or not, Id wait forever.
Really? he asked in a tone Id never heard from him before. Softer. Vulnerable. Adam didnt do vulnerable.
Really what? I asked.
Despite the way our bond scares you, despite the way someone in the pack played you, youd still have me?
Hed been listening to my thoughts. This time it didnt bother me.
Adam, I told him, Id walk barefoot over hot coals for you.
You didnt take advantage of this thing with Samuel as a way of putting distance between us, he said.
I sucked in a breath. I could see how he might have interpreted it that way. You know that section of the Bible, where Jesus tells Peter hell deny him three times before morning? Peter says, Heck no. But sure enough when hes asked by some people if hes one of Jesus followers, he says hes not. And after the third time, he hears the cock crow and realizes what hes done. I feel like Peter right now.
Adam started laughing. He turned around, and I saw bright gold eyes looking through me the way wolves eyes always seem to do. More than that, hed actually begun to change a littlehis jaw was longer, the angle of his cheekbones slightly different. Youre comparing me to Jesus? Like this? He used his fingers to motion toward his face. Dont you think youre being a little sacrilegious?
His voice was bitter.
No more than Im Saint Peter, I told him. But I had Peters what have I done momentonly his was instantaneous, and mine took a lot longer. It started when I heard Maia scream while I was working in the garage and continued pretty much up until you talked to Bran and bought Samuel a little more time. Funny how making decisions that seem right at the time . . .
I shook my head. Peter probably thought that telling the guy he wasnt one of Jesus followers was the smartest thing to do. Kept him alive, for one. I thought keeping Samuel aliveas he wasnt raving or killing anyone . . . yetwas a good idea. I thought that telling you I needed a little space was good. Give me some time to wrap my head around having other people rattling around in my mind without hurting you because it scared me silly.
What? asked Adam incredulously.
I bowed my head, and said, Because it scared mescares mesilly.
He shook his head. Not that partthe keeping it from hurting me part.
You dont like being a werewolf, I told him. Oh, you deal with itbut you hate it. You think that it makes you a freak. I didnt want you to know I had problems with some of the werewolf stuff, too. I swallowed. Okay, more problems than just that whole I must control your life because you belong to me that most of the werewolves I know have.
He stared at me with his yellow eyes and elongated face. His mouth was open slightly because his upper and lower jaw no longer quite matched up. I could see the edges of teeth that were sharper and more uneven than they usually were.
I am a freak, Mercy, he said, and I snorted.
Yeah, such a freak, I agreed. Thats why Ive been drooling over you for years even though Id sworn off werewolves for life after Samuel. I knew that if I told you being a member of the pack and the bonds and all that were bothering meit would hurt you. And you are already putting up with . . . I couldnt wrap my mouth around the ugly word rape, so I softened it as I often did. With the aftermath of Tim. I thought if I gave myself a little time, figured out how to keep the pack from turning me into your ex-wife, and bought Samuel a little extra time as well . . .
Adam leaned against the wall just inside the doorthe wall my counter used to blockand folded his arms across his chest.
What Im trying to say, I told him, is that Im sorry. It seemed like a good idea at the time. And, no, I did not engineer this to put some distance between us.
You were trying to keep me from being hurt, he said, still in that odd voice.
Yes.
He shook his head slowlyand I noticed that sometime while wed been talking, hed lost the wolfish aspect, and his face had returned to normal. Warm brown eyes caught the light from the windows as one side of his mouth quirked up.
Do you have any idea how much I love you? he asked.
Enough to accept my apologies? I suggested in a small voice.
Heck no, he said, and pushed off from the wall, stalking forward.
When he reached me, he put his hands up and touched the sides of my neck with the tips of his fingersas if I were something fragile.
No apologies from you, he told me, his voice soft enough to melt my knees and most of my other parts. First of all, as I already pointed outyou would make the same choices again, right? So an apology doesnt work. Secondly, you, being who you are, could have made no other choice. Since I love you, as you are, where you areit hardly makes sense for me to kick about it when you act like yourself. Right?
People dont always see it that way, I said, stepping into him until our hip bones bumped.
He laughed, a quiet sound that made me happy down to my toes. Yeah, well, I dont promise Ill always be logical about it. He gave a rueful glance to my broken counter and the cash register on its side. Especially at first. His smile dropped away. I thought you were trying to leave me.
I might be dumb, I told him, putting my nose against his silk tie, but Im not that dumb. Ive gotcha now, and you arent getting away.
His arms tightened almost painfully around me.
So why didnt you tell Bran about Samuel? I asked him. I was sure youd have to tell him. Arent you bound by blood-sworn oaths?
If youd called me last night and told me what was going on, Id have called Branand shot Samuel myself. But . . . based on what happened this morning, he seems to be holding it together okay. He deserves some time. His arms, which had loosened a little, pulled me against him even harder. If something like that happens to meyou call Bran and you stay as far from me as you can get. My wolf is not like Samuels. He gave the counter another look. If I lose it . . . you just stay away until Im dead.
Chapter 6
ONCE MOST EVERYONE ELSE WAS GONE, ADAM TOSSED the faes rifle into the backseat of his truck.
Ill see if I cant find out something from the serial numbers, he said. The way she just left it probably means that she doesnt think we can trace it to her anyway, but it would be stupid not to check.
You will be careful, I told him.
Sweethearthe bent down and kissed meI am always careful.
Whatll you give me if I watch out for him? It wasnt what Ben said; it was the way hed said it. I have no idea how he made those words sound suggestive, but he managed it.
Adam shot him a look. Ben grinned unrepentantly and ducked around the side of the truck and hopped in.