by Debra Dunbar
I felt Karl’s arm around my shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay, Brina. He’s gone. We’ve got the bullets, and I doubt Dutch is gonna be selling them anymore.”
Ahia nodded. “Without SharpShooter stirring up fear on the hunting and hiking forums, and the publicity of your being shot, I think we’ve put a dent in their business. Now it’s up to Jake and his crew to do the rest.”
She was right. But we’d still need to be vigilant. Because just like that hydra Ahia had killed this past spring, I had a feeling these guys were likely to sprout two heads for every one we took out.
17
We got Zeph back to the Alpha house. It was odd seeing him on the couch, going through the same casserole-and-visitor dance that I’d gone through not twelve hours before. He was milking it for everything he could, claiming that all the female wolves needed to “kiss his boo-boo,” then kiss something else as well.
Brent, Ahia, Dutch, Matt, and Tina had stayed at the camping area to talk to the police. We knew them, the police that is, and they seemed to believe Dutch’s statement that what was supposed to be a recall exchange had gone all wrong when his distributor had brought weapons and started shooting.
He’d not mentioned Zeph going rogue and nearly killing him, claiming that his injuries were sustained trying to get away from Mason. It was nice of Dutch, given that Karl had roughed him up and pretty much kidnapped him earlier, but I guess the guy knew that without us, he would have been dead. Without Zeph, he would be dead. And from the way he’d thanked us over and over again before we’d brought Zeph back here, he knew the wolf had saved his live, nearly losing his own in the process.
It was nearly sunup by the time Brent and the others came back. Dutch was going to crash in one of the spare rooms for the night, then one of our wolves was going to accompany him back to his store/home, and basically provide security detail until this was all over. We couldn’t very well lose one of our key witnesses.
I yawned, nursing a gigantic cup of coffee and thinking that I might want to take some aspirin and get some sleep, but Karl was prowling around like a grumpy bear. He was still pissed at me for not staying at the perimeter. And he’d told me in no uncertain terms that I was coming with him to his den and there I’d remain for the next few weeks.
I wasn’t arguing. I’m sure I’d argue tomorrow once I’d gotten some sleep, healed further, and was itching to find WiFi somewhere, but for now I wasn’t arguing. I was just waiting for Brent to print a few things out for me, then we’d be on our way, with Karl driving as he’d informed me not two minutes ago.
It worried me having these loose ends. There were still two guys with Three Strikes, and although the police said they’d question them, there was no proof that those two guys had done anything wrong. Yet. I didn’t really need to worry though, because if there was anyone who operated his own system of justice, it was Jake with the Swift River Pack. With him on it, I was sure the other two members of Three Strikes would be out of business, and the whole hunting-magicked bullets issue would hopefully vanish.
But the elf…
Not my problem. Jake’s problem, not mine. My problem was finding cell signal in Karl’s little den in the woods, not going insane with only checking my e-mail once per day, and getting used to taking my potty breaks in a hole in the ground somewhere. Yikes.
“Ready to go, my wolf?”
I looked up into Karl’s hazel eyes with their flecks of gold, then slugged down the rest of my coffee. “My place first so I can pick up my laptop, my clothes, my scented bath gel, my nail polish, my makeup, and my blow dryer.”
He grunted. “Where the hell you gonna plug in the blow dryer, Brina? Ain’t got no electricity, girl.”
I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “My car has a battery, and I’ve got a thingie that converts the power. So you better believe I’m bringing my blow dryer with me, wild man.”
He shook his head. “Fine. Long as you’re in my den, I’ll put up with blow dryers and nail polish and scented bath gel and your damned laptop. But the phone stays in your car except one time per day. Right?”
I slid off the stool and reached up to wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. “Right.”
I might wind up loving this bear. I was pretty sure I might wind up loving this bear in spite of our differences.
“Salmon for dinner tonight?” he asked.
Mmm. Yeah, I probably already loved this bear.
“Sounds like a plan, wild man.” I kissed him once more. “Sounds like a plan.”
Acknowledgments
A huge thanks to my copyeditors Kimberly Cannon and Jennifer Cosham whose eagle eyes catch all my typos and keep my comma problem in line, and to Damonza for cover design.
Most of all, thanks to my children, who have suffered many nights of microwaved chicken nuggets and take-out pizza so that Mommy can follow her dream.
About the Author
Debra lives in a little house in the woods of Maryland with her sons and two slobbery bloodhounds. On a good day, she jogs and horseback rides, hopefully managing to keep the horse between herself and the ground. Her only known super power is 'Identify Roadkill'.
For more information:
www.debradunbar.com
Also by Debra Dunbar
The Templar Series
Dead Rising
Last Breath
Bare Bones
Famine’s Feast
Dark Crossroads (Fall 2017)
The Imp Series
A Demon Bound
Satan’s Sword
Elven Blood
Devil’s Paw
Imp Forsaken
Angel of Chaos
Kingdom of Lies
Exodus
Queen of the Damned (Late Summer 2017)
Half-breed Series
Demons of Desire
Sins of the Flesh
Cornucopia
Unholy Pleasures
City of Lust (Fall 2017)
Imp World Novels
No Man’s Land
Stolen Souls
Three Wishes
Northern Lights
Far From Center
Northern Lights
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Northern Wolves (Imp World) Novels
Juneau to Kenai
Rogue
Winter Fae
Bad Seed (Fall 2017)