Dom frowned, but she saw Rule try to hide a grin as he turned back to his stove.
Dom growled, “He’s going to need to beat that stubborn out of you.”
“Him and what army?” she dared. Beat her? Not if they wanted to live to see tomorrow. Her energy seethed, wanting an outlet.
“Prickly little thing, aren’t you?” Dom teased. Instead of insulting, his tone sounded admiring. Then she recalled how he and the others had encouraged her to fight. Maybe if she played meek and submissive, they’d lose interest.
“If you say so.” She had to grit her teeth to sound meek. No way she could pretend, not for a minute. “Jackass.”
Dom snickered. “Can’t do it, can you? Nice isn’t in your vocabulary.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I was pretty nice to you earlier,” she said in a throaty voice, one that had Dom’s brown eyes darkening to black. She noticed Rule’s sudden attention as well. The shift in power pleased her, and she grinned. “Now what were you saying about having to bottle feed and burp your prime?”
Dom scowled. “That’s not funny, damn it. Rule, you laugh, so help me, I’m shoving your head through that vent.” He turned to Vicki. “And you, I think it’s time you realized just where you are and who you’re with.”
“I know who I’m with. I’m with a bunch of Ravagers on a Monday afternoon, when I’m supposed to be home with Gran for dinner tonight. I need a phone.Right now,” she added when Dom just stared at her as if she’d grown another head.
“Look, my great-grandmother is ninety-six years old, and a bigger pain in the ass you’ve never met in your life. I love her to pieces, but if I don’t show up for dinner, she’ll skin me alive. The woman is scary, trust me.”A monstrous mind is a terrible thing to waste,Gran liked to say, just before dangling her naughty great-grandchildren in the air witha thought. Prognostication, telepathy, telekinesis, Gran could do all manner of things with her mind, and she had no problem demonstrating her displeasure with any of her family when the notion hit. It was lucky the old woman loved them all too much to ever cause harm.
“I’ll talk to her for you,” Dom said smoothly. “No need for her to worry when she doesn’t see you for a while.”
Vicki snorted. “Good luck with that. The woman is like a dog with a bone. Something else you have in common.” Insulting her kidnapper by referring to him as a dog wasn’t smart, but she wasn’t pleased with the reminder she couldn’t leave the compound. She just had to figure out why her energy wasn’t working the way it should. She’d put the pack on their asses at that bar. So how the hell had they used it against her here?
Dom reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone, which irritated her anew. “Dial her number.”
She did. He yanked the phone back out of her hand the minute she pushed call. Glaring daggers at him, Vicki listened to the conversation he set on speaker.
“Hello?” Gran said in a clear, strong voice. “Vicki, is that you?”
Dom’s eyes widened. His phone, yet her gran knew it was her. “Is this Vicki’s Gran?”
“Who the hell is this?”
“Oh yeah, that’s Vicki’s grandmother,” Rule muttered.
“My name is Dominic. I was calling to let you know Vicki won’t be home for dinner.”
“Why can’t she tell me instead?” Gran wanted to know.
“Because she’s afraid of you,” Dom said bluntly.
“I am not.” Vicki huffed. “I’m right here, Gran. This idiot won’t let me—”
“A friend of yours, eh?” Gran asked.
The woman sounded pleasant, and the hair on the back of Vicki’s neck stood on end.
Gran continued. “Sounds like a fellow who might growl a lot. You growl a lot, Dom?”
“When the moon’s full, sure,” he answered with a grin, apparently amused at the human myth linked to his kind. “Or when I’m talking to your great-granddaughter. She’s a stubborn woman.”
“Just like me. She’s named for me, you know.”
Gran chuckled, and Vicki frowned. Gran didn’t like anyone. Why the hell was the stubborn old woman warming toDom?
“He’s holding me here hostage. Him and hisprime,” Vicki emphasized.Voiders, Gran. Help me out here,she thought as hard as she could, hoping her great-grandmother would hear her.
“You’re not the prime?” Disappointment speared Gran’s voice.
