“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He had a remarkable sense of humor.”
Kat blinked and looked him over. “I don’t even get that.”
“Course you wouldn’t, being that you’re Russian.”
“Hey, we’re funny. My Russian roots are freaking hilarious,” Kat said, waving her rib.
“Aye,” Russell agreed, strolling upstairs. “That cold war had me in stitches for a decade.”
Prince covered his eyes and suppressed his laughter.
Kat gave him a peevish glance. “Well, I’m glad someone around here has a sense of humor.”
He took the rib from her hand and tossed it at one of the wolves guarding the main room. “You remind me so much of your father.”
For the first time, Kat broke down. Her knees almost buckled as she fell against Prince, her arms encircling his broad chest and her tears wetting his thin shirt. He breathed in her scent, whispering words of comfort in Russian.
“We’ll find your father and sister. You have my promise.”
She shook her head against his chest. “I can’t lose her. Nadia’s all I have left. She has nothing to do with this. It should have been me.”
“Kat, look at me.” He cradled her head and forced her to look up. “I won’t allow this bastard to harm your family.”
“Promise?”
Prince didn’t think it was a promise he could keep, not if Vlad was on the move. He’d hunt him down for as long as it took and tear him to pieces when caught, but a promise like that could destroy her trust in him.
“Russell!” he shouted at the ceiling.
Within seconds, his packmate appeared halfway down the curved staircase. “I’m not done yet.”
“Put out a bulletin to all the packs in the territory. Give them the car description and license plate. I want them alive, and no one is to harm the woman. Offer a substantial reward. Contact my allies in all directions near major highways. I want them to create diversions and slow traffic down enough to check out the vehicles. I don’t want Vlad leaving the city limits. And do me a favor… have someone drive to Nadia Kozlov’s apartment and retrieve the yellow car out front. Same address I provided you for the helicopter.”
“Right away,” Russell said, running up the stairs.
Kat backed away from Prince, her lashes wet. “You can do all that?”
“I have an immeasurable amount of power. Not only in this territory, brave one, but in all the Southern states.”
“Thank you. That’ll help a lot.”
He reached up and wiped a dab of barbecue sauce off her chin. “Is your wolf hungry? Does she need to run?”
Kat nodded. “Both. But… I don’t feel comfortable letting her out on your property. She doesn’t know your pack.”
Not an uncommon reaction for a Shifter in a stranger’s house. “I have an indoor facility in the basement.”
“Sounds cheery.”
“I converted the entire lower level for privacy. Two feet of packed dirt with grass and plants on top. There’s a woman who grows the plants with special lights and fertilizers. I think she keeps the plants potted beneath the ground to control roots, but I leave that to her.”
“As long as you don’t bury bodies down there, I’m game.”
Prince guided her toward the stairs that led to the basement. “I can release a rabbit if you want.”
“No, it’s better if my wolf doesn’t get blood in her mouth when I’m in this kind of mood. She’s a little different than most. She’ll eat cooked meat, so if you could just put some ribs or whatever you’ve got left over, that’s what I’d rather have.”
