Harlan didn’t notice. He heaved Conri into a large picture of a carousel horse. The glass shattered and the picture fell to the floor.
Eventine got in close to Harlan, pleading with him inruhi.The witch wants you to kill him—you’ll make her happy if you kill him!
Harlan’s eyes cleared a little. He dropped Conri to the floor and stood over him.
Good, good Harlan, Babe, Soldier, Harlan, it’s okay, I’m okay.She gently touched his arm. He covered her small hand with his big one, but he didn’t look away from Conri, broken and battered on the floor.
Eventine dared to snuggle him and he seemed to respond to her. She looked over her shoulder to see Crew, poised to help. Behind him, Sergeant Rockford stood in the open doorway, his back to them, blocking the view inside the room from the humans gathering outside.
“Handcuff him,” Harlan snarled. Crew moved in and snapped handcuffs on Conri, who was curled semi-fetally in an archway between a dining room and a living room.
Crew stood and Harlan stepped back, finally able to tear his eyes off Conri. His eyes were stormy. “What the hell happened, Evie?”
She shook her head. “I’m not even sure, it was so fast. He went after a woman and I got in his way… He’s drugged for sure, or potioned, like you said. The witch made him do this.”
Harlan growled. He motioned to Crew that he wanted Crew’s portable radio, then he called Trevor. “KSRT-3 calling KSRT-1.”
“Standing by.”
“Bloom’s in custody, heading for the cellblock.”
“10-4.”
A new voice called on the radio. “In custody for what?”
“Who’s that?” Crew asked.
“Bruin,” Harlan and Eventine said at the same time, looking at each other.
“Shit,” Crew said.
“Fire Chief Bruin?” Sergeant Rockford asked from the doorway. “Finally back from Japan or wherever the fuck.”
Crew pointed at Conri on the floor. “They’re twins.”
“Shit,” Sergeant Rockford said.
Crew nodded. “Troy and Reed drove out to Chicago to pick Bruin up from the airport a few hours ago. We called him to come home when Conri went missing a few days back.”
Harlan keyed up the radio, saying, “It’s complicated—meet us at the cellblock.”
There was no response, but several of their phones started to ring. “Ignore them,” Harlan growled. “We don’t talk to anyone about shit until we’re at the station.”
He hugged Eventine. She laid her head on his shoulder and he pulled her in close, burying his face in her hair. He stiffened strangely, then stopped and took a big sniff of her hair. His posture tightened and he scented his way to her face and down her neck.
“You’re with young,” he growled.
Eventine took his hand and kissed it, then smiled at him. She’d hoped he wouldn’t realize until the mission was over. “Yes, Har, we’re finally going to have a pup or two running around, after all these years.”
Harlan turned slowly away, a vicious growl building in his throat, his eyes going to Conri, seeming to hulk out, looking more wolf than man. The growling filled the room.
Harlan, no, Eventine said inruhi. I’m fine. The young is fine. We’re perfectly fine.
Harlan pounced. Eventine followed, shoutingHarlan, no, he’s handcuffed!
But Crew was there. He grabbed Harlan the same way he’d grabbed Conri earlier, and they both went tumbling into the far corner. Harlan fought Crew and they growled and sworeand punched at each other. Sergeant Rockford turned around to see what was up. He hooked a thumb at Evie to take his spot at the doorway and ran across the room to pounce on Harlan and Crew, laughing like a loon.
“Are we wrestling, Harlan?!” he shouted.
