Cade snorted softly. It would have been more accurate to say that Trista and the Merron ranger had been bonking like rabbits. Still, if they could use that past relationship to get more information out of the man than they might have normally, then he was all for it. “I'll talk to her."
He glanced across to where Vannah and her father were still arguing, noting that she seemed to be giving as good as she got. Part of him ached to go over there and defend her, but he had no rights beyond those he'd snatched with the moon magic. Besides, as she'd said, she was more than capable of looking after herself.
But it was interesting that she was doing so against her father. While most wolf packs were modern in terms of women's rights, they were also very much a patriarchal society. An alpha male always ruled, never an alpha female, except in his family, of course. Since his father had died when he was young, his mom had ruled the house. But she'd still obeyed the edicts of the pack's alpha.
So maybe the real reason Vannah and her father didn't get on was because they were very much alike, and she refused to acknowledge his right of rule over her.
"She's going to need round-the-clock protection,” Anton said softly. “You both are."
"We haven't the staff to run protection and keep up with the investigation. The best we can do is rotate where we stay—and don't advertise it."
"You could leave town."
"No. These bitches are mine."
"If indeed they are bitches and not bastards."
He didn't bother answering. He was pretty sure his rookie guess about there being more than one killer at Rosehall had been right, and he was damn sure they were right now. All he had to do was find the proof.
"If you don't run, hiding isn't going to do much good,” Anton continued. “Gossip has a way of getting around in a town like this. Especially if the two of you shack up together."
"I have no choice, Anton.” He forced his gaze from Vannah as Steve and the second ranger began talking to the fire chief. He frowned, suddenly wondering who was protecting Ronan. “I'm afraid the chief ranger and I have unfinished moon business."
"Ah. I thought there was something more going on between you two.” Anton paused. “You'd better be careful that it doesn't distract you."
"That's one warning I don't need. Let me know as soon as Hart arrives in town."
Anton nodded. Cade headed for Anton's truck. By the time he got there, his leg ached fiercely, and the dried spots of blood on his leg had been flooded with a brighter, fresher red. He shifted shape, knowing it would stop the immediate flow, but it wasn't going to help long term. Not if he didn't stop moving around on it.
There was no way in hell he was going back into the hospital, but he could rest for a while. He grabbed the folder from the back seat and limped over to Vannah's debris-covered truck to wait for her.
* * * *
Savannah thrust a hand through her blood-stiffened hair and tried to ignore the urge to scream at her father. He was frustrating at the best of times, but when it came to taking orders he refused to see the sense in, she might as well bash her head against a brick wall.
Which, to be honest, was half the reason she'd delayed talking to him. She just had to thank God that her mom hadn't been home and paid the price for her reluctance to confront her old man.
"Look,” she said, barely managing to keep the exasperation out of her voice. “I'm not arguing any more about this. I'm assigning Bodee to keep you company while you collect Mom from the hairdresser's, and then he will escort you both out of town."
Her father's green eyes flashed with anger. “I won't be forced out of my own damn town."
"Have you actually looked at the diner? Half the top floor is gone. If Mom had been home as usual, you'd be down at the morgue right now identifying her bits.” She stopped to take a deep breath, trying to calm the anger and guilt that had her voice rising. “Look, I know you don't want to leave, but I can't do my job and find these people if I'm constantly worried about your safety. And I simply haven't the manpower to put you under a full-time guard."
"You said that these people are after you, not me."
"But they'll try to get to me through you and Mom. I sent Neva to the mansion for her own safety. Either you go there too, or you get out of town."
"I refuse to go anywhere near that den of depravity."
"Then leave town.” She glanced over to where Bodee was standing, and she noted for the first time that Steve was with him. Damn it, why wasn't he guarding Ronan? “Bodee, Steve, can I see you both, please?"
The two men walked over. Steve held up his hands as soon as he neared her and said, “Don't yell at me. Ronan refused to have me anywhere near him. Said he didn't need a baby sitter—only he wasn't quite that polite."
Stubborn damn man—men, she corrected, glancing back at her father.
"What's wrong with Ronan?” he asked, voice sharp.
Not that he actually cared about Ronan's safety, she thought sourly. It was more a case of his wishes possibly being thwarted. Ever since the Sinclair murder case, he'd been maneuvering to get Ronan instated as head ranger. Not that Ronan particularly wanted the position—he hadn't even been asked about it, in fact—but that was beside the point. Her father wanted her out, having always believed it wasn't a job suitable for a woman—a belief that had been confirmed by her near death at the hands of the moon dance killer. Once she'd actually recovered and returned to the job, his machinations had begun. They hadn't been successful yet, but Savannah knew she'd only have to drop the ball once and she'd be out.