Part of me wished he was.
I dug my phone out of the pocket and called Uncle Rhoan.
"Risa," he said, his gray eyes—the image of Riley's—showing surprise even on the phone's small vid-screen. "What's happened?"
"Two shifters attacked me. One's dead and the other is—"
"I've got your location," he cut in instantly. "I'm not far away. Hang tough."
He disconnected and I had to smile. I might never have had a dad, but I had Rhoan and Liander and Quinn, and I really didn't need any other fathers in my life. Especially not one who was planning to wreck the very fabric of life here on earth.
The shifter groaned again. I put my phone away then walked across to pick up the brick I'd dropped. As my fingers wrapped around it, the shifter jerked and tried to get to his feet. Either he hadn't felt the break or he was still partially out of it, but the sudden movement ripped a scream from his throat.
Almost instantly his flesh began to ripple and pulsate as his body fought to heal his bones. I raised the brick and said, "Stop that now, or I'll break more than your fucking leg."
He stopped the shift and glared up at me balefully, anger mingling with pain in his eyes. Then he lunged sideways at me, his hand grasping for my ankle. I leapt backward, a gasp surging up my throat but not quite reaching my lips, then brought the brick down, smashing it against his hand, trapping it between the brick and the concrete. He howled a second time.
"Move again, and I'll break every bone in your hand."
Sweat trickled down his twisted face. "What do you want?"
"I want your name and the name of your boss. I want to know why you're after me." They might have said my father was the reason I was being hunted, but it never hurt to be certain.
"My name is Graham Turner." He hesitated, and something flickered in his eyes. "I can't tell you who my boss is."
I pressed all my weight down onto the brick, and he screamed again. I eased up, then said, "I don't believe you."
"It's true," he all but spat. Pain and fury were etched deep into his expression. Maybe it was just as well the Directorate had a kill policy, because otherwise my life would not have been worth much. "Marcus is the only one who knows how to contact him. I've only ever heard his voice over the phone."