"Why is my girl there, Dane?" Leo asked him.
Dane watched the snow. "Cracking code. Someone's slipping secrets to Engalls and Brandenmore," he said quietly. "I put her on it."
Leo was silent. "Good choice," he finally commented. "So why do I feel the but?"
That was his father. Sometimes Dane wondered if Leo wasn't aware of every damned game he was involved in.
He sighed wearily, spoke heavily and told his father the situation. Leo listened, for once without exploding in the middle of the story. Leo liked to explode. It made him feel better. When Dane finished, he remained silent and watched that damned snow pile up. At least Ria wasn't screaming any longer.
"Have you identified the traitor yet?" Leo's voice was hard, furious.
"Not yet. She was working on it when Alaiya showed up."
"I'm having the jet prepared. Meet us at the airfield in Buffalo Gap. Your mother, the girls and I will be there ASAP."
"Not good, Leo," he sighed. He hadn't expected that. "We can't risk it yet. And we sure as hell can't risk the girls."
"Leo Vanderale is arriving in Sanctuary to check the status of how his f**king money is being spent," his father snarled. "The Leo doesn't have to advertise who the hell he is. Arrange it. And I want that whelp Jonas ready to account for himself. Tell Callan to make room for me in the estate. I'll bring my security with me as well."
Dane rubbed at his forehead. "I'm bringing her home tomorrow. She'll be ready to go."
Leo waited. Listened.
"You don't want to see her like this, Dad." He rarely called Leo dad. "Let me bring her home. We'll heal her there."
Leo snorted. "If you're not on that jet by afternoon, I'm heading out. Count on it."
"I'll count on it," he answered.
"Did you get her nice baubles for risking her ass against my anger when I found out what you two were up to?" Leo finally snarled.
"Yeah. I did." But they weren't enough. There weren't enough baubles to ease her now.
"Hell," Leo sighed. "Take care of her Dane."
"I always do." Dane disconnected the line and continued to stare into the night. He always did, yet he hadn't this time.
And as he watched, the first powerful four-legged lion stepped into the clearing. The male animal shook the snow from its dark, flowing mane, tilted its head and roared into the night.
Another call followed, and yet another. And as Dane watched, Lawe and Rule moved warily from their positions, edging back to the limo as he threw the doors open and allowed the two Breeds to slide inside the warmth of the car.
Rye didn't bother to get out and enter the back through a door. He slid over the seat positioned behind the driver's area and stared back at Dane in surprise.
"There's a lot of f**king lions out there," he commented uncomfortably.
They were screaming into the night now, spurred by the animal Dane could swear he could feel heading this way.
Another animal stepped in. A lioness, her scream echoing through the night as the lions surrounded the cabin.
A dozen fully grown, enraged creatures, following one simple command. To protect Mercury's mate.
Dane let a smile tip his lips as he opened the small bar set in the center of the seat and pulled free the whiskey and glasses.
"Looks like the night just got interesting, my friends," he drawled, pouring the alcohol. "I say we enjoy the show while we can."
Ria's mate was coming for her. He had feared the mating was for the bitch that arrived that night, and his instincts had been infuriated by that. He'd have to call the Leo back.
He saluted his companions as another lion appeared. Damn, those bastards were big.