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Felicity shrank back, staring at the ranch house with worry in her eyes. “Shouldn’t we be doing this at night?”
“Nah,” said Denny. “People get jumpier at night, and this is Texas. Don’t wanna get shot if I can avoid it. Figure you all probably feel the same.”
“But… shouldn’t we call Cordova?” Felicity asked. “Or the police?”
It was a good point. This was still, by all accounts, Cordova’s case. Denny had just succeeded where the FBI failed.
She’d called this place another dead end. But Denny had chosen to wait. I was embarrassed that I’d challenged him so hard about that now. He’d been right.
Maybe there was something to his so-called hunter’s intuition after all.
Denny laughed. “We don’t deal with the police. This is shifter business. Best handled in shifter ways. Any cops that come out here will need guns in case things get ugly. I don’t wanna risk that.”
A horrible scene darted through my mind. A slew of cops outside the ranch, armed and ready. Extra jumpy because they knew a shifter might be inside, prepared to shift and maul them the first chance she got. A bullet flying. It would only take one.
If my boys were in that house, it was a chance I didn’t want to take.
“No cops,” I agreed, then took Felicity by the elbows and turned her toward me.
Her hazel eyes were wide. She looked innocent as a doe in the forest, and terrified as one caught in headlights.
“It’s gonna be okay. We’ll make sure of it,” I promised her.
“Be safe,” she whispered, then threw her arms around me. She hugged me tightly and lingered, like she didn’t want to let go. “Bring them back.”
I kissed her forehead, longing for her lips. When we parted, Denny gave me a nod.
With Rabbit falling in behind us, we walked up the drive.
“So, how’re we doing this?” I asked, wary. We’d abandoned all cover. If Melony was staring out the window, she’d see all three of us coming right toward her. Denny and Rabbit, she wouldn’t recognize, but she’d know me right away.
“Casually,” Denny answered. “We don’t wanna scare or even startle her. If she bolts, Rabbit will be after her in a split.” He reached back and rubbed Rabbit’s head affectionately. Rabbit swatted his hand away, grinning like a rowdy little brother. “We don’t just call him Rabbit for his looks. This little shit is fast.”
“But if she knows we’re coming—”
“Then, she’ll have a little bit to think about how she wants to meet us. This girl’s in love with you, isn’t she?” Denny asked.
“Allegedly.” I glowered. I would’ve rather she hated my guts.
“Then, she should be happy to see you, kiddo.” Denny clapped me on the shoulder. “The cover was for Felicity, not you. With your kids in there, we don’t wanna engage in a fight unless we’ve gotta. If it looks like we come in peace, she’s more likely to give us peace in return.”
I clenched my fists but said nothing.
I wanted a fight. I wanted to kill Melony Houghton, hunt down her murderous father. I wanted to skin them both alive and make fur rugs out of their pelts. For stealing my sons, it was better than what they deserved.
But this was Denny’s operation. I’d play by his rules.
For now.
Rabbit peeled off from us once we reached the front porch, slinking around the side of the house. Denny stepped up and knocked on the door.
We stood back and waited for an answer.
It came in the form of a voice, hollering from behind the door.
“I’m coming! Hold on one sec.”
Denny and I exchanged a glance. I couldn’t tell if the voice was Melony’s or not, but she sounded like she hadn’t seen us coming. Hopefully, that was to our advantage.
