Four Days (Seven Series #4) (11 page)

Lorenzo took a seat in one of two chairs facing him and watched Ivan strike a match.

After a few puffs, Ivan sat back and tapped one of his boot heels on the hard floor. “So tell me how it is that Cole lost my daughter and you came to find her.”

“A man named Fox was hunting her. She tells me he was your second-in-command.”

Ivan growled and scratched his bristly jaw. “If you see him, feel free to send him my regards with a bullet to the head.”

Lorenzo chose his words carefully. “I can easily deliver that message for my own reasons. Perhaps mine trump yours.”

Ivan narrowed his cloudy eyes, taking a few puffs from his pipe. “Injuns are sly like the devil. I once saw a native lure a rabbit out of a hole by singing. Damndest thing I ever saw. I’ll tell you my issue with Fox because it’s no secret around here. I found him digging in my drawers and going through my computer files. I didn’t tell my men where I sent Ivy when I traded her off a year ago, and Fox seemed to be the only man who couldn’t rest easy with my decision. That’s when I knew.”

“Knew what?”

After a long inhale, Ivan looked Lorenzo square in the eyes. “That he was the one who turned my daughter into a whore.”

Lorenzo leaned forward, nostrils flaring. “He
what
?”

Ivan closed off a little and averted his eyes. “That’s why I had to send Poison Ivy away. I wasn’t about to have my own daughter become the pack whore. She deceived me, and while I can’t turn my back on her, I don’t think I can forgive her for the embarrassment she put me through.”

Lorenzo clenched his fists, biting back his rage.

“So you see, once I found out who had betrayed me, I threw him out like scraps to the dogs. He’s lucky I didn’t string him up from a tree and skin him alive. Doing that to my second-in-command would have stirred up the pack, and I’m sure I would have lost a few men. So instead, I kicked him out. Oh, Fox wasn’t happy about it one bit. He got real comfortable with his rank in this pack—maybe too much. I kept his damn sports car though,” Ivan said with a dark chuckle. “Now
that
thing I plan to skin alive. Once he gets settled, I’m going to mail him one part at a time. Maybe if he’s handy enough, he’ll figure out how to put it back together.” Ivan rocked with laughter and ended it with a snarly snort.

“It seems Fox has gathered up a band of rogues and formed his own pack.”

“Yeah, he talked my third in rank into stupidly going with him. That’s why I’m looking outside my pack for another second-in-command to replace him. No one in this pack is fit to hold that position. I’ve been around long enough to know that if you bring in too many strong men with the intention of always having a backup in case your top dogs defect, you’ll end up with a bunch of wolves fighting each other for rank. I don’t mind bringing in new blood to fill the position; there are plenty of qualified candidates in the area, and it’s about time I shook things up around here. Maybe he’ll get some of these sorry asses to look for a job.”

“Are you not concerned that Fox is now in our territory and hunting your daughter?”

Ivan set his pipe down and stretched his legs. “I wouldn’t worry about Fox, not unless he’s managed to convince the crazy fools following him to act on his wishes. It’s real hard for a non-alpha to boss around a bunch of nomads. But he’s conniving. If he wants her, well… I can’t do anything about that.”

Lorenzo shifted in his chair.
Why would her father make such an unfeeling statement?
Fox had no claim on his daughter just because he’d put his cock in her. That image invaded his thoughts and he drew in a deep, calming breath. “Ivy was injured by a car while in wolf form, and I’m offering her temporary shelter. She’ll return to Cole in another two days, and then she’ll be
his
problem. I’m not certain he’ll be able to fight off this rogue pack. Cole has many weak points, namely the humans they’ll be protecting within his house. He also doesn’t have the numbers if Fox has a substantial pack.”

“Humans?” Ivan’s lip curled in with disgust. “Cole’s family was one of them hippy-dippy kinds, traveling about and never settling. His father’s a good man, but I’ve had my doubts about Austin holding a pack together. Still, I gave him the benefit of the doubt when I sent Ivy to live with him.”

“I sent him my second-in-command to fight off any further attacks until I can return your daughter.”

Ivan chuckled. “You are one dumb injun.”

Lorenzo launched to his feet. “With all due respect, if you call me that once more, we’ll settle this Shifter style.”

Ivan knew what that meant: a challenge in wolf form. He sucked on his teeth for a minute and gave a low grunt. Ivan might trump him in rank, but Lorenzo’s wolf was young and undoubtedly the fiercer of the two. It was an alpha’s right to challenge another Packmaster when he was insulted. It wasn’t a fight that would go to the death, but it would leave one of them in a submissive position that would look bad to that man’s pack.

“When you called to tell me you were coming up, Church, I foolishly thought you were going to ask permission to mate with my daughter. If I didn’t know better, I might still wonder about that. The way I see it, you should have returned Ivy to her Packmaster. But you didn’t. You offered him your second so you could keep Poison Ivy around. You’ll never be able to scratch that itch. Tell me how fast it took her to climb into your bed?”

“You’re a repugnant man.”

“Maybe so,” Ivan said, rising to his feet. “But that girl took away the only thing that meant something to me in this world. My mate. I’m not about to go into personal details with the likes of you, but I only have parental obligation toward that woman. My advice is that you return her to Cole before she brings you to ruin. I sent her to stay with Cole because that girl needs to learn how to be submissive, and I trust Cole enough that I know he’ll make sure to do that. He’s got a willful mate who won’t put up with that kind of thing in her pack, so between the two of them, they’ll keep her in line. Now that we’ve cleared the air, why don’t you tell me why you’re
really
here? I don’t like deception, and I’m feeling like a man deceived. If it’s not my daughter you want, then what sent you all this way from Austin fucking Texas?”

Lorenzo glanced down at Ivan’s snakeskin boots.

“Like ’em?” he asked, tipping one foot out to the side. “These came from a Shifter who made the mistake of crossing me.”

“There’s one thing you should know about me, Kizer. I’m not a man who likes to be threatened. If you do it once more, I’ll shift in this room and tear out your throat. I came on behalf of your daughter to find out more about this Fox character. He’s not just an issue with Cole, but we don’t like rogue packs sniffing out neighboring territories. If they’re successful at a hostile takeover of Cole’s pack, then Fox becomes
my
problem. I’m a man who likes to keep his grass cut low so the weeds don’t take over. You said he took one man from your pack, but no friends outside your home?”

“Not that I know of. Fox likes to run with other Breeds.” Ivan paced toward the window and rubbed his nose. “Not many around here mingle with other animals, but I’d seen him commiserating with panthers and the occasional grizzly. It didn’t look good on our pack, but I couldn’t really do a damn thing about it. What they do outside this house is not my problem unless they bring it through my front door.”

Lorenzo pinched his chin, realizing Fox could be a bigger problem than he’d first realized. If he ran with other animals, then he could have formed a multi-Shifter pack, and that could be a dangerous situation to control. That valuable piece of information just made the long trip to Oklahoma worth it.

“I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me, Kizer. Here’s my number if you wish to call your daughter.” Lorenzo placed his business card on a small table and Ivan peered over his shoulder before turning back to the window.

Deciding he’d overstayed his welcome, Lorenzo swaggered toward the door.

“And Church?”

Lorenzo gripped the doorknob. “Yes?”

They met eyes.

“No matter how I feel about her, she’s still my flesh and blood. If you disrespect her, then you disrespect me. You tell her… tell Ivy to be a good girl.”

A blanket of silence fell between them before Lorenzo spoke. “I have no desire to harm this young woman, but consider passing along the message yourself. I’m sure she’d like to hear a kind word from her father.”

Tired of lying around in nothing but Lorenzo’s silk robe, I went through his drawers and found an oversized button-up shirt that fell just above my knees.
The red and black material was super-soft flannel—a garment he’d worn and washed a million times over. I couldn’t imagine Lorenzo wearing something so cozy and inviting, but it smelled like him.

I liked this secret side of Lorenzo and wanted to nose through more of his things, but my leg kept me from doing that. Each drink of his medicine seemed to help the pain subside, but I couldn’t move as nimbly as I once had.

I walked with a limp.

The cream cheese he’d left out hit the spot, and I eagerly consumed the entire container, sating my wolf’s inner craving. There was also peanut butter, bread, a small jar of raspberry preserves, crackers, fruits, and a gigantic bag of assorted nuts.

The view from his bedroom window was magnificent, and I spent a generous amount of time in a curved chair, admiring the scenery. The room had no phone, and if not for my leg, I would have been pacing the floor.

When the horizon swallowed the last drop of the sun, I devised a plan. Lorenzo had ordered me not to open the door for anyone, but the needs of my own pack came first. Austin was the only alpha who could order me around, and I had to find out if they were safe. My family could be in danger. What if I had useful information that could help them? Since I was under Lorenzo’s personal protection, then his packmates couldn’t touch me until they heard back from him.

The hallway outside Lorenzo’s room was spacious and empty. I approached the staircase ahead and glanced over the banister, realizing we were higher than the second floor. Goodness, I’d make an entrance as memorable as a drunken Fred Astaire if I went down that way.

“Now what?” I whispered.

When I looked left toward the back of the house, I noticed an odd door against the far wall. The wood was different from the others, and lovely etchings in a pale gold were on both narrow doors. A black button on the right caught my attention. An elevator!

I limped toward it, putting more weight on my right leg. I needed to get that under control because if I met with his pack, I didn’t want to show them my weakness. When I slowed my pace, the lameness became easier to conceal. I pressed the button and stepped inside the mirrored room, watching the doors silently close. A red carpet scratched at my bare feet, and the interior looked gold. I laughed to myself, wondering if Lorenzo was kidding about the gold toilet. He had a dry sense of humor, so it was hard to tell when he was being funny.

I anxiously wrung my hands, waiting for the doors to open. My sleeves were rolled up to show them I carried no weapons.
What if they’re waiting for me with daggers in hand?

The door opened and I stepped on cold kitchen tile. Lorenzo had an impressive home. The kitchen looked like something out of a magazine—stainless-steel appliances and a long counter in the center. His pack kept it impeccably clean, not a crumb or even a flower display to be found. A row of copper pots and pans hung above the counter, shiny as if they’d never been used. The chatter in the house drew me closer to the hall on my right.

I cleared my throat and approached the open doorway. My heart must have been going a mile a minute, and my throat felt like sandpaper. I felt like an intruder and prayed he had a sensible pack.

A woman swiftly rounded the corner and gasped in surprise when she bumped into me. Her dark red curls fell against her bare shoulders, and she was well-endowed, judging by the way her tank top had lost the war of concealing her breasts. She looked at me from head to toe before yelling over her shoulder, “What have I told you boys about bringing in tramps?”

Then her head snapped back and she put her hands on her hips. “Who let you in?”

I realized she must be the alpha female. If that was the case, she had the power to toss me out on my behind.

“I’m Ivy, and I’m here as Lorenzo’s guest.”

Her blue eyes widened. “You little liar.”

“It’s not like that,” I quickly said.

She touched a button on my flannel shirt. “Sure looks like it’s
that
to me.”

Lorenzo might have claimed this woman, so I didn’t want to give her the wrong impression. “He found me in wolf form—that’s why I don’t have my clothes. I’m not here to cause trouble, but Lorenzo left and I didn’t want to hide upstairs. I thought the respectful thing to do was come down and introduce myself so you were aware of my presence. I just want to extend my friendship to the pack.”

She jutted her jaw out and irritation flashed in her eyes. “I just
bet
.”

“What’s going on?” a man asked, appearing by her side. A smile brightened his face, and his cheeks flushed when I looked up at him. “I’m Caleb.”

The redhead elbowed him. “Don’t introduce yourself. She’s a saboteur.”

“Oh yeah? And what’s she saboteuring?”

“You mean
sabotaging
,” the woman said with disdain.

His eyes rolled back. “Shut up, Rebecca. Just because you watch
Wheel of Fortune
doesn’t mean you’re more educated than the rest of us.”

Another man came up behind him, and this one wore menace like a cloak. He towered over both of them, his brown eyes cold and devoid of emotion, his looks barbaric.

“Who’s this? I didn’t see her cross onto the property.”

“I’m Ivy Kizer,” I said with a respectful nod. “I’m Lorenzo’s guest.”

He nudged Rebecca aside. “And I’m going to repeat myself. I didn’t see you cross onto the property.”

“I don’t remember how I was brought here, but if you doubt my words, then call your Packmaster. Standing here arguing about it is a waste of breath. And don’t bother cracking your knuckles as a show of intimidation—no man intimidates me. What’s your name?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up as he swallowed. “Watcher.”

“Unusual name.”

Rebecca spoke as if I were an unruly child. “That’s what they
call
him.”

“He’s got good eyes,” Caleb added.

“Watcher, I have no ill intentions toward your pack. Let me use your phone so I can call my Packmaster. If he orders me home, then I’ll have no choice but to leave, and I’m sure that’ll make everyone here very happy. But if you want to change your name from Watcher to Boulder by blocking my way, then Lorenzo will be interested to hear about how you browbeat me.”

“You could be lying,” he said.

“But if I’m not, that doesn’t put you in a good standing with your Packmaster to treat his guest in this hostile manner. Do you want to take the chance?” I held out my open hands. “Do I look like I can take down your entire pack? Please, just let me use the phone.”

Rebecca looked up at Watcher and jerked her head to the left, signaling for him to go get it.

They eyeballed me without saying a word until Watcher returned with the phone. I quickly dialed Austin and turned away from them. They backed into the hall and began chattering in low voices.

“This is the party to whom you are speaking,” a voice answered.

“Izzy? It’s me, Ivy.”

She gasped and didn’t even bother to cover the phone when she screamed, “It’s Ivy!”

“Does Austin know where I am? … Hello?”

“Ivy, this is Austin. Tell me if you’re hurt and I’ll kill the sonofabitch.”

“I’m with Lorenzo.”

“That I know. Is something wrong?”

Lorenzo had been truthful with me—Austin knew where I was. Why hadn’t he demanded my return? “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Has Fox tried anything?”

“His men showed up sniffing around the property twice, and Reno’s wolf got in a tangle with one of them. They’re testing our weaknesses. The night you vanished, a wolf was sniffing in circles down by the road, so we had a feeling Fox had tried to run you off.”

“I’m so sorry for leaving the house, Austin. He showed up and wanted to speak with me privately. I thought maybe we could settle it between us before things got out of hand. He only wanted to talk, but I guess my wolf became protective of me and I lost control.”

“Have there been any rogues on Church’s property?”

“We heard some unfamiliar wolves howling, but nothing confirmed that I’m aware of. He tells me little. Lorenzo has a large pack, so I don’t think Fox will try anything. Do you want me to come home?”

“Ivy, how are you holding up? He said you were hurt bad.”

“I was,” I replied in a quiet voice. “I’m better, but not all the way.” Tears stung my eyes as the pain of missing my family—my pack—began to settle in. “Are you sure everyone’s safe?”

“We’re keeping the house locked up tight with all the alarms on. Everyone is inside except for Reno. He set up camp on the porch with a few weapons that’ll blow a hole in a whale.” Austin chuckled on a low breath. “I think he’s even got one of those rocket launchers. Nothing you need to worry about. Just rest and heal yourself. I made an agreement with Church that you’ll be coming home the day after tomorrow. Is there a message you want me to give to Lexi or anyone else?”

I pinched my lips, tears wetting my cheeks. “Tell them that I love them,” I said, my voice breaking.

“Will do.”

When I hung up, I sniffed and rubbed my nose.

“Oh, Jesus. We got ourselves a baby wolf in the house,” Rebecca said.

I calmly turned around so as not to draw attention to my leg. “Tears are not just for children. My mother once told me that a soul is a river and that the spirits give us teardrops when we have converged with another life. We overflow with them because our spirits become wider and deeper than before. Those who lack love or compassion will not be given the gift of tears.”

She chortled. “Well, go on and cry a river for me, sweetie.”

“Shut the fuck up, Rebecca,” Caleb spat out, seemingly enthralled by my words. “Maybe the reason you don’t cry is because your soul is as dry as your vagina.”

She lunged and scratched his face before Watcher stepped between them and broke it up.

“Intruders on the property! Intruders on the property!” a voice boomed from across the house.

A riot of noise erupted as heavy footfalls came from all directions in the house. When I moved through the hall and into the front room, people were scattering like leaves. A few looked at me suspiciously. More than fifteen men had run out the front door.

“Are the alarms set?” I shouted.

A slim man with bright blond hair gave me a funny look. “We don’t need alarms. Who the hell are you?”

“If someone decides to sneak in through one of the back windows, are you still going to say you don’t need alarms? This is a large house.”

Watcher snapped his fingers and four men ran to the back of the house. Goodness, what Lorenzo had in numbers gave him false security. Anyone could get inside.

A wolf ran past me and skidded to a halt, cocking his head and curling his lips back. I stood still and offered him the palm of my hand, lowering my eyes to the floor. He smelled me and then trotted into another room.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Watcher peered out the window. “One of our men spotted two rogues circling the property. Panthers.”

I could hardly breathe. Panthers were deadly to wolves and had taken out entire packs with only a few members. “Do you have weapons?”

“Yeah.”

I raised my voice. “Then arm your best men and have them surround the house. You need two lines of defense. My father didn’t believe all battles could be settled by our animals, and the odds could be tipped in their favor. Let your wolves be your first line of defense and a group of armed men be your second. Then a third inside. I know who’s behind this, and he’s a wolf. Send out the strongest bitches in your pack and put them on the front lines. His wolves won’t attack, and it’ll create a distraction.”

“Jesus, where did you come from?”

“My father defended our pack against rogues on three occasions. He never lost.”

Watcher chewed on it for a second before going out the front door. I heard a sharp whistle and some talking.

I glanced around the house at the intimate sense of warmth and home. Elegant wood floors spanned the house, and dim lights reflected an amber glow within the rooms. I walked up to a wall, admiring the Native American artifacts mingled with modern art. A spear, arrowheads in a case, a painting of a sunset—Lorenzo had expensive taste and yet held on to his roots.

A shrill scream came from the back of the house and a wolf lurched into the room. His jaws were wet with crimson, his ears flat, his tail straight out from his body. A pack member would never behave this way among his own family, and a chill crept down my spine as I stared into the eyes of an enemy wolf. Four men within sight were too far to get to me in time.

Rebecca dashed through the room and shouted, “I saw a panther!”

Her eyes went wide when the startled wolf leapt at her. Without thinking, I grabbed the spear from the wall and threw it at the wolf. It sliced into his shoulder and punched out through the front of his chest. A spray of blood darkened the floor and the wolf yelped as he fell to his side.

Two of the men made it to us and dragged the downed wolf outside by his hind legs, the spear still in him.

When another wolf trotted in from the back, Watcher appeared and shifted into a massive black wolf. The two stood on their hind legs and savagely attacked each other. Unarmed, I backed away and grabbed a man’s arm. “There’s a breach at the back of the house. A door must be open and they’re getting in. Hurry!”

The sound of wolves fighting outside riled up my spirit wolf, but this was not the time or place. She didn’t know this pack and would turn on them. I felt a rising sense of panic when two men ran toward the sound of shouts coming from the kitchen.

My God, Fox knew I was here.

***

A short time later, the pack had killed two wolves in the struggle to defend their territory. A couple of Lorenzo’s men had sustained minor injuries, but quickly healed after shifting. The panthers never moved in, only circled the house to spook the pack.