Something else his father resented Ric for, but really, what did the man expect?

“You’re paying Fortelli too much for the fish.” He raised a recent invoice and slammed it on the desk. Pulled out another invoice. “And the seal meat.”

Ric didn’t reply. He simply did that thing he did when his father got like this. He “went away.” He just thought of something else. Something more pleasant or more interesting or more anything than the old bastard muttering at him in that fussy tone about something Ric didn’t control—that’s why they had a general manager—and knew wasn’t true anyway.

Instead, he thought about Dee. Gorgeous, sexy Dee. She wouldn’t be easy to make his own.

Dee-Ann Smith would be a challenge for any wolf, but for Ric especially because he was a Van Holtz. It was rumored that Smiths warned their pups away from Van Holtzes from birth and something told Ric that Dee’s father had definitely been one of those. Of course, that wouldn’t stop Ric from trying. Just because the bone he wanted was on the other side of the fence didn’t mean he would ever stop trying to get over, around, or under that fence until he got what he wanted.

A rather antiquated reference to the well-known Van Holtz determination, but still true today.

“What are you smiling at?”

Ric looked up and realized his father was standing in front of him, Wendell on his right. Not the best position for any wolf to be in.

“Nothing. Is there anything else?”

His father stepped closer, studying him from behind those small round glasses. “Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me about . . . son?” Ric shook his head. “No, sir.”

Another step closer, Wendell moving in from the other side. “Really?” Another step. “Not even about what I saw washing the dishes not more than twenty minutes ago?” Damn. So concerned over those bloody books, Ric had completely forgotten about Stein.

“I don’t see what there is to discuss.”

“Is that right?”

“I have full discretion on whom I hire and whom I don’t.”

“Have you forgotten what he did? Why he was removed from the Pack? From the family?” Christ, his father made it sound like they’d had a tumor surgically removed before it got too big.

Stein was a lot of things, but not something to be coldly and callously excised from those he knew and loved. And not only that, but talk about the pot calling out the kettle. At least Stein had his youth as an excuse to stealing from his Pack. What was Alder’s excuse?

“I’ve forgotten nothing,” Ric replied simply.

“And?” his father pushed.

Ric shrugged. He wouldn’t elaborate. He wouldn’t argue this any further. There was no point.

Besides, it was when Ric was trying to defend himself that Alder VanHoltz went in for the kill. He could do with words what many could do with knives or claws. Even Uncle Van didn’t go toe-to-toe with Alder when it came to words. In fact, the only one among them brave enough? Van’s wife, Aunt Irene. One of the many reasons Ric adored her like the moon.

“And nothing.”

By now, Alder was only a few inches from his youngest offspring. “Do you really think,” he whispered, “that your precious Uncle Van will keep running to your rescue, boy? You’re not a pup anymore.”

“No. I’m not. And that’s why I’m telling you to get the hell out of my restaurant.” His father smiled, seeing some opening that Ric was unaware of. Mind scrambling, Ric tried to figure out what he could have missed, what he could have said that gave the bastard a way in for the kill. While he did, he prepared himself for the blow. Not a physical one. That he could handle and if it came, it would be from his brother. No. This would not be physical, but it would do much worse damage.

“Listen to me, Ulrich,” his father said, still smiling, “I—” The door swung open, slamming into the back of Alder’s head and pushing him into Ric’s arms.

“Ric, you in here? We need to talk, supermodel.”

Dee-Ann stepped into the room, her eyes catching sight of Wendell. “Are you supposed to be in here?” she demanded.

“Are you?” Wendell shot back.

“Yeah.”

The comeback was so calm and simple that Wendell had absolutely no response. It was amazing.

“Dee-Ann?”

She looked around the door. “There you are.”

Ric helped his father back to a standing position. Not because he wanted to, but because he wanted the man out of his arms.

“You remember my father?” Ric asked.

Dee looked at the door and at the older wolf glowering at her. “Oh.” She looked at the door again. Then Ric’s father. “Oh, Lord.”

Although Dee didn’t like Ric’s father, she still didn’t want to go beating him up with doors. That was rude and her momma would expect more from her. Especially when Dee was sleeping with the man’s son.

“Mr. Van Holtz, I’m very—”

Before she could finish her apology, the wolf stormed past her, practically shoving her into the door she’d battered him with.

She leaned out into the hallway, calling after him, “I’m real sorry. I can assure you it was an accident.”

“Like your birth?”

That came from Wen- dell— she always made sure to enunciate the last part of his name since it seemed to piss him off so much. But as she turned to tell him exactly what she thought of his birth, she saw that there was no point. Because she didn’t have the chance.