“I didn’t expect this to be a picnic.” She stepped closer.

He stripped out of his shirt. “I’m going to put this over your back to further hide your scent. There are guards posted that we’ll need to pass. If they scent me, they’ll just think I’m out for a run to rid myself of nervous energy. They’ll contact your mate if they pick up his scent you're carrying, wondering why you’re out in the woods. They know he's with his father right now.”

“Smart.” She reached out and felt the big man’s broad shoulders when he crouched down in front of her. He gripped her hips gently and pulled her closer to his body until she bent, her pelvis against him. He released her hips and hooked one arm over her legs as he stood.

Memories of when Drantos had carried her returned. This time she was willingly letting a man treat her like a sack of laundry. He threw his shirt over her, covering as much of her as he could.

“Be very quiet.” He paused. “What is that pressed against my chest?”

“Gun.”

He sighed.

“I don’t have claws. I stole one of Drantos’s.”

“Do you know how to use it?”

“Of course,” she lied.

“Good.” He spun, moving fast.

Dusti closed her eyes since she couldn’t see anything anyway. All her recent conversations with her sister replayed through her mind. She mentally repeated the way Bat spoke, mimicking her. Her sister could be condescending and bitchy. It extended to her tone of voice.

The practice helped pass the time as Lake ran with her. She had to give him a lot of credit for using his hands to cushion her body from a lot of jostling around. It wasn’t exactly comfy but it wasn’t painful either. His breathing hardly changed. VampLycans were really fit.

Lake finally stopped running and Dusti opened her eyes, lifting her head. He bent and helped her ease away from him but kept close.

“We’re near. I smell strangers,” he whispered.

“Game on,” she whispered back and cleared her throat. “Do you know who I am, you big gorilla?” She raised her voice. “I’ll have you arrested for kidnapping, and hell, offensive groping. I’m an attorney. You chose the wrong woman to fuck with!”

Lake turned his head and she could feel him staring at her. She shrugged, shoving his shirt at him. “Grab the baby and go as fast as you can,” she breathed.

“Shut up,” he loudly snarled. He gripped her hand and yanked her none too gently forward. Dusti startled but didn’t stumble.

“Let me go! Did you hear me, you Neanderthal? I know dozens of judges who will throw your ass in the slammer and toss away the key. It doesn’t mean shit that we’re in Alaska. You kidnapped a resident of California. I’ll have your pathetic ass extradited there to stand trial. Get your hands off me!”

He pulled her out into a clearing and the moon helped her see a bit. He stopped there. “Shut up or I’ll knock you out. You’re unpleasant.”

“Fuck off, dickhead. Where’s my grandfather? That poor man is sick and you drag him out here for some ransom scheme? That’s a federal crime. You and that band of thugs are going to be lucky if you don’t get the death penalty for everything you’ve done. And my sister Dusti better be alive! I don’t know what you idiots did with her but I’ll see you in hell if you touched a hair on my baby sister’s head.”

Movement came from the tree lines in at least four directions and Dusti’s heart hammered. Fear rose but she tried to push it down. They could pick it up with their freaky sense of smell. Lake moved behind her and gripped her throat. He didn’t hurt her but was putting on a show. He had sworn to break her neck if Decker didn’t bring him his niece.

“Where is Asha? I brought you Batina. I’d love to kill her if you lied. She’s been insulting me ever since I took her.” Lake forced her head up with his hold on her throat. “My claws are out. I’ll rip her head off.”

She was glad he lied. Just his fingertips pressed against her skin.

“Don’t,” a deep voice ordered. “You can have the brat. I’m sending her out to you. Take her and go. My enforcers said you weren’t followed.”

Dusti got a fix on the voice and shifted her eyes in that direction. Decker Filmore had to be the dark shape across the small clearing, near the trees. A smaller form appeared from the woods.

Lake’s hand on her throat flexed. “Asha! Come to me now. It’s Uncle. Run, baby.”

Dusti pressed her chin against his hand and watched the small body rush at them. She couldn’t get a real good look at her since it was too dark. The child reached them and slammed into her and Lake. The kid sounded upset with her ragged breathing.

Lake leaned in and pressed his lips against Dusti’s ear. “Help will come soon.”

She reached back and surreptitiously patted his leg. He released her throat and gave her a shove forward before snatching up the kid and pulling her into his arms. Dusti turned her head, watching him disappear into the woods. She could hear him running. He wasn’t being quiet.

“Asshole! You better run!” she yelled, then spun. “Grandpa? Are you out there? It’s Batina! You don’t know the hell I’ve been through. Those bastards took Dusti!” She needed to keep him distracted and convinced he had the right sister for as long as possible. It would give Lake a chance to get away. She lifted her hand and placed it on her forehead. “It’s been a nightmare.”

* * * * *

Drantos sat across the desk from his father. Both of them stared at the silent phone. It hadn’t rung to let them know Decker had been captured by the GarLycans or that the girl had been found by the members of Decker’s own clan searching for her.

His father sighed. “I hate waiting. I feel useless.”

“I know what you mean. I should go check on Dusti.” He sat up straighter and gripped the arms of the chair.

“You need to give her time to cool down. It’s something you’ll learn being mated. Sometimes a little space is a good thing. Your mother is with her. We’ll wait for word together here.”

“We don’t sit shit out. We should be out there searching for that child.”

“I agree but Lord Aveoth made a request. For whatever reason, he doesn’t want our clan involved.”