“Yes,” his father answered. “We passed him on our way to you.”

She jerked at Velder’s harsh tone.

Dusti? Drantos yelled at her again. Answer me!

“Where’s Decker?” Velder snarled.

That’s what I want to know. How did you get away from him? I was told he had you.

“Is she alright?” She recognized Red’s voice.

“Answer,” Velder demanded.

Dusti? I told you not to go, damn it. Are you injured? Hurt? Where the hell is that bastard Decker?!

“Enough,” Dusti shouted. “You’re all talking to me at once. I just had the wind knocked out of me from being tackled.” She took a deep breath and blew it out, staring down where she knew Drantos’s face was from the sound of his heavy breathing. “I’m okay. Everything is fine.”

“Where is Decker?”

She flinched. Her new father-in-law still sounded furious. She stared up at his hulking shape. He wasn’t on all fours anymore. He stood tall and was just a big silhouette in the shadows.

Dusti wiggled her hips and Drantos released her. She stood. “I killed him,” she admitted.

“What?”

“Um, I took the gun from your nightstand drawer. I shot him. Trust me. He’s dead. I hit him in the chest four times, and twice in the stomach after he had fallen down.”

“No fucking way,” Red gasped.

“Way,” Dusti muttered, turning to try to make out Drantos’s cousin. She could barely see anything at all so she gave up, blindly turning to Drantos again. “He didn’t know about the gun until it was too late. I hid it. Then I bluffed so his men ran away instead of killing me.”

“What?” Drantos gasped again.

“What part of that is confusing you or so hard to believe? I shot my grandfather and then yelled at his men that the GarLycans were flying in, told them the shots were my signal for them to attack. I can’t see a damn thing but I heard them running for their lives.”

“Son of a bitch,” Red muttered.

Drantos yanked her against him, nearly crushing her in a bear hug. “You could have been killed!”

“He thought I was Bat at first. He needed her alive. He didn’t know it was me until I told him—by then it was too late and we were close enough for me not to miss him when I fired the gun. I would have shot him more but I didn’t know how many bullets were in the gun. I didn’t exactly count them. I think there’s eight, right? I wanted a few to spare in case not all of his men ran away.”

“Unbelievable,” Velder rasped. “Where’s Decker’s body, Dusti?”

“In the clearing. It was freaking me out, standing so near it.”

Drantos shifted his hold on her and lifted her up his body. They left the trees and her vision got a little better with the moon to help. She saw two large shapes next to them. Red and Velder, staying close.

Until Velder suddenly sprinted forward.

She could make out enough to see her father-in-law wasn’t sporting any clothes. The sight of his bare ass wasn’t something she wanted to see but she couldn’t help it. He walked over to a spot in the longer grass and crouched.

“Damn it,” Drantos hissed.

“What?” Dusti gripped his shoulders.

“His body isn’t here.”

“I smell a lot of blood.” Red walked away to go to Velder.

“What do you mean his body isn’t here?” Dusti shook her head. “He was dead! He wasn’t breathing.” Drantos eased his hold and let her slide down his body. He clutched her hand, holding on tight.

Velder rose and walked a little. Red followed him.

“What is it, Dad?”

Velder paused. “There’s a blood trail and two sets of prints. It looks as if an enforcer returned for him.” He started walking again and then bent, lifting something from the ground.

“What is that? I can’t make it out.” Dusti hated being at a disadvantage.

“Clothing,” Drantos whispered. “Someone shifted.” He sniffed the air. “Not Decker’s scent.”

“I shot him six damn times.” Dusti refused to believe he might be alive. “Six! He wasn’t breathing.”

“We’re hard to kill.” Drantos tugged her closer.

“It’s possible he died and they just took his body. Get her out of here, Drantos.” Velder fell to his knees. “Shift back, Red. Help me track them to be certain. Let’s end this.”

Drantos let go of Dusti’s hand and gripped her hips, lifting her. He flung her over his shoulder and proceeded to carry her back into the trees.

She placed her hands just above his ass to brace her body so her face didn’t slam into his back. “I can walk.”

“Shut up. I’m angry right now.” He stopped. “Find my gun. It’s around here.”

“I can’t see a damn thing,” Dusti admitted.

“I wasn’t talking to you, mate. More of our clan just arrived. Be silent.”

She tried to hold back her irritation as Drantos gave orders to people around them that she couldn’t see. He had a right to be upset with her but he was taking it to the extreme. He told some of them to go help his father, others to spread out and search the area for any of Decker’s enforcers. Then he marched through the woods with her. His mind was closed off when she tried to sense what he was thinking or feeling.

“I really hate when you carry me like this,” she finally sighed.

“You’re lucky I don’t spank your ass. What were you thinking? You could have died.”

“I told you I could play Bat. I totally faked him out and he didn’t even know it was me until I threw it in his face. I sounded just like her when she’s pissed off. I have it down pat. Can you please put me down? I hate feeling like a sack of laundry.”

“Goddamn it.” Drantos snarled. “Take this seriously. Do you understand that he could have killed you?”

“I knew that but I’m not useless.”

He came to a jarring halt. “I never thought you were.”

“They do,” she whispered. “I needed to show them I’m a part of your clan, Drantos. Tell me one woman who wouldn’t have willingly done what I did if they’d been in my shoes. I know you’re mad but you wouldn’t even listen to reason.”