As Lex had demanded that Dave tell him the rest, he’d ushered Nina back into the house and was putting his pants on quickly.

“Brian is dead. They used silver shot. Eric is being treated right now for some pretty bad wounds. Charlie may not make it. He’s in surgery.”

Lex took long strides to their bedroom and pulled out a shirt and a bulletproof vest. Dave helped Lex get it fastened at the sides and Nina moved to get jeans and her Doc Martens on.

Lex looked up as he strapped a holster to his thigh. “What the f**k do you think you’re doing?”

She fastened the Velcro at the sides of her smaller vest that Dorian had given her earlier that week. “I’m putting on a vest to go under my shirt.” She pulled a sweatshirt on over it and undid the trigger lock on her handgun, checked the clip and put it in the underarm holster that she’d strapped on.

Lex grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. “I don’t have the time or the patience for an argument now, Nina. You are not going. You will stay here. Period.”

“I am Second in this Pack, I can shoot. I am a damned good fighter and I’m going. I’m not going to argue with you so that shouldn’t tire you out. Now let’s go.”

“Dave, wait for me downstairs. Call Stoner and tell him to meet us at the hospital.” Lex said it without taking his eyes from Nina. When Dave had gone Nina simply held up her hand.

“No. I’m not arguing with you on this. I am coming. I won’t be stupid but I’m coming.”

“You are being stupid, Nina. You are not trained to do this. I’ll be distracted worrying about you.”

“I’ll stay back. I won’t get into something I can’t handle. But I’m not staying here and that’s that.”

“Damn it, Nina! You are not coming! Stop being such a stubborn female!” He shouted all of that but Nina heard the fear in his voice.

She reached up and kissed his chin. “I’m coming. I’m not getting hurt and neither are you. Please, Lex. These people murdered my brother, they took him from me. Don’t make me stay back here. I need to be there. I need to see this through.” Her eyes pleaded with him and her voice showed the depth of her emotion. “Now come on.” She turned and walked out. He growled, following in her wake.

“Cade, order her to stay back,” Lex called out as they entered the living room.

“I’ll make every day of the rest of your life a living hell if you do,” Nina called out as she grabbed her hair, twisted it up into a quick bun and secured it with a ponytail holder.

Cade stood there with a smile on his face and shrugged at Lex. “She’ll be fine. She’ll just follow you like a puppy if you don’t take her. This way you can at least know where she is at all times.”

“Some Alpha you are,” Lex snarled as he checked the clips in his weapons and strapped them on while Dave helped him with the knife sheath at his waist.

Cade chuckled. “I like walking without a limp. I’m more afraid of her than you.”

Nina laughed and went to the door and waited.

“Damn it.” Lex stomped to her and pulled her shirt up and made sure she’d fastened the vest correctly. He rechecked her weapons and gave her a last look before shoving her out the door, knowing she was wearing a smug smile even when he couldn’t see her face.

Triumphant that she had won, she wasn’t stupid either. She knew that Lex was an expert at this stuff and she had no plans of doing the stupid heroine thing and getting herself trapped and endangering everyone else. No, Nina sat quietly in the car, listening as Lex gave orders to his men on the way over to the hospital. She had every intention of listening to and obeying his orders. He appeared to be partially mollified by her behavior, which relaxed them both a bit.

When they arrived the men fanned out on his orders and he headed toward Stoner, who stood similarly suited in a vest and weapons.

“What’s the story?” Stoner barked and Lex quickly filled him in.

One of the members of Lex’s team ran back toward them, still in wolf form. When Stoner noticed a panicked look flashed over his face. Nina touched his arm. “It’s okay. He tracks better this way. He can pick up the scent of other wolves.”

Lex looked deep into the wolf’s eyes and nodded. He gave quiet, terse orders to the group. “They had a car and shoved the new wolf into it. But they didn’t drive far and whatever it was they drove, it was unusual, so Shane kept the scent. They are two miles from here. We’re going to take the patch of woods behind the hospital and approach the house from the rear.”

Stoner nodded and spoke quietly to the two officers he had with him.

Lex approached Nina and looked into her eyes. “You will stay behind Megan. You will not hesitate to use your weapon on any wolf or human who attacks you. You will not run off or do anything stupid.”

Nina nodded solemnly and then with her fingertip drew an X over her heart. “Cross my heart and hope to wear granny underwear until I die.”

He choked a surprised laugh. “Nina, I have to know you’re taking this seriously.” His voice was urgent as he held her upper arms.

“I am. I promise you, Lex. I’m bitchy, but I’m not dumb.”

“I love you.” He kissed her forehead and she watched as he dropped the face of her mate and pulled the Enforcer mask on.

She took a step back in awe a bit of fear. He was so intense at that moment, strong and powerful. A killing machine. It was kinda hot.