Part 19 (1/2)

To the best of Hugh's recollection, his pack had never done anything to upset the Wolf Seekers. The Seekers had simply decided to rid Los Angeles of the pack strictly because they hated Veilers. There were groups of Wolf Seekers across the country with the same mission.

Hugh took a few more steps. ”Why don't you enlighten me on what it is you think we've done?”

”This is a simple retaliation. You take one of ours, we take one of yours.”

”I don't know what you're talking about. We've never taken one of yours.”

”You not only took him, but we found him dead. Your friend is only alive because we want you to watch him die.”

Fury festered inside Hugh. The a.s.shole didn't know what he was talking about, and if he thought Hugh would watch his apprentice die, he was delusional.

”I repeat: your accusation is wrong. And if you don't hand over my friend, we'll have to take him by any means necessary.”

The man didn't squirm, didn't flinch, didn't move a muscle. ”Ahh, what happened to peaceful now?”

”Hand him over.” He was done talking. The idea that the Wolf Seeker might be right stoked an unpleasant flame inside him. Something was wrong. Very wrong. No way could one of his pack be guilty of such an act without Hugh knowing about it.

Right?

Had he been too busy with his helicopter company to notice disobedience? Was he too wrapped up in his own world, too determined to keep distance between himself and others that he'd missed something so important? So detrimental to the pack?

No. Impossible. Trey would have told him. Dane would have told him.

”I can't do that.”

Hugh counted seven Wolf Seekers. There were six of them, excluding Trey and Tess. He looked over his shoulder toward the bike.

Tess was gone.

Scanning the area for some sign of her, he clenched his fists, tightened his jaw. ”What can you do?” Where the h.e.l.l had she gone?

”As I said before, we'll execute your man as you watch. Does now suit you?”

”You know I'm not going to stand by and watch.”

As if on cue, the six Wolf Seekers behind the foreman pulled out tranquilizer guns. ”No, but maybe you'll lay.”

In less than a second, Hugh, Dane and the other Night Runners s.h.i.+fted. If the Wolf Seekers wanted a fight, he'd give them a fight.

He knew it was sheer determination, mind over matter that made the Wolf Seekers think they were on an even playing field with wolfen. Sure, they were all over six feet, two hundred pounds, but Hugh didn't doubt he and his pack mates would take them down.

They spread out and rushed the Wolf Seekers, their speed and agility no match for the overgrown men who ran toward them with guns raised.

”No permanent damage,” Hugh yelled out.

With his eyes trained on Trey, he avoided one dart, then another, and reduced the distance between him and his apprentice. He couldn't figure out why Trey stayed motionless-until the Seekers had scattered and he got close enough to find a short, beefy man with a gun aimed at Trey's chest. A gun that no doubt contained a mercury bullet.

Trey's hands were bound behind him, but a flash of animal in his eyes told Hugh he wanted to battle. If Hugh could just...

A Wolf Seeker blindsided him like a linebacker, taking him to the ground. They tussled for half a minute before Hugh knocked the guy out with a right hook. He jumped back to his feet and sprinted toward Trey.

The Seeker holding Trey captive didn't seem the least bit intimidated when Hugh's eyes clashed with his. He did, after all, have the gun right where it needed to be. Hugh slowed as the man shuffled Trey to the side, closer to the building. He must have figured out that standing in a wide-open s.p.a.ce wasn't the best defense when fighting Night Runners.

A slight nod from Trey told Hugh he'd drop at Hugh's signal. Kick the Seeker's legs out from under him on the way down and roll away, giving Hugh enough time to leap and wrestle the gun away.

But before it came to that, the Wolf Seeker lowered the firearm.

Huh?

The man's hand fell to his side. He dropped the weapon and kicked it to the side. Trey took a step away and turned to look behind him. Right then Hugh caught whiff of Tess. Her lavender body lotion fragrance, the one cosmetic she'd requested Blanche get for her touched his nose and h.e.l.l if a grin didn't spread across his face.

Two seconds later, the Seeker's knees buckled and he went down, face first into the concrete. Tess stood in his place, the pistol she'd used to hit him over the head in her hand and a tough as nails expression on her face. When her eyes met Hugh's her mouth moved into a pucker and she blew him a kiss.

Hugh picked up the gun and took the few steps toward them. ”Nice work.”

”You're welcome.”

”You okay?” Hugh tore the bindings from Trey's wrists with one swipe of his claw.

”I'm fine,” Trey answered.

A howl sounded and Hugh spun around. Two Wolf Seekers were on one of his men. Without hesitating, he ran to help. He grabbed the first Seeker by the back of his s.h.i.+rt collar, lifted him into the air, and tossed him aside. The second Seeker, witnessing the action, let go of the Night Runner and back peddled to a safer distance.

Tess and Trey came up behind him, forming a united front. Hugh paused long enough to survey the scene. Each of his men was in combat, but winning. The tranquilizers were no longer in anyone's possession. Dane handled the leader of the Wolf Seekers, the human's face not nearly as battered as Hugh would like, but...

”That's enough,” Hugh yelled. ”We've got what we came for.”

The fighting stopped. Wolf Seekers scrambled to their feet and took off running, the leader included. Hugh let them go, caring little for where they were headed now that he had Trey.

Dane rounded up his pack mates, checking on their wounds. Hugh s.h.i.+fted and turned toward Trey and Tess. ”Talk.”

”First,” Tess said, extending her hand, ”I'm Tess. It's nice to finally meet you, Trey.”

Trey took her hand and held on a little too long for Hugh's liking. He also looked at her a little too keenly, taking in more than her pretty face. ”Tess? Blind date, Tess?” His voice sounded thicker than usual.

She gifted him with a smile that reached the corners of her eyes. ”That would be me.”

”I don't understand. Our date was what, six or seven days ago? What are you doing here?” He looked at Hugh, then back to Tess. ”Wait. Whatever the reason, I think you might have saved my life.”

Tess bestowed a killer smile on Hugh. ”No problem. I found your location too, but who's keeping track?”

The way she looked tonight, her hair falling around her face, her cheeks still pink from the motorcycle ride, the blue of her eyes deeper than the ocean under a full moon, Hugh felt so happy she was safe that he'd give her the kudos she deserved without any grumbling.

”I'm in your debt, Tess. Thank you,” Hugh said.

”No need to thank me. It's your turn now.”

Trey looked confused. ”His turn?”

Hugh didn't feel the need to clue Trey in at the moment. But a deal was a deal. He wouldn't stop until he found Dobson.