Page 55 of Turn That River Red

No. I don’t. I jerk my gaze away, fix it on an empty spot on the floor.

“Better than Sterling, no doubt.” Deacon Price grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. There’s no tenderness in it, the way there is with Ambrose. “Better than that preacher, too.”

I don’t say anything. Deacon Price lets me go, steps back, and pulls a cell phone out of his pocket. My chest constricts, and then I can barely breathe when he swipes it open and shows me what he’s pulled up:

Reverend Gunner’s phone number.

“Get to work,” Deacon Price says. “Or I’m telling him everything.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

AMBROSE

Ithrow the last few days’ worth of dirty clothes into my suitcase, burying Charlotte’s adoption file. Once I’m back at my ranch house, I’ll give her a call with the names. She’s more than capable of tracking her parents down, especially if she has Jaxon helping her out. He’s got a couple of decade’s worth of experience stalking prey.

Over in the living room, Max whines, then scratches at the door. I frown and put out my senses. A couple of humans are nearby, moving around, but they aren’t in the little cul-de-sac where my cabin is. Just the guards, no doubt.

Whatever it is that’s got Max worked up, Roxi doesn’t care. She’s sitting at my feet, ears perked up, watching me pack.

“What’s your brother doing, huh?” I ask her, slamming my suitcase closed and then zipping it up. She tilts her head, eyes curious.

“No idea, either, I take it.” I heave the suitcase off the bed, and she stands up, tail wagging. Ready to go on our next mission. She’s bloodthirsty enough that she probably hopes it’s a killing job.

Max’s whines grow louder, his scratches more urgent.

“Max, knock it off! No one’s there!” I wheel the suitcase into the living room to find Max up on his hind legs, pawing furiously at the door. He’s on the alert, big time. His ears are flat against his head, and his tail sticks straight out behind him.

His whine turns into a low growl, then a loud, sharp bark.

“Shh!” I drop the suitcase and rush over to him, running my hand over his raised hackles. He looks at me, his pupils black, then turns back to the door. Barks again. Scratches the wood.

“What’s going on, boy?” I don’t like this. My dogs work as a team; they’re both trained to alert me to a threat. So I don’t understand why Roxi’s calm and Max is losing his mind.

He lets out a loud, thunderous chorus of barks and scrabbles so hard against the door that it’s like he’s trying to pull it down.

I glance over at Roxi, my breath tight. She sits on her haunches, head cocked with interest.

“What the fuck is going on?—”

That’s when it hits me. A sudden whiff of sweet, smoky fear. After the last few days, I’d know it anywhere.

“Mercy,” I breathe.

Max barks more furiously. I press my hands against the door and close my eyes and put my senses out—only this time, I have a target. That targetshouldbe tucked away in her bed, sated after the good fucking I gave her. At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself so I don’t feel guilty about ditching her without warning.

Something’s wrong, though. She’s definitely not in her bed, because I can sense her nearby. My first thought is that she’s coming to see me again, which I’ll admit gives me a warm little swell in my chest even though it shouldn’t. But no. Her fear wouldn’t be that strong just from walking through the night, even alone.

And Max wouldn’t be acting like this, either. He senses danger. Just not danger to me.

“You motherfucker,” I tell him. “You like her, don’t you?”

I step away from the door, squeezing my hands into fists. I ought to just leave it. I like her well enough that I don’t want to kill her, but I can’t get involved with this bullshit arrangement Gunner has set up with her—even if it does send a sour twist of jealousy through my belly. I have no business getting involved with human women, even one who managed to charm my guard dog.

And yet I’m still standing here. Not grabbing my suitcase. Not loading up my car and planning how I’m going to get around the patrol.

Max slams against the door, his teeth bared and a growl emanating from deep in his throat.

Then Mercy’s fear spikes.

---