Risdon shrugged. “You’re underestimating her resourcefulness. Supplies can be stolen and a hefty bribe can get around the need for identification, especially in backwater dives.”
“We can’t search the entire country.” Frustration gradually replaced Nate’s anger and he began to pace.
“What’s the hurry?” Risdon relaxed enough to pull out a stool and sit at the bar. “I’m willing to wait until she turns up. And she will, you know. She’s never been without her pack before. She’ll get lonely and bored and come home with her tail tucked between her legs. We just need to be patient.”
“I can’t afford to be patient,” Nate snapped. Most of the others had dropped out of the competition. Should he tell Risdon about Dhane and the backers? Whoever defined Heather would need to know at least the basic facts. Nate had hoped to keep Braden interested. An inter-pack alliance was more beneficial than giving Heather to one of his hunters. But it didn’t look as though Braden was an option anymore. “Dhane was kidnapped two weeks ago. The lunatics who have him want to trade him for Heather.”
Risdon just stared at him, clearly shocked by the news.
Nate ignored the hunter’s reaction and continued on with casual calm. “They need undefined females for the experiments they’re running, so Heather must be defined before we make the exchange.”
“You expect me to define her, create a mating bond and then turn her over to these ‘lunatic’ humans?” Disgust was reflected in every word.
“We have no other choice!” Nate stopped and took a deep breath. He couldn’t sound as desperate as he really was if he hoped to convince Risdon to cooperate. “A mating bond will allow you to track her. All we have to do is rescue her before they realize she’s been defined.”
“You’re crazy.” Risdon slipped off the stool and headed for the door. “I want no part of this.”
Nate’s infuriated cry echoed through the empty bar and caused Risdon to cringe. Nate rushed after him and grabbed his arm. “You’ll have a seat on the Alpha Council and you’ll be next in line after Dhane. Think of all that will mean. If anything happens to Dhane, or if Dhane proves to be as useless as his brothers, you will lead this pack.”
Risdon’s muscle flexed beneath Nate’s hand but the hunter didn’t pull away. “What happens if they kill her before we’re able to rescue her?”
The ruthlessness revealed by the question sent hope zinging through Nate. If his biological sons possessed more of Risdon’s ambition, this might not have been necessary. “As Heather’s mate you’ll be number two even if we lose her to the humans.”
“Then I’d like to question Lexxie.”
Pleased by the suggestion as well as the cruel gleam in Rison’s eyes, Nate released the hunter’s arm and stepped back. “You think she knows more than she’s told us?”
“It doesn’t matter what she knows. I’ll interrogate her, rough her up a little and then threaten to do a whole lot worse.”
“And Heather will come running as soon as she finds out her BFF is in danger.” Nate finally found a reason to smile. “Now why didn’t I think of that?”
* * * * *
Heather watched Jake embrace the smiling middle-aged woman, wondering if his friends would ever look at her without suspicion and resentment tainting their expressions. Erin’s short dark hair was arranged in messy curls and welcome shone in her wide green eyes.
Much to Heather’s surprise the friendliness remained as Erin turned and held out her hand toward Heather. “Erin Lashton. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. I’m Heather Fitzroy.”
“You’re way more attractive than your brother.”
Heather smiled despite herself. Erin had an easy, approachable way about her that immediately put her at ease. “Thank you.”
Erin turned back to Jake. “Go make dinner or start a fight. I need a few minutes alone with our guest.” She waved him away toward the back of the house as if she had every right to do so.
Jake tensed and looked at Heather. “You okay with this?”
“I don’t think I need protection from Mrs. Lashton.”
“Erin, please. Everyone calls me Erin.” Without waiting for Jake to agree, she looped her arm through Heather’s and led her into the cozy living room. The safe house was a two-bedroom ranch that appeared to be at least fifty years old. It had been meticulously maintained yet it retained an air of history.
Heather had slept for the second half of the trip out of the mountains, so she wasn’t sure exactly where the safe house was located. They were somewhere on the eastern plains of Colorado but she had no way of knowing if they were north or south of Denver.