Booty call? Had the prim and proper Irish belle just used the phrase booty call? Bear tightened his hold around her shoulder. She stiffened but didn't fight him. Good damn thing, too. His control was never a sure thing, and at the moment he felt like tethers were tied around his neck and all he wanted to do was snap them in half, along with anybody in his way.
Franks studied Nessa for a moment and then turned to check on her agents.
The search took three hours, but by afternoon the agents finally gave up.
Franks again approached Bear. "You have a tequila problem. There are bottles everywhere."
"They're legal," Bear countered, his patience long gone. His rooms were torn apart, and even the pool table had been set on its side. Did they really think he was running a drug manufacturing plant in his pool table? "Get the hell off my property, Franks."
She studied Ness again. "I want your name."
Nessa tilted her head to the side in a curiously smartass way. "My name is none of your business, and its relevancy has nothing to do with your warrant." She smiled, her eyes darkening. "But I assure you, I have the best damn lawyers on retainer if necessary. Do you like your job?"
Bear pressed his lips into a firm line. The woman sounded fully American and well educated. How the hell had she done that?
Franks snarled and motioned for her men. "I'll be back. Next time for both of you." With a strong stride, she finally left. Within minutes, the five DEA vehicles roared away down the snowy drive.
"Jesus," Lucas muttered, surveying the damage.
Bear breathed out and looked around. He'd deal with Nessa in a moment. "Get the prospects here to clean up. The shifter prospects." The others were gone. "And I need to know exactly who was aware of the bodies the other night."
Lucas tugged a cell phone from his back pocket. "I'll get on it right now."
Bear tried to figure out a way to find peace, and there was only one path. "We're gonna have to solve this ourselves, Luke."
Lucas stopped with the phone halfway to his ear. "What?"
Bear snarled. "This whole fucking Apollo disaster. The Enforcers had to go back to Ireland, so now we're on our own. It's a drug that harms witches, who are our allies. And it's a drug that has found its way into our club-even just for a night. The DEA ain't gonna leave us alone until the whole thing is solved."
Lucas looked at the mess of wires spilling out from the enormous television set. "We are not private detectives."
Bear had to agree. They'd formed their little slice of the world away from people on purpose. "We have to shut down the distributors and find the manufacturer of this drug."
Lucas nodded. "All right, but the Enforcers couldn't track down the manufacturer, and they worked the case here undercover for months."
"Yeah, but they're smooth and were worried about relations with the human law enforcement community. We don't give a shit. It's time to end this." Bear looked down at the woman listening quietly. "I believe you and I need to have a little talk." She opened her mouth to protest, apparently read the rage in his eyes, and then remained silent. Smart girl. Very smart girl.
Outside, twin Harley engines zoomed up the drive, pipes roaring.
"Who's riding bikes in the snow?" Lucas snapped. "If they're ours, I'm killing them."
Bear shook his head. "If they're young bear shifters, they're idiots. We were, too."
The bikes came to a stop, and loud boot steps echoed across the pavement. The doors opened.
Bear took one look. "No fucking way. Get out. Right now."
* * *
Nessa remained still as Bear set her to one side and strode toward two twenty-something men. Powerful men. The kid to the right had metallic gray eyes, dark hair, and a strong build. She felt for his power. Ah. Vampire. Interesting. His buddy had world-weary green eyes, thick black hair, and just as powerful a build. Another vampire. No. There was more to him. She focused on his odd energy signature. Interesting. He was a demon-vampire mix.
Ah ha. "Don't tell me," she said. "Garrett Kayrs and Logan Kyllwood." Of the vampire and demon ruling families. She had dossiers on them, but they'd grown up since she'd last studied them. Rumor had it they were best of friends since their siblings mated. Sure looked like it.
Garrett sent her a charming smile. "Miss Lansa. My uncle said you were staying in Grizzly territory for the time being."
Bear crossed his arms. "No. Get the hell out. Right now."
Nessa frowned. "Your uncle knows I'm here?"