Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(83)

"What about Duncan?" His other two lieutenants might be further underground than he'd thought, but Duncan was always dependable and ready to watch his back.

Lucas shook his head. "Still looking. He's somewhere on the other side of the globe-I know that much."

"Damn it. Find him." Bear eyed the code running across the computers. "Do you have a mission plan for that bar?"

"Yes. I'll print it out," Lucas said.

"Any news on the rogue wolf pack?" Bear asked. "Check specifically if they have ties to that Slam bar." 

"It's coming," Garrett said, hunched over a keyboard. "The camera caught a good shot of the man who stepped out of the truck at the end of the fight-the one you killed-and I'm tracking him down. He seemed to be in charge, waiting for the final moment to go for Nessa."

"Great. Logan?"

The vampire-demon glanced over his shoulder. "I'm on it. Full security installation for the river house-top of the line. You're gonna need equipment for the escape tunnels, and I suggest at least three." He turned back to the keyboard.

Nessa shot Bear a look.

"What?" he asked.

"That's overkill, don't you think?" Her frown was somehow adorable.

"No. It's necessary, if we're going to live there." Somebody wanted her dead. Hell, half the time he wanted to kill her. After they caught this guy, or this organization, and Bear killed them all, the woman was still going to be in danger. "The witches have cloaking mechanisms for underground tunnels."

Nessa's head snapped up, and Boondock's gaze narrowed in contemplation.

Bear rolled his eyes. "Please. I'm the head of the grizzly nation." Now he knew how the king felt. Of course he knew about their cloaking abilities.

"Ah, we have incoming," Lucas said, straightening in his chair. "Helicopter transport with two gunships."

Bear slammed his hand against the wall and the keypad came into view. He typed in his code, and the screened wall opened to his armory.

Boondock half stood, whistling. "Nice."

Nessa craned her neck. "Is that one of the Realm's new guns?" She pointed to a far rack of assault weapons.

"Wait a sec-" Jasper typed on his keyboard, and one of their cameras zoomed in. "Demon designation on two of the copters, Realm emblem on the third."

Garrett and Logan leaped to their feet, heading for the door.

Logan paused and turned, throwing Bear a smart-assed grin. "Guess who's coming to dinner?" He followed his friend out of the war room.

Bear looked longingly at his guns before shutting the door. "There are more people coming on our property, Lucas. People."

Lucas sighed sympathetically. "The place is turning into a bed-and-breakfast."

It was Bear's worst nightmare, without question. The very idea kept him up at night. "Luke? Cover Nessa and Boondock here. They don't leave the room."

"Happily," Lucas said, swiveling his chair, gun at the ready.

Bear would give anything to change positions with his too-happy buddy. Oh, Luke was thrilled to stay away from newcomers.

Nessa glared at Bear.

He glared back. "Stay secure." Without waiting for her argument, he shut the door and strode through the building and out into the chilly but sunny day.

The center helicopter set down, scattering ice still remaining on the ground. The door opened, and Nick Veis jumped out, reaching back to assist Simone to the ground.

Pleasure burst through Bear so quickly he could barely keep his frown in place. It was an effort. He strode forward, approaching his sister in long strides. "Simone." What in the hell was the witch doing coming into dangerous territory while pregnant? When she launched herself at him, he easily caught her, enfolding her gently. Her baby bump nudged his abs.

The thought of the babe propelled him into motion. He picked her up, running for the safety of the rec room.

"Bear," she protested, laughing and holding on. "Careful. I throw up often."

He swung her down and rounded on her mate, who was right behind him. "What the holy fuck are you doing bringing her here?"



       
         
       
        

She punched him in the kidney, and he ignored her. "Nick? I have dart-wielding wolves making attacks. Darts that hurt witches. Like my sister," Bear snapped.

Nicolai Veis had power that could choke a whole room, even when he was smiling. He'd tied his blond hair at the nape, and even in slacks and a sweater, he looked like the dangerous killing machine he was. His eyes were black pools of warning, and when he spoke, he had the rough, almost mangled, vocal cord tone of a full-bred demon. "Hello, brother."