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  “Actually, they do.” She went over every detail of when the Vampires had arrived and described the ones she’d seen. “Paula seemed to be in charge.”

  “I’m in hell! I just want to run off with you and lock you in my den.”

  “I’m going to be okay, Red. I have faith. Worst case, I fight. I’m not going in there without weapons. I just have to hold them off until you and the others come in after me. Just don’t accidently kill my grandpa, okay? Chances are, he’s going to be the Vampire closest to me if he has an option. He’ll put himself between me and the others.”

  “I won’t kill him.” He turned his head and brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “Don’t die tomorrow.”

  “I won’t. I promise.” She hoped she could keep her word.

  Chapter Twelve

  Graves had come to their hotel room first thing the next morning. He’d stayed in the room, giving her advice, and kept sniffing near her to make sure no trace of VampLycan remained once she’d showered. He’d also brought a bag of clothes freshly purchased at the gift shop in the lobby. It had been slightly embarrassing to discover he’d included a bra and underwear. She hadn’t asked him how he knew her sizes.

  Red had sat in the chair across the room without saying a word. She met his grim gaze often but didn’t try to provoke him into talking. It was easier to deal with the silent treatment after he’d explained it was the only way he could keep control of his instincts and emotions.

  At the end, when she was ready to leave the room and he stood, the desire to hug him almost overwhelmed her.

  “You can’t,” Graves stated softly. “I’m sorry.”

  She glanced at him.

  “I don’t have a mate, but I know I’d want to hold her if she was walking out the door into uncertainty. You’d have to take another shower, I’d need to buy you more clothes, and we’re on a time constraint. We must go. The rental car we arranged has been dropped off.” He flashed his phone. “My brother accepted the keys but didn’t get inside. I doubt the Vamps will come out to sniff the car since they’d get burned unless you parked in the garage, which isn’t in the plan. But just in case, it smells all human right now. Better to be safe than sorry. For all we know, they could have hired a rogue Were for this job. He could sniff the car for them.”

  Her gaze returned to Red. “I’ve got this. I know you’re coming for me once I’m inside. I love you. We’ll tell Grandpa about us and tonight, you can bite me.”

  He looked positively tortured as he gave a sharp nod.

  She sucked in a sharp breath and opened the door, stepping out into the hallway. Graves was careful not to touch her. They took the same elevator down to the lobby. He led her to the parking structure and she spotted Micah. No one else from their group was in sight.

  “You drive the route discussed. No variations.” Graves glanced at his phone again. “Don’t break the speed limit either. We’ll get there right after you but watch the fucking time. Slow down if you’re too early. You hit that driveway right at noon. Not before.”

  Micah chuckled. “I checked the dash clock. It’s twenty-one seconds faster than my phone.” He tossed her a key fob.

  She caught it, noticing he wore gloves. “Thanks.”

  “I put a surprise in the trunk. That’s why I had my brother buy you a baggy sweatshirt.” He tapped his inner forearm. “Straps on right here. You grip the sides of it near your elbow with both your finger and thumb, push the buttons at the same time, and a six-inch blade slides down. Make sure you curl your hand back and don’t accidently stab yourself. The spring on it is fast, and it’s sharp enough to do damage. Go for their throats and eye sockets if you need to use it.” He glanced at her, up and down. “You look utterly human.” He sniffed. “Smell like one, too. I hope to hell you’ve got some surprises of your own.”

  “I’m faster than a human, and stronger. I’d put you on your ass to show you but we’re being careful of how I smell. You’d win in a fight once you drew your claws, but I’d give you a run for your money at first.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.” It was gone fast. “Go in slow. Act unafraid to enter the house.”

  “No problem.” She was afraid, but the Vampires wouldn’t be able to smell that unless they were close.

  “Be loud once you’re inside. Raise hell but don’t give them a reason to hurt you,” Graves advised. “Try to avoid them touching you. Velder wants some of them alive and your mate is seriously on edge. He’ll probably rip apart any who carried your scent.”

  Micah stepped aside. “Get in the car, adjust the seat, and take your time. Everyone is meeting us at the van. We’ll get to the property a few minutes after you. I put a tracker on the car just to be certain of your location at all times.”

  She fisted the key. “Got it.” She stared at him for a moment. “You look tired.”

  “I didn’t sleep. I shifted instead and did some scouting. It would have screwed up everything if we couldn’t find the tunnel entrance. It hasn’t been disturbed. The Vamps haven’t discovered it, or I’d have noticed that it had been opened recently. I’m leading everyone there. It was well hidden. Good job.”

  “Grandpa did that. I only helped him dig it out.”

  “I just hope it’s not too fucking tight.”

  “It’s not. Grandpa isn’t a small Vampire. He has some muscle to him and he’s tall. He fits fine.”

  Graves got her attention. “Watch for anyone coming at you the closer you get to the house. We’ll be a few miles behind you. As I said, they might have hired rogue Weres. It’s paramount that you reach that house and not be taken to another location. Micah couldn’t risk getting too close to the house while scouting but he saw lights. It would be a fucking nightmare if they’ve switched homes and tried to grab you on the way.”

  “In other words,” Micah added. “Turn this vehicle into a weapon if you have to. Don’t get kidnapped.” He nodded and left, heading for the van.

  “As you said, you’ve got this.” Graves hesitated. “I deal with a lot of unstable situations, considering what I do. Just try to stay calm and use your head. Don’t panic even if it seems like everything is going to hell. You have the advantage no matter what, because you know we’re going to show up. They don’t.”

  “Thanks.”

  He left too, and she approached the rental. It was something she wouldn’t have chosen. A four-door sedan in a light brown. It looked like something a conservative family would pick. She got in, adjusted the seat and mirrors, and put on her belt. The engine came to life without problems when she inserted and twisted the key.

  She knew the area well, since they were in the larger town near where the house was located. She’d steered toward its lights the night she’d gone off the roof. It would be a twenty-minute drive, and the tank was full.

  “I can do this,” she whispered, putting the car in reverse to back out of the parking space. “I’m coming, Grandpa.” He’d be pissed at her, but at least he’d be alive. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened.

  Traffic wasn’t bad once she left the city. It was part of the reason they had moved farther away and up into the mountain. The roads were curvy as she made her way up a back on they’d chosen. It wasn’t her normal route. Her gaze kept going to the trees and heavily wooded areas as the homes thinned. It would be the perfect place for a Lycan rogue to run out into the road.

  “I’ll run you over. Not stopping. Not getting kidnapped,” she muttered. “Your ass will be roadkill, only I doubt you’d die. You’d just want to.”

  She glanced at the clock and slowed down a little. No traffic was behind her but on a curve, she quickly glanced down the mountain and saw the top of the commercial van. Red and the others were following. She finally came to the turn that would take her to the house, and knew they’d go straight. She hit the brakes at the stop sign and said a little prayer.

  “Hey, Mom. Don’t be mad at me, please. I know you lost your life saving mine. You can’t blame me for risk