Erin, now with a bowl of pasta in front of her and a glass of wine that Rolf placed on the table, asked, “So what are we talking about?”

“Kera wants to start a nonprofit organization that would place dogs with former military personnel suffering from PTSD or those who just need a friendly companion.” When everyone gawked at Stieg’s simple explanation, spoken without any rancor at all, he shrugged, and admitted, “I think it’s admirable.”

“I thought maybe I could sign up with a rescue,” Kera said. “Get some experience and contacts.”

Erin, inhaling the pasta as if it was her first meal in months, asked between bites, “Why?”

Kera’s eyes narrowed and she snapped, “Why? Because maybe the troops who live and die for our freedom need a little more than a hearty pat on the back and a shove out the door, with a friendly, ‘Thanks, fella.’ Maybe our troops actually deserve—”

Erin suddenly dropped her fork, reached both arms toward Kera, and then mimed yanking something away.

Kera gawked at her sister-Crow. “What the hell was that?”

“Me snatching your soap box away. I wasn’t asking why would you do that. I was asking why waste your time joining a rescue? You don’t really want to create a rescue that takes in any and all dogs. You’re placing dogs with specific people. Military vets. So what’s the purpose of wasting time with some run-of-the-mill rescue?”

“I’ll still need to train the dogs, work with the guys I give dogs to, so that means I’ll need kennel space, training space, money for feeding the dogs and getting supplies.”

“Yeah,” Erin said.

“Perhaps it’s not clear, but I don’t have that kind of money.”

“We’ll get you money.”

“Not by robbing a bank?”

Erin glared over at Stieg and Siggy. “You told her?”

“It wasn’t us.” Siggy pointed at Vig. “It was him.”

“No,” she said to Kera, “I don’t mean by robbing banks. You have lawyers, financial planners, bankers, all at your disposal.”

“Where?”

“At the house.”

“I thought they were all actors and models.”

“No. Those are just the ones you see sitting around on their asses all day unless they get a callback. The rest go to their day jobs. They’ll help.”

“We’ll all help,” Jace suddenly volunteered . . . out loud . . . her nose pressed against the puppy’s, her gaze locked with his.

There was a long moment of silence as everyone at the table stared at Jace, wondering if she was aware she’d said those words out loud. When she did nothing more than rub her nose against the puppy’s, Erin turned to Kera and said, “We cantalk about all this tomorrow.”

“Why can’t we talk about it now?”

“Because we have visitors.” Erin looked at Vig. Her expression was unreadable, but her words . . .

“They’re coming, Vig.”

Erin’s words were no sooner out of her mouth, than the men dropped from the skies, surrounding their little dinner party.

Kera watched as the Ravens moved with a speed that left her breathless. One second they’d been sitting, lounging really. And the next . . . on their feet and behind the intruders.

Kera could tell they weren’t fellow Ravens from their white and brown wings.

“Protectors,” Erin softly noted.

The Crows had not moved, but Kera wasn’t buying their casual disdain.

Stieg put his arm around the neck of one of the men. “Ormi. What are you doing here?” Stieg leaned in close and said softly, “And why shouldn’t we let Vig here rip the flesh from your bones?”

“Because you need to see something.”

“We don’t need to see anything. Talk to Josef.”

“No. You.” He pointed at Rolf. “And him.” And, suddenly, he pointed at Kera. “And her.”

Vig didn’t say a word. But he had the Protector’s head yanked back and a blade against his throat in seconds. Literally seconds.

“Vig,” Kera said, keeping her voice calm. “Don’t be that guy.” She’d been married to “that guy” and she wasn’t about to go down that path again.

Vig impressed her, though, immediately releasing the Protector.

“What do you want me for?” Kera asked.

“We want your opinion.”

“No, you don’t. But I’ll go.”

“You sure?” Erin asked.

“I’m curious.”

Erin smiled. “Me, too. We’ll go together.”

Stieg grabbed one of the Protectors and pushed him over to the table. “This one stays.” He shoved the man into a chair. “Crows and Ravens come back healthy or I have some fun with this one.”

Great. Now there were hostages.

Kera went back into Vig’s house and put on her battle clothes, borrowing one of Vig’s tank tops. Not because she expected a fight, but because she needed her wings to be free.

Once dressed, she came out, and Erin was waiting for her.

“You two sure about this?” Leigh asked.

“If we’re not back before sunup,” Erin told them, pointing at the hostage-Protector, “kill him.”

Leigh sat on the table, letting her legs dangle over the edge. “Yeah. Okay.”

“How casual we all are with the idea of killing a man,” Kera noted.