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“Merc isn’t going to let her go,” Lawe told him. “When you hear that Harley prowling this way, you better run, Vanderale. Because hell doesn’t describe what he’s going to bring down on you.”
His name echoed in the air again, the agonized feminine scream of pain causing them all to flinch. But Dane didn’t hear a Harley prowling. He heard a lion’s roar. One of the natural lions that roamed Sanctuary’s boundaries. Drawn by the screams, roaring its own anger.
He shook his head again, opened the door to the limo and stepped inside.
He had listened to those screams once before. When she was a child, barely more than a baby, screaming for a mother who had been taken from her. Screaming at the pain tearing through her.
And even in the limo he couldn’t block her cries. He stared into the night, watched the snow pile up and listened, and he ached. Because this time, he couldn’t spare her. There was no way to ease it.
He reached into the pocket of his evening jacket and drew out the sat phone. He stared at it for long moments before pushing “speed dial.”
“Where the hell are you?” His father’s voice came over the line. Equal parts exasperation and concern filled it.
“Sanctuary. The party, remember?” he answered.
The Leo grunted. “How’s everyone?” His sons. Dane knew who he was talking about.
“Just like you,” he chuckled. “Arrogant as hell and making me crazy.”
“More like you then,” Leo stated.
“How are the girls?” His mother had given birth to twin girls. They had been ill for a while, though Leo had reported the day before that they seemed to be doing better.
“Healthy as they were before they took that cold.” He could hear the relief in Leo’s voice. “Get home. You can babysit.”
Dane grimaced. “Try the nanny, she’s better at it.”
Silence filled the line.
“What have you done, Dane?” Leo finally asked.
Dane stared out at the snow and heard Ria’s cries as they echoed through the night.
He sighed wearily. “Ria’s here.”
“Why is my girl there, Dane?” Leo asked him.
Dane watched the snow. “Cracking code. Someone’s slipping secrets to Engalls and Brandenmore,” he said quietly. “I put her on it.”
Leo was silent. “Good choice,” he finally commented. “So why do I feel the but?”
That was his father. Sometimes Dane wondered if Leo wasn’t aware of every damned game he was involved in.
He sighed wearily, spoke heavily and told his father the situation. Leo listened, for once without exploding in the middle of the story. Leo liked to explode. It made him feel better. When Dane finished, he remai
ned silent and watched that damned snow pile up. At least Ria wasn’t screaming any longer.
“Have you identified the traitor yet?” Leo’s voice was hard, furious.
“Not yet. She was working on it when Alaiya showed up.”
“I’m having the jet prepared. Meet us at the airfield in Buffalo Gap. Your mother, the girls and I will be there ASAP.”
“Not good, Leo,” he sighed. He hadn’t expected that. “We can’t risk it yet. And we sure as hell can’t risk the girls.”
“Leo Vanderale is arriving in Sanctuary to check the status of how his fucking money is being spent,” his father snarled. “The Leo doesn’t have to advertise who the hell he is. Arrange it. And I want that whelp Jonas ready to account for himself. Tell Callan to make room for me in the estate. I’ll bring my security with me as well.”
Dane rubbed at his forehead. “I’m bringing her home tomorrow. She’ll be ready to go.”
