Page 48 of Wild Wolf

Richard snorted. “The last thing we need is some damned goose getting rabies. The world might end. I don’t know why they used horses for the riders of the apocalypse. Horses are not nearly as terrifying as an angry goose. A goose large enough for someone to ride? Now that’s the stuff of nightmares. So, think you can fix your truck, Declan?”

“Not if she blew my engine, but since you need an hour, as it happens, I keep my tools in the bed, so let’s see if I can work a miracle. It’ll take at least an hour to get to the cylinders.” I unbuckled my seat belt, got out of the truck, and popped open the hood. Smoke coiled up, and I waved my hand in front of my face to be rid of it. “That’s always fun. I just love when I pop the hood and see smoke. It’s my favorite.”

Shooting Nicolina a glare over the death of my truck, I went and got my toolbox, grunting at its weight. I thumped it to the ground, and the rattle of metal on metal woke Amber. She rolled down her window. “What’s going on?”

“Think we can import a truck with a dead engine to the United States or Canada? I’m pretty sure my engine is dead.”

“We can find a local tank and spare the expense,” she replied. “It seems more exotic to use a foreign tank while on vacation. Where might we find a tank near here?”

“I have no idea, but I’m slightly concerned we might have to steal the tank. Would anyone actually loan us a tank?”

“I bet that would keep Elliot busy for at least ten minutes. We can make him locate a tank for us.”

Richard’s laughter rumbled in his chest. “Sorry about waking you, Amber. How are you feeling?”

“Not bad. Tired, but otherwise not bad.”

Nicolina frowned. “You don’t feel like you need to throw up?”

“After the amount of throwing up I did last night, we are not questioning why I’m feeling better.”

“She expelled a lot last night, and it was rather disturbing, but closer to morning, she wasn’t throwing up nearly as much—and she was throwing up some food by then, too. Not much, but some.”

Nicolina’s expression brightened. “That is supposed to happen. Is there anything I can do?”

“Do you still have a spare chocolate bar in your purse? I’m feeling brave enough I’d try one.”

Grabbing her gown with both hands so she wouldn’t trip over it, the woman hurried to the other vehicles, drawing everyone’s attention.

Amber snickered. “I’m sorry, Richard. She’s a handful right now, isn’t she?”

“It’s a problem I’m happy to have. I do regret she picked that dress right now, though.”

“Why?”

“It isn’t going to survive the day, and I may have fibbed somewhat about where I got it, which means when she finds out where I got it, my days are over.”

Amber raised her hand and rubbed her temple. “You had someone sew it by hand, didn’t you?”

“I had someone sew it by hand.”

“It was nice knowing you, Richard,” Amber said. “Make me some cookies before you die, that way I can eat them at your funeral. You know how much she hates when you do excessive things.”

“It wasn’t excessive. She deserved a beautiful dress.” Richard sighed. “Think if I hide behind her father that he might save me?”

“At this point, you may as well try, especially if anything happens to that dress.”

Richard snorted. “Amber, have you been paying any attention to what’s going on? We’re in Russia, there is at least one confirmed wild wolf in the area, and we deliberately are making ourselves sitting ducks while we wait for some Chinese representatives to meet with us. The wild wolf problem alone is problem enough. Frankly, I’m hoping the damned wolf—or pack—comes at us here. Desmond is itching for a fight.”

“He is?” I asked, wondering if I needed to bother actually dismantling my damned engine. Anyone watching me would expect it, so I grabbed my tools and began the tedious process of taking the truck apart. “But why?”

“He’s been worried, and when he gets worried, his wolf is active. His control is good, but I’m going to feel rather sorry for anyone stupid enough to cross him right now.”

Amber opened her door, made sure her shoes were on properly, secured my blanket around her, and slid out of the truck, coming to join me. “This makes me wish I had a gun.”

“You know we’re armed, Amber. If you want a gun, you can have one. Your aim should be better compared to yesterday, so if you want to be armed, just be more careful than you usually are.” Richard took his phone out of his pocket and sent a text. “There, I asked Nicolina to make her father be useful and bring us weapons and ammunition, just in case.”

“What part of this seems like a ‘just in case’ scenario? Aren’t the odds of the wild wolf paying us a visit fairly high?” Amber shook her head and turned her attention to the toolbox. “Can I help?”