The Way You Bite(49)

The six visiting werewolves faced Lexan. Each did a deep bow of respect and stayed in the down position, waiting.

“Your Majesty,” Julio said, head bowed.

“Julio, it’s been a long time.”

All resumed an upright stance.

“Welcome to our country.” Julio flashed a smile—the perfect political caricature, conveying respect with a hint of arrogant condescension.

Lexan nodded and then greeted the man to Julio’s left, “Dr. Roman, always a pleasure to have your company. I’m glad you could give me a briefing on the state of medical availability. I thank all of you for your patience during our delay.”

Julio stared beyond Lexan to Vee. His pale gray eyes gave away nothing regarding his thoughts. “Why is she here?”

The Elites crowded in front of Vee, taking position behind Lexan. Julio reached for his gun, but Lexan put his hand on Julio’s forearm. “She’s not a threat. She’s here as our guest.”

“As a consultant?” Julio pursed his lips.

“She is under my protection.” He stepped away from Julio, leaving a solid cushion of more than six feet between factions.

“According to my sources, Dominic doesn’t exactly dote on his eldest daughter. I can’t imagine she’s got a lot of clout in so far as resolving our conflict. You sure she’s not a spy?”

“She is not.” He stared coldly.

Dr. Roman asked softly, “Have they hurt you, Vee? Are you under some sort of coercion?”

“They’ve been nothing but the ambassadors of hospitality,” Vee said with a hint of sarcasm from behind the wall of warriors, catching Eric’s warning gaze. She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m fine and here by choice.”

She moved out from behind the guys and shook Roman’s hand. When she smiled at Roman, her eyes softened at the edges. “Are you doing as much surgery these days?”

Roman shrugged, running a self-conscious hand through his dark hair. “I’ve been busy with matters that have taken me away from the hospital.”

Julio gasped. “You know her?” Disgust laced his tone.

“Thank you for fixing up Julio’s son a few weeks ago. I knew if I sent him your way, you’d take care of him,” Roman said.

“It was the least I could do, considering what you did for me.”

Julio scowled. “You let a vamp fix up my son?”

“I owed Roman a favor,” Vee answered.

“What exactly did Dr. Roman do for you, such that you owed him?” Lexan asked.

“Where did the Squad take my son? He’s been gone since yesterday.” Rage mottled Julio’s cheeks.

“I didn’t know they had him.” Vee didn’t move an inch, standing her ground despite Julio’s fury. Lexan noticed her glance at him out of her peripherals. The small move screamed, Protect me!

Julio grabbed Vee and whipped her around, laying a knife against her throat.

Oh, hell no.

“Hurt her and I’ll kill you.” His world narrowed to the tip of the blade against her neck. Probabilities on rescue options cycled through his brain. He reached out mentally to his guys, alerting them to be ready to move. He assigned each of them one wolf on Julio’s detail.

“Her life in exchange for my son’s seems reasonable. She’s a Scarpa, after all. What would it matter in the scheme of things, if I eliminate her now and send Dominic pictures?”

Fuck probabilities on play-nice scenarios. Within a few silent seconds, the Elite Guard had Julio and his entire wolf contingency on the ground with a weapon to each head. Except Ryder, who, like Vee, gazed around, stunned.

Vee rubbed her throat. Lexan hoped for Julio’s sake not a single mark marred her skin.

Eric glanced up from where he had his knee lodged mid-back on Julio and a gun to Julio’s head, waiting for orders.

“No one touches her. Ever. Is that understood?” Everyone in the room, including Vee, flinched at his tone. He knelt next to Julio’s head. Eric wrenched Julio’s head backward to force him to meet Lexan’s gaze.

Lexan whispered, “I should kill you.”

“Noo-oo.” Julio’s plea came out a two-syllable nasal whine. Only a male who’d never put himself on the front lines of battle would emit that cowardly noise. Julio had been born long after their emancipation from slavery and granted a life of privilege. He passed down life-and-death decisions about others but never participated in the fight.

Lexan met Eric’s gaze in mutual disgust over Julio’s behavior.

Another whine came from Julio.

“Quiet,” Lexan ordered. His leg throbbed almost as much as his head.

Julio shut his mouth.

“I understand a father’s concern for his son. We were not aware he was missing. If you’re sure the Squad took him and he’s been missing for over a day, then I’m sorry.” They all knew the Squad didn’t keep prisoners alive for long. His gaze met Ryder’s. “I cannot fathom the depth of your grief. But we are at war. All must understand this and take appropriate precautions.”

Julio’s face turned an even darker red.

“Will you abide my edict with regard to her? She has nothing to do with your son or the Squad.”

Julio nodded.

“Tell me how she owes you, Roman.”