Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(63)

Panther stepped toward her. “Was she always so harsh?”

“Always,” Issa said flatly. “You had to know her. She wasn’t very warm or caring.”

“I can see that,” Tiger said with a half a snarl. “She doesn’t sound like a loving mother at all.”

“Go back to what you were talking about, when you said trauma,” Eagle said, getting the conversation back on track. “What did that mean?”

“Hadrid found me. Hadrid led my father to me. Hadrid had a leg band telling us it was one of Angus’s birds. Hadrid had already bonded to me. Angus knew that there was no point in arguing and sold him to my father.”

“So you were crying out for someone to help, and the bird comes?” Panther asked in disbelief. “How does that happen?”

She turned her gaze his way. “No one else would listen to me,” she said softly. “My father and brothers didn’t care. My mother obviously didn’t care.” She shrugged. “Apparently my cries connected with Hadrid—who did care.”

At their snorts of disbelief she gave a half smile. “My family was many things, but I was the odd one out. I was a girl, not my father’s favorite son. And I was so much less than anybody else. I was a liability to them. Until I found a way not to become a liability.”

“Was your fall an accident?”

She nodded. “Yes. But, after I had the broken leg, I used to sit on the cliffs and watch my family below. We were above Smugglers Cove. I could see boats. I had one of those long telescope things to look through. My father would leave my mother and me as a lookout. It was more of a joke, to include me, but my mother would leave it to me anyway.”

“Did your father know it was just you?” He watched as her gaze turned inward.

Then she said softly, “I think he suspected I was alone.”

The men shook their heads. “Not sure I think much of your family,” Tiger said. He turned to the kitchen. “I’m making some coffee.”

“To hell with coffee. Is there anything stronger around here?” Panther snarled. “Just the thought of her family makes me want to puke. And, if I’m not doing that, I want a couple good stiff drinks.”

A sharp crack sounded. Something hit the window as Panther walked toward Tiger. He hit the ground as Tiger hit the lights. Eagle tackled Issa and flattened her onto the couch. She cried out in his arms. His head was close to hers as he whispered, “Stay down.”

She gazed at him and whispered, “Was that a gunshot?”

He nodded.

She struggled to get out of his arms. “Did Panther get shot? We have to help him.”

He slapped a hand over her mouth. She nodded in understanding. He released her, slipped around the couch, and headed for Panther. Only he was already gone. Relieved to see he wasn’t badly hurt, Eagle took a quick look to find both men taking positions at the windows. “Panther?”

“Just a graze.”

Eagle doubted it. But Panther was one hell of a big man, and it would take a lot for him to admit he was hurt. With his gaze adjusted to the darkness, he gave Panther a quick look over. There appeared to be blood on his shoulder and upper arm. But he was using his arm. The three men looked at each other.

“Sharpshooter?” Tiger asked.

“Must be.”

“Security system is still intact,” Eagle said. “It got a good workout yesterday.”

“Our weapons are in the truck,” Tiger said. “We will have a hard time getting to them from the back door of your house.”

“There is a window and glass deck door in the spare room. You can go out that way. But you don’t have to go anywhere. Every room has a rifle at every window.”

The men looked around, and, almost with cheers at the sight, they picked up the rifles. “Fully locked and loaded?”

“The only way to keep ’em,” Eagle bit out.

He could hear the gasp of surprise from Issa at his side. He glanced at her and raised an eyebrow.

“Can you teach me how to shoot?”

“I can do that. Later.”

“I’m not much of a fan of being a sitting duck,” Panther said. “I suggest Tiger and I head out and locate where these assholes are. You stay here, look after Issa.”

Eagle struggled with the concept. But it wasn’t just Issa, it was also the birds.

“They can’t. It’s too dangerous,” Issa said.

“They know the property as well as I do,” Eagle said in a low voice.

“They do?” Issa asked.

He nodded. “They helped build the security system.”

The two men went through Issa’s bedroom and slipped out the back. Issa shifted on the couch, staring in the direction the men left from.

Eagle walked back to her. “They will see if anybody is out there.”

“Yes, but you don’t want to look after me. You should go with them.”

He gave a small snort. “I’m not leaving you.”

She nodded. “How about I just hide? You check the property and make sure the animals are safe.”

He shook his head. “Not happening.”

“I have the birds.” She placed a finger on his lips. “This isn’t the time to worry about me,” she whispered.