Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound #11)(26)

Four men materialized out of the trees, one in a suit, three in black fatigues. A suit? Really? In this weather?

But yes, the lead man wore a suit with a coat and tie, and shoes that looked like they’d cost a wage worker a month’s salary. His own stupid fault if they were ruined by rain and mud. The man in the suit had dark hair and blue eyes, and a pistol in a holster just under his coat.

The three guys in fatigues had tranq pistols in hip holsters, and probably more weaponry hidden on them somewhere. They all carried radios that for the moment were silent.

The leader stopped about two yards from Angus and Tamsin. The men in fatigues circled around behind them.

Angus fixed the leader with a hard stare. “Where’s my cub, Haider?”

He didn’t mess around, Angus. Haider met his stare, then gave a brief nod to one of the guys in fatigues. The man turned away, his radio crackling to life. “Bring him,” he said.

Behind them, down the row a little, a door in one of the larger tombs opened. A man in black fatigues emerged, another following. Between them, the second man’s hand on his shoulder, came a boy of about eleven years old, dark haired and gray eyed, with the squared features of his father. He’d be a heartbreaker when he got older, Tamsin thought. He even had a scowl that matched Angus’s in intensity.

Angus’s scowl was vividly present as he glared at Haider. “You kept my son in a tomb? What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Relax, it’s empty. We put a bed in there, and Ciaran got to play video games and watch movies.”

“Lame ones,” Ciaran muttered. Tamsin wanted to burst into nervous laughter. He sounded just like his dad.

“Let him go.” Angus’s eyes were turning lighter gray, his wolf wanting to come out and play. If he turned himself into his between-beast and struck out hard and fast, he could take out all six guys very fast.

His Collar would go off and burn him with pain if he did. Then the guys with the tranqs would land him on the ground, and he’d be chained and hauled away. What they’d do with Ciaran, Tamsin didn’t like to speculate.

She lifted her hand in a friendly wave at Ciaran. “Hi there. I’m Tamsin, the big scary Shifter all these guys are after.”

Ciaran looked her up and down, his dark brows rising, then turned to his father. “You mean I was stuck all night in a crypt with Shifter Bureau, and you were with her? Not fair.”

“I didn’t have a choice, son.” Angus’s voice held a gentleness Tamsin hadn’t heard in it before.

Ciaran gave Tamsin a once-over again. “Good taste, Dad. She’s hot.”

“Hey.” Tamsin gave him a mock frown. “I’m old enough to be your . . . aunt.”

“Yeah. My hot aunt.”

Tamsin winked at him. “I was right. You’ll be a heartbreaker. I bet you already are.”

Ciaran looked puzzled by this, then turned back to Angus. “I’m all right, Dad. Just bored.”

And scared. Tamsin scented that on him, but he wasn’t about to let on in front of the Shifter Bureau goons how afraid he was.

“Let him walk over here,” Angus said. “Then we’re leaving. Right? I did what you wanted. Now my son and I are going home.”

“You took your time.” Haider motioned for the men with Ciaran to walk him forward. “Where did you disappear to?”

“Running after her.” Angus jerked his thumb at Tamsin. “Where do you think?”

“Hm.” Haider looked skeptical but didn’t pursue it.

Ciaran reached Angus. The goons stepped back, and Angus crouched down and pulled his son into a smothering hug. “You all right, little guy?”

Tamsin’s throat went tight as she saw the relief and love on Angus’s face. Ciaran, who clung to Angus a long moment, clearly loved and trusted his father. She remembered her own cubhood with her mom and dad, the family hugs that could make every trouble melt away, and her heart ached.

Angus unwound himself from Ciaran and straightened up, keeping hold of his cub’s hand. “I’m taking your car back to the club,” he told Haider. “My motorcycle is there, and I’m not walking with my cub across the city. Pick it up yourself.”

Haider nodded, as though he didn’t care one way or the other what happened to the car. “Leave the keys on the front seat. I doubt anyone will steal it.” His lips twitched.

Angus showed no amusement. He tightened his hold on Ciaran and walked him past Haider, past the men in fatigues, and down the walkway between the tombs.

Ciaran glanced back at Tamsin, worry on his face, but Angus never turned around.

Because he feared any look would give away what he’d told Tamsin to do? Or because he was absorbed in Ciaran and ready to put this situation well behind him?

Either way, they turned a corner, father and son gripping hands tightly, and disappeared.

Tamsin did not like how watching them go made her feel. Empty. Lonely. Mournful that she’d never see Angus again.

She stopped herself from analyzing these feelings and concentrated on the fact that she was alone with six guys from Shifter Bureau.

Her chest tightened, and her fight-or-flight instincts rose. She’d be fighting or fleeing very soon. Probably both.

“Ms. Calloway,” Haider said. “Shall we go inside?” He motioned to the tomb in which they’d kept Ciaran.