If we do, they’ll kill my kids. There has to be something else.”
Ellie’s finger motioned him to sit, which he did, grumbling the entire time.
“Think, Nathan. Don’t react. Emotion gets you killed. How many times has Dad said that?” She glanced at her father; he was serious, but smiling. “Okay, here’s a plan. Nate and I will go to the house with Karla. We’ll call Officer Barrons on the way and he’ll get the appropriate crew to investigate.”
Caleb said, “I’m going to the alpha house to confront Rocco.”
“I’ll go with you,” Aric said.
Mason jumped in. “Me, too.”
“Wait.” Their father’s deep voice rang with authority. “Caleb, I respect your position and responsibility, but your uncle has offended my pack. He and I will throw down about the kidnapping. If you want to make your challenge at the same time, then we’ll be there to back you. Understand, son?”
“You got it.”
The group dispersed in the same direction—toward the cars. Aric, Mason, and Caleb piled into Caleb’s truck. Nate squeezed into Ellie’s car, and Barbara and Tristan loaded into their SUV. From there, they split into opposite directions.
Ellie glanced at Nathan. “Did you smell anything before we got into the car?”
Nate turned to her. “I’m too keyed up. What did you smell?”
“It was like Castor oil or fish oil. I don’t know. It was weird.”
SEVENTEEN
Caleb was so pissed at Rocco that he would tear the asshole into pieces. Forget waiting for the right time, he’d fight his uncle as soon as he got to the disgusting house. No need for a big to-do with the pack as witnesses, the enforcers would be enough. But they were his uncle’s men and he remembered how they participated in all of Rocco’s sex-fests at the house. He could see them lying to the pack about the fight or jumping in to help Rocco, cheating for him. Shit .
He slammed his fist on the truck’s steering wheel. Aric and Mason glanced at him. Aric asked, “What are your thoughts, Caleb? What do you want to do?”
“I want to kill the motherfucker. What do you think?”
“To be legal, you know you have to present the challenge and have it accepted. If you kill Rocco outside of that, it’s considered murder.”
“Yes, I know. Dammit.” Caleb ran a hand through his hair, then slowed for the sharp turn on the mountain road. “I can’t wait any longer. I don’t know what I was waiting for anyway. I guess I was hoping for a sign to tell me ‘now, Caleb. Do it right now.’”
Mason shrugged. “Maybe the babies are the sign?”
Caleb shook his head. “No, I feel…I feel something important is going to happen. Something that will scream now . But I don’t know what the fuck it is. It’s been driving me crazy. I’m done with putting this off. Who knows what the bastard will try next.”
Approaching the next narrow curve, Caleb looked at his speedometer. “Aric, does your dad usually drive this fast? We’re fifteen over the speed limit.”
Aric and Mason looked at the SUV in front of them and frowned. Aric said, “No. He always stays in the legal range, especially on these curvy roads with steep drops to the river.” As they watched, Tristan took the next corner faster than Caleb dared. The SUV fishtailed. Caleb pressed the brake to slow down before turning.
Aric pulled his phone out. “What the fuck is Dad doing?” He pushed his speed dial for his mom’s cell.
Before he had a chance to speak, his mother’s voice came through loud and clear. “The brakes aren’t working. We can’t slow down, Aric. We can’t stop. Remember what your father told you about the safe and all the important papers. Don’t ever forget we love you all.”
“Mom, you’re talking like—” Aric choked. “Mom, you’ll be fine. Dad taught me well. I remember everything.”
Caleb thought of his father’s death. He died on roads like these, falling asleep behind the wheel and rolling down to the ravine, his
C. J. Cherryh
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