To prevent a further scuffle, he moved one of the tables out of the way and roped the man’s ankles together.
Izzy surveyed the room, removing anything the rogue could use as a weapon. “Are you sure you knocked him out? Let me know if he comes around so I can show him my gratitude for ripping my good jeans.”
She bumped into Prince, who was entering the room from the long hallway.
“My associate should be here in a moment. He was waiting down the road on standby.” Prince nudged the rogue with his Italian-leather shoe. “He still hasn’t woken up?”
Austin folded his arms, thickening his biceps. “When I knock a man out, they’re lucky if they wake up.”
And he meant it. Austin had captured many men in his bounty hunter days, and he didn’t hold back on his punches.
The room had a musty smell, like old clothes that had been tucked away in a cedar chest for years. They used the heat house infrequently, so the natural smells of wood and linens had taken over. The living quarters were humble, yet provided occupants with everything they needed. At the entrance was a small bathroom on the left, a couch and television straight ahead, and a kitchenette against the far wall. To the right they had built a cubby area into the wall for the bed to give it a feel of privacy. Over the years, the women had added small touches to the room to give it personality. April’s books were inside the headboard shelf, Lexi chose the paintings, Naya always kept magazines in the drawers, Izzy hung a curtain to give the illusion of a window, and Maizy kept the kitchenette stocked. Some of the men were envious of the snacks they hoarded, which were off-limits.
Austin hiked up his jeans while the man roused from unconsciousness.
Prince strolled about the room and studied the Southwestern décor that Lynn had added.
Austin pulled a wooden chair out from a small desk and spun it around, sitting in front of the rogue, his arms draped over the back of the chair. “If you can hear me, you’re better off not screaming for help. Not unless you want a good skull-crushing.”
Prince draped a thin chenille throw over the man’s legs to cover his nudity.
Austin shot him a frosty glare. “Lexi’s gonna kill you. She loves that blanket.”
He leaned against the edge of the sofa. “I believe you can wash them.”
“Yeah, like I’m going to let her rub her face all over a blanket that touched another man’s balls.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Austin looked up.
Church entered the room, his shirt in hand and one of the laces on his boots untied. His cheeks and chest were flushed beneath his golden complexion. “The Vampire’s here,” he said, out of breath.
“Did you catch the other wolf?” Austin asked.
Church’s jaw set. “The varmint wanted a chase all the way to Dallas. I had to make a choice of letting him lead me into a trap or returning to help.” He gestured toward the rogue on the floor. “I’m sure he was heading back to his unit, and they’d love nothing more than capturing an alpha.”
Austin rubbed his bristly jaw against his shoulder, deep in thought. “Good point.”
“Did you invite him in?” Prince asked, pushing away from the couch and nearing the door.
Church briskly crossed the room and pulled his stretchy black shirt over his head. “He invited himself.”
A man appeared in the doorway, one Austin was certain he’d seen before in Lexi’s shop.
Prince invited him in and then closed the door. “Gentlemen, this is Atticus Rain. Thanks for coming on short notice.”
The Vampire had a friendly face—nothing memorable about his appearance other than his liquid-black eyes, which stood out against short hair that looked bleached to an almost silver shade, like Billy Idol but without all the spikes. Maybe it was his aquiline nose or rigid stance, but something gave Austin the feeling he was from old money. Atticus unbuttoned his long black coat while looking down at the gaunt man on the floor, who glared up at him with spiteful eyes.
Atticus smiled, his fangs punching out. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Chapter 12
“I’ve never seen anyone put away so many nachos,” Denver remarked with a hint of admiration.
I patted my belly from the backseat of his Jaguar. “They never give you enough in those paper boxes. I’m eating for two now.”
Maizy peered back at me with a wry grin. “But you ordered for five.”
I shrugged. “Would have been better with some chili and hot sauce on top.”
Denver lifted his visor and squinted at the house up ahead. “Do you think Austin’s done with his Grand Poobah meeting with the Packmasters?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “But in case he’s not, I think everyone needs to head upstairs to the game room. He’ll get pissed if we’re making too much noise and he’s still in a meeting with them.”
“What do you think, Peanut? A game of pool or a game of Denny?”
“Pool. It lasts longer.”
He chuckled. “But I have a longer stick.”