Beast Behaving Badly
Page 76
There is no body, and your daughter is quite alive.
Then what do you want?
Shes currently in Ursus County. Wed like you to come with us to retrieve her.
Thorpes hands stopped moving, and slowly, he looked over his shoulder again at Van. Why?
Shes requested your presence.
Why?
Getting frustrated, Could you just come with us to get your daughter please?
Thorpe grabbed a rag and wiped his hands while getting to his feet. Why dont you just tell me whats going on?
Full-humans have been snatching hybrids and using them to fight. Like pit bulls. Your daughters name was sold a few months back, and weve been watching her ever since, hoping shed lead us to them.
I see. He studied Van again. The Group, right? You work for them.
He ran them, but he wasnt sure admitting that would help him right now.
You know, something doesnt make sense, Thorpe went on. My daughter is all about helping. She gives strangers on the street food, helps out at the pound, and runswhile not being chased, mind youin marathons to help different charities. Thats just her way. So, I see her being all over this particular situation like a bad rash . . . if she knew. So my question to you, Van Holtzdid my daughter know?
No.
So you were using her as bait? And Christ knows, my daughter hates to be lied to, he laughed. So she stuck you with me. Right? This was her brilliant idea?
Feeling a small sense of relief that the man understood the situation better than Van could hope and, more important, seemed to be taking it so well, Van nodded. You could say that.
Thorpe chuckled a little more. That girl. Look, why dont I make this easy for you and me? Thorpe tossed the rag to the ground and placed his hands on his hips. The sleeves of his sweatshirt were rolled up to the elbow, and Van saw the anchor tattooed on Thorpes right forearm, but it was the tattoo on his left forearm that was far more telling. It was his daughters name and her birthdate.
Blayne likes to feel we have a rough-and-tumble acrimonious relationship, and I let her. Because in a bizarre, Blayne-like way it makes her feel more normal when, in fact, my girls weird. I know shes weird. Her friends know shes weird. And we all accept it because shes weird, but shes also amazing. And I want my weird but amazing girl safe. So this is what youre going to do. Youre going to track down the fuckers who grabbed her and youre going to do what the Group does best, which is wipe their full-human asses from the planet. Youre going to do this in a timely manner and then, whenits safe, Ill go with you to bring my girl back. He stepped in closer. And, even after staying with those goddamn bears in Ursus Countywho, by the way, hate wolves and are terrified of wolfdogsmy girl better be as annoyingly perky and helpful as she was when she was grabbed, or Ill raze Van Holtz territory to the ground from here to the West Coast, leaving nothing but craters the size of the Atlantic Ocean when Im done.
Shocked, Van stuttered, Im . . . Im sorry?
Didnt anyone tell you? Thats what I used to do in the Navy. I was an engineer. Worked with the SEALS. I can take an amount of plastique that would barely blow up a squirrel and level a city block with it. Its all about placement, really. Find the right weak spot and I can destroy anything. So youre gonna make sure my kid is safe, since you put her in this position. Or you can start telling your wife and kids now how much youll miss them when theyre gone.
A shocking burst of anger shot through Vans system, and his chest slammed into Thorpes, but the lone wolf only laughed.
Come on, he said, showing a smile hed often seen from the wolfs daughter. Youre gonna fuck up that nice cashmere coat? And if it makes you feel any better, Im sure when we get Blayne back, shell forgive you. Even if I wont.
The wolf turned his back on Van, and Van knew that Thorpe felt no fear from him. A true lone wolf. There were some that were nervous freaks, terrified by every sound or strange look. Then there were the ones like Thorpe. Theyd sneak into a camp full of sleeping humans and drag one of the smaller adults or teenagers off into the night for food. Why? Because they didnt give a fuck.
As Van returned to his waiting limo, he knew that theyd have to do exactly what Thorpe had demanded. They had no choice. Not just for the Van Holtz Packs safety but for the safety of everyone who might come in contact with the wolfdogs father.
There were some very dangerous men in the world who were completely safe to be around . . . until something happened to the one person in their lives who kept them happy. Clearly, as irritating as he said he found her, Blayne kept her father happy. And if something happened to that wolfdog while she was living among all those unstable bears, then there would be nothing else for that lone wolf to give a fuck aboutand to Van that meant everyone else would pay.
What do you have on your feet?
Blayne lifted up her leg, grabbed her foot in the palm of her hand, and brought it up until she could easily see what she had on her feet. The Babes didnt call her Flexi for nothing. In common vernacular, Id say they were shoes. Of the sneaker variety.
Then what do you want?
Shes currently in Ursus County. Wed like you to come with us to retrieve her.
Thorpes hands stopped moving, and slowly, he looked over his shoulder again at Van. Why?
Shes requested your presence.
Why?
Getting frustrated, Could you just come with us to get your daughter please?
Thorpe grabbed a rag and wiped his hands while getting to his feet. Why dont you just tell me whats going on?
Full-humans have been snatching hybrids and using them to fight. Like pit bulls. Your daughters name was sold a few months back, and weve been watching her ever since, hoping shed lead us to them.
I see. He studied Van again. The Group, right? You work for them.
He ran them, but he wasnt sure admitting that would help him right now.
You know, something doesnt make sense, Thorpe went on. My daughter is all about helping. She gives strangers on the street food, helps out at the pound, and runswhile not being chased, mind youin marathons to help different charities. Thats just her way. So, I see her being all over this particular situation like a bad rash . . . if she knew. So my question to you, Van Holtzdid my daughter know?
No.
So you were using her as bait? And Christ knows, my daughter hates to be lied to, he laughed. So she stuck you with me. Right? This was her brilliant idea?
Feeling a small sense of relief that the man understood the situation better than Van could hope and, more important, seemed to be taking it so well, Van nodded. You could say that.
Thorpe chuckled a little more. That girl. Look, why dont I make this easy for you and me? Thorpe tossed the rag to the ground and placed his hands on his hips. The sleeves of his sweatshirt were rolled up to the elbow, and Van saw the anchor tattooed on Thorpes right forearm, but it was the tattoo on his left forearm that was far more telling. It was his daughters name and her birthdate.
Blayne likes to feel we have a rough-and-tumble acrimonious relationship, and I let her. Because in a bizarre, Blayne-like way it makes her feel more normal when, in fact, my girls weird. I know shes weird. Her friends know shes weird. And we all accept it because shes weird, but shes also amazing. And I want my weird but amazing girl safe. So this is what youre going to do. Youre going to track down the fuckers who grabbed her and youre going to do what the Group does best, which is wipe their full-human asses from the planet. Youre going to do this in a timely manner and then, whenits safe, Ill go with you to bring my girl back. He stepped in closer. And, even after staying with those goddamn bears in Ursus Countywho, by the way, hate wolves and are terrified of wolfdogsmy girl better be as annoyingly perky and helpful as she was when she was grabbed, or Ill raze Van Holtz territory to the ground from here to the West Coast, leaving nothing but craters the size of the Atlantic Ocean when Im done.
Shocked, Van stuttered, Im . . . Im sorry?
Didnt anyone tell you? Thats what I used to do in the Navy. I was an engineer. Worked with the SEALS. I can take an amount of plastique that would barely blow up a squirrel and level a city block with it. Its all about placement, really. Find the right weak spot and I can destroy anything. So youre gonna make sure my kid is safe, since you put her in this position. Or you can start telling your wife and kids now how much youll miss them when theyre gone.
A shocking burst of anger shot through Vans system, and his chest slammed into Thorpes, but the lone wolf only laughed.
Come on, he said, showing a smile hed often seen from the wolfs daughter. Youre gonna fuck up that nice cashmere coat? And if it makes you feel any better, Im sure when we get Blayne back, shell forgive you. Even if I wont.
The wolf turned his back on Van, and Van knew that Thorpe felt no fear from him. A true lone wolf. There were some that were nervous freaks, terrified by every sound or strange look. Then there were the ones like Thorpe. Theyd sneak into a camp full of sleeping humans and drag one of the smaller adults or teenagers off into the night for food. Why? Because they didnt give a fuck.
As Van returned to his waiting limo, he knew that theyd have to do exactly what Thorpe had demanded. They had no choice. Not just for the Van Holtz Packs safety but for the safety of everyone who might come in contact with the wolfdogs father.
There were some very dangerous men in the world who were completely safe to be around . . . until something happened to the one person in their lives who kept them happy. Clearly, as irritating as he said he found her, Blayne kept her father happy. And if something happened to that wolfdog while she was living among all those unstable bears, then there would be nothing else for that lone wolf to give a fuck aboutand to Van that meant everyone else would pay.
What do you have on your feet?
Blayne lifted up her leg, grabbed her foot in the palm of her hand, and brought it up until she could easily see what she had on her feet. The Babes didnt call her Flexi for nothing. In common vernacular, Id say they were shoes. Of the sneaker variety.
