Wolf’s Princess (44 page)

Mrs. McGrath smiled graciously at Rose. “My dear, how kind of you to drop in. Have you come to congratulate me? As you can see, I have finally achieved my heart’s desire.” She waved a thin hand at the group of men. Rose saw they were gathered around a body. It was the body of Mayor McGrath. “Both of my heart’s desires at once. Justice has been done, and my son has come home at last. This has been a perfectly lovely day. We heard a shot not long ago. Did you rid yourself of your husband, too?”

Rose felt her jaw drop. She met Rye Thomas’s gaze. He lifted his shoulders in a slight, helpless shrug. He looked past her at the men coming up the steps and his eyes widened. Rose turned to see what had surprised him, and only then noticed that once they had changed back to human, they were naked. Not that she hadn’t noticed before, of course, but it hadn’t mattered. Now, with Mrs. McGrath examining the men with great interest, she felt almost embarrassed. She wished Katelyn would stand in front of them to help hide their nakedness, instead of cowering behind Paint.

“Well, no,” Mrs. McGrath said, clapping her hands once with girlish enthusiasm. “I see your husband is quite alive and looking very well.” She gestured Rose closer and lowered her voice to a confidential tone. “Do you think he knows that he forgot to put his suit on? It’s a lovely tie, but a gentleman needs to wear more than just a tie when he pays a call.” She patted her son’s hand and returned her voice to a normal level. “Ryan, I’ve only just now killed your father, so I’m not ready for another husband yet, but when you think the time is right, one who is hung like any of these men would be just fine.”

Rye’s sun-browned face went red, but Rose didn’t pay much attention to him. Sky had apparently just realized he was still wearing his neck tie. He raised a self-conscious hand to the knot and automatically tightened it around his throat. Rose clamped her teeth together to keep back a giggle. He probably had no idea how ridiculous he looked.

Rye cleared his throat. “I’ll see if I can find something for you all to wear. Mrs. Wolfe, will you sit with my mother for a few minutes? I’ll be right back, Mom.”

Captain Erickson and Snake went to join Shadow and the others, and explained in low tones what had happened. When Rye Thomas walked in the front door of his parents’ house with Snake and Quill close behind him, he had gone immediately to his father’s library. The mayor hadn’t seemed exactly overjoyed at the return of his son. Davidson, McGrath’s butler-cum-bodyguard, had been with the mayor in the library, and he had not seemed happy either.

“Pissed off, both of them,” Snake clarified. “Davidson said it wouldn’t be hard to get rid of him, Rye, that is, since nobody knew he was here. I thought I heard something at the door. When I went to look, I saw the lady in a wheeled chair rolling herself away.”

“Absolutely correct, young man,” Mrs. McGrath called. “I keep my gun in my sitting room so I had to go that way to fetch it. That snake Davidson…I beg your pardon, young man. You have a very nice name, I’m sure…If Davidson thought he could harm my son and get away with it, I would show him he was quite mistaken. I shot him. When Timothy tried to take the gun away from me, I shot him too. Really, I should have done that years ago.”

Rose swallowed. Surreal. She’d heard the word, and knew what it meant, but hadn’t experienced it quite like this. “Uh, how are you feeling, Mrs. McGrath? Can I get you anything?”

“Such a sweet girl.” Helen McGrath smiled serenely. “Thank you, but no. Now that my son is home I have everything I need. Except perhaps a Chippendale dancer.” She eyed Sky speculatively. “I believe they wore bowties. I saw pictures once in a magazine from the Times Before. Do you suppose your husband has a bowtie?”

Rose coughed. “I don’t believe he does.”

“Oh. Pity.”

Rye came in with an arm full of clothes and began handing them out. “These probably won’t fit well but at least you won’t cause a riot walking home.” He gave a little chuckle. “Have you been filled in on what happened here?”

Sky nodded. “I don’t know if I should give you my condolences or my congratulations.”

Rye chuckled again. “Congratulations will work. And speaking of work, I’ve got plenty of it ahead of me. I’ve been speaking with Dean. The city is a mess right now. I have to find a way to get things under control. The people who are out looking for trouble need be pacified. I have to convince them to accept me as the new mayor, and I have to do it right away, before things get even more out of control. I could use your help. Some of the people burning businesses and stealing things are only doing it because that’s what they are: looters and thieves. But a lot of them are honest men who don’t see any other way to bring change to Omaha. Dean tells me a lot of these men look up to you. They’ll listen to you. Will you come with me to talk to them?”

Rose’s plans for cuddling after a shower crashed, but she didn’t say anything. This was what Sky was in Omaha to do: clean the city up and bring justice back for women and the poor.

“Sorry,” Sky said, buttoning pants which were too large and a bit short. “I need to be with my mate now.”

Rose caught her breath.

Rye hesitated. “Sure, I get that.”

He wasn’t going to abandon her just when she needed him most. Rose blinked hard to keep the tears back. “You can stay, Sky. You should help. This is why you stayed in Omaha.”

“No.” Sky was quiet but firm. “Not now. Thomas, or McGrath, I should say, can handle it for today. I can help him tomorrow.” He looked over her head and nodded, probably at Rye. “But I won’t leave you now. Look at you. Your face is white, you’re covered in blood, and you look exhausted. You need me. Maybe you need me as much as I need you.”

She leaned her forehead against his bare shoulder. “You really do love me,” she whispered.

“I really do. I don’t have words to even begin to tell you how much.”

“When we get home, I want you to try. Please.”

“Yes, princess, when we get home I’ll try.”

“Great,” said Shadow. “Let’s get out of here.”

The pants Shadow had forced on were far too small for his thick, muscular thighs, and he hadn’t even bothered to try a shirt. Rose was sure the seams of the pants would split before they’d gone a block. Looking around, she noticed none of the wolves was wearing a shirt. There was a pile of clothing on the desk, probably the ignored shirts. It made her smile.

They all headed out of the library, Shadow and Tracker in front, with Paint and Katelyn next, then Sky and Rose, and Sand and Snake bringing up the rear. Mitzi sauntered out of whatever hole she’d found, and trotted along behind them.

Quill stood at the front door, apparently on guard duty. He smiled at Rose. Rye caught up to them.

“Can I talk to you, Sky? I won’t keep you long.”

Their formation paused as Sky turned to look at Rye.

“Is there anything I need to know?” The new mayor waved at the blood on Rose. “Any bodies that need to be buried?”

Sky considered. “There’s a few. One is in the passageway below. Two are in a room further on. One of them might still be alive. His guts are hanging out of his belly, so he won’t live long.”

Rose swallowed rapidly. She had killed two men. Sky squeezed her arm.

“The dungeon,” Rye said grimly. “I know that room. I’ll take care of it.”

“Don’t forget the two we killed in Askup’s house,” Shadow added helpfully.

“Thanks.” Rye nodded at Shadow. “One more thing. My mother will need a companion. With her disability she needs someone who can help her dress and bathe and all the rest.” Rye grabbed a fistful of his brown curls and yanked lightly. “She doesn’t like the woman my dad hired to do that for her, and I see no reason to keep the woman on if my mom doesn’t like her, and I sure can’t help her. Maybe one of the ladies in your house would be willing to take a new job? Even if it’s just for a few days until I can find someone else? The first thing I’m going to do is rescind the Women’s Acts, so your ladies might be looking for work. I don’t know what my finances are yet, but I promise I’ll pay a decent wage, and the woman won’t ever have to worry about being bothered.”

Sky nodded. “I’m sure someone will be willing. I’ll talk to them when we get home and send one of them over.” When Shadow growled again, he lifted a hand. “Goodbye until tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” Rye called as Quill fell in with Snake and Sand, and they headed into Omaha.

*

Sky walked with his arm around his mate’s waist, not because she needed his support, but because he needed to touch her. He could feel the hilt of her knife beneath his arm. Terror spiked in his gut when he thought of her having to use it, but at the same time relief poured through him. His mate could defend herself against evil men. He hadn’t been the one to rescue her. She had rescued herself. He couldn’t wait to get back home so he could explain to her how much he loved her and list each reason why.

They were five blocks from the mayor’s house when they saw the Grahams at the head of a cluster of angry men. This wasn’t the first group of men they’d come across, but the others wandered aimlessly and avoided confrontations. He guessed most of the looters were in the business district. The thirty or so men the Grahams led were angry in a purposeful way. Sky thought they were looking for trouble, and it wouldn’t be hard to find.

Rose poked his shoulder. “Look. Aren’t those Odell’s brothers?”

“Yes.” He looked down at Rose. “I think they’re looking for a fight.”

“You should go talk to them. Tell them what happened at the mayor’s house. That’s what Rye wanted you to do, right? Here’s your chance.”

He had worked for eight years for this moment. Eight years of struggle and loneliness to free the women of Omaha from the unfair laws of greedy men would soon pay off. His mate understood how important it was to him, and he loved her for it. “Stick close to Shadow.”

He waved the Grahams down and quickly told them about the death of Tim McGrath and that Rye was taking over. “He’ll be a fair mayor. He’ll see to it that the women in Omaha are treated right. We’ve won. Spread the word, okay? If you think it will make a difference, tell everyone that I support Ryan McGrath.”

They agreed, looking at Rose and Katelyn with horror. The two women were drenched in blood. The men, wearing only ill-fitting pants, were also bloodstained. Sand and Shadow had wiped most of the blood from their faces and chests, but they hadn’t gotten all of it. Sky nodded at the Grahams and moved his group along. Each time he passed a man he knew, he stopped to pass on the news of the elder McGrath’s death and the younger McGrath’s ascension.

The Limit looked good. There were no fires or fighting nearby, and the gate was whole. No one had invaded or attacked the house. Neil and White Horse were on the gate and let them through.

“It’s been quiet since you left,” Neil reported. “A few men came for their appointments, but we turned them away. You and the missus all right?”

“We’re good. Just need to hit the shower.”

Taye met them in the foyer with a sober face. After ensuring everyone was in one piece, he said quietly, “Miss Tasha and Joe are gone. They left together about an hour ago.”

“Tasha left?” Rose cried. “Why would she do that?”

Taye shifted his weight, looking at Sky.

“She betrayed you,” her mate said flatly. “I told her she had no place here any longer.”

“She told me to tell you she was sorry.” Taye’s face was carefully expressionless.

Sky shook his head. Sorry? She had given up his mate to his enemy. Because of her, Rose had been terrorized and forced to kill two men. She could have been raped and killed. Tasha sold Rose knowing what would happen. Sorry was an empty word not good enough to mend fences.

He looked around and saw all his ladies hovering at the edge of the foyer and in the hallways that went to the dining room and the reception rooms. All he wanted was to take Rose upstairs and be alone with her, but these women depended on him. They deserved some answers. “We’re all okay. The men who stole Rose and Katelyn are dead. Mayor McGrath is also dead and his son Ryan is taking over. The new Mayor McGrath will rescind the Women’s Acts so none of you will have to work here anymore. I’m not sure what will happen with The Limit. Ms. Mary and I will discuss it in a few days. If anyone wants to have any input in the decision, talk to Ms. Mary. For tonight, Rye has asked me to check with you all to see if any of you would be willing to work as a companion to his mother. Mrs. McGrath can’t walk and she needs help getting dressed.” He hesitated, trying to decide how to describe the lady who shot her husband and his butler. Mrs. McGrath seemed to think it wasn’t any different than pouring out a cup of bad coffee. “I don’t think she’s right in the head, but Rye needs someone to help. Anyone willing to go?”

The women looked at each other and Cayla raised her hand. “I could try it. How do I get there?”

Sky glanced around at his cousins and found volunteers. “Snake, Mike, and Quill will escort you.”

He hooked his arm around his mate’s waist. He needed to be alone with her now. Before he could hustle her off, she threw herself at Taye.

“I did it,” she said, her voice shaking. “It worked the way it always did in practice, only with a lot more blood.”

“You did fine.” He kissed her forehead. “You did just fine.” He glanced over her head at Sky. “You should get some food, and take her upstairs so she can get cleaned up.”

That was exactly what he’d been trying to do. “Come on, princess, let’s go.”

There was one more delay while she gave Katelyn a quick hug and whispered to her, “You were so brave, Katelyn. If you hadn’t bit Askup, we might not have escaped.”

Katelyn burst into noisy tears. Paint enfolded her in his arms and held her while Rose rushed toward the mudroom and the stairs that led to their room. Sky hurried after her, pausing only to accept the heaping tray that Kim handed him as he went through the kitchen.

At last. They were alone in their room. He put the tray of food on the dresser and gathered Rose into his arms. Relief, love, and gratitude crashed over him, but above all, he felt happiness. Just holding her made him happy.