Since it wasn't far, they walked down Main Street and then turned left to follow a lane to its end. The big house sat on a corner, porches wrapping the exterior upstairs and down. Their guest was waiting in a rocking chair when Jonas walked up the steps. It wasn't who he had been expecting, but he shouldn't have been surprised.
“Dane.”
“Took you long enough,” he grumbled.
Jonas cocked an eyebrow. “If you wanted to speak to me, you could have done it yesterday.”
Dane rolled his eyes. Jonas supposed the kid was now technically family, his brother-in-law, and maybe he shouldn't give the juvenile a lesson in manners. He was pretty damned tempted, though.
“Harper's been through enough. I did give her a phone. I figured you’d use it.”
“I was busy,” he said defensively, and that just pissed him off. He was not explaining his actions to a damned kid. “Why are you still here?” he growled.
Dane's spine stiffened until he stood at his full height, and he narrowed his eyes. Jonas studied him. The kid was tall and lanky. He hadn't filled out yet, but there was promise there, especially in the hard, determined look on his face.
“I hope I didn't make a mistake sending my sister here. You're supposed to take care of her.”
“Says who?”
The kid did the shutting-down thing Harper was so good at. His expression went blank, even his eyes. He held himself calm and loose, no sign of distress in his body language. It didn't just fuel Jonas's anger. It made him sad. No kid should have to learn that kind of coping mechanism.
“Your father must be one real piece of work,” he muttered.
“You don't know that half of it.” Dane's smile was cold and humorless. “If you can't or are unwilling to protect my sister, bring her to me. I'll take her somewhere safe. Somewhere he can't reach us.”
Jonas didn't care how the fuck important the kid was to Harper. Dane wasn't taking her anywhere. In one long stride, he had the boy's shirt twisted in his hand, yanking him close.
“No one takes what is mine, and she is mine, you understand?” He felt magical power building in the air and shook him. “Don't even think about it, kid.” Dane ignored him and used his magic to add to his strength enough to shove Jonas away. “If you think my father has given up, you're gonna get her killed. He won't hold back out of concern for her feelings.”
Jonas bristled at the unspoken threat. “And you are?” Dane just nodded once, curtly. But there was something in the kid's eyes. Something…uncertain.
“Are you strong enough to fight your father?”
“Yes. Maybe.” Dane shrugged. “He's older and a hell of a lot more experienced.” Jonas made a split-second decision he was sure he would regret later. “Go pack. You're coming back with me.” He opened his mouth to protest, and Jonas speared him with the look that made every juvenile in the pack obey him. “Do it.” He sprinted off, and Jonas pulled out his phone to scroll through numbers. He should call Liza first. She'd welcomed Harper into the pack, but he got the feeling she'd draw the line at Dane. Caleb would back her up. Zach, on the other hand, had left four brothers behind in his pack when he'd joined Redhawke. He might be more sympathetic. Plus he understood better than Caleb the struggle Jonas was experiencing. He found the number, hit Send, and stepped off the porch to get some privacy.
“Jonas. What's going on in Redemption?”
“Harper's brother is here.”
There was a long silence. “And?”
“I'm bringing him in. He's definitely not a threat to Harper, and I don't think he is to us either.”
“What else?”
“He thinks their father hasn't given up. That he'll be back. Zach, this is her kid brother. I can't leave him out here unprotected.” Zach sighed. “You didn't call Liza, did you?”
“No.”
Another long silence.
“Liza is an only child. So is Caleb.” Jonas didn't add that he was too.
“Sneaky, Jonas. I'm not sure whether I should congratulate you or beat you into the ground.”
“You can try,” Jonas growled before thinking better of it.
Zach chuckled. The bastard knew how much that irritated Jonas. “Bring the kid. But he's your responsibility.”
“Of course. Thanks.”
“No problem. You're the one who's gonna have to deal with Liza. She won't be happy about you circumventing her.” He sounded entirely too happy about that circumstance.
“Right,” Jonas answered drily before flipping the phone closed on Zach's laughter.
Dane waited silently on the porch, a big duffel slung over one shoulder. He looked mutinous, but he obeyed when Jonas gestured him forward. Jonas and Harris dropped back, but neither spoke until they were on Main Street and almost to the truck.
“Care to explain what the hell is going on?” Harris asked.
“My mate's younger brother.”
“Mate?”
“Harper. You've met her.”
“So all the activity in town was looking for her?”
“Probably. And we don't want anyone finding her.”
“Got it. I'll call if anyone else shows up.”
“Thanks.” He shook Harris's hand and shoved the kid in the truck before recalling the other matter he needed to deal with.
“Anything else you need?” Harris asked.
As a matter of fact there was. Crossing his arms over his chest, Jonas turned back to face Harris.
“Yeah, one thing. About Gabby and Ethan. But first,” he added in a lazy drawl,
“nice of you to step up and help when Dane tried to use his magic against me.”
Harris grinned, cocky and assured and arrogant. “He's a puppy. You didn't need my help.”
True, but… “This is our town, Harris. We welcomed you. You belong. We need to be certain where your loyalties lie.”
“You don't have to worry about that.”
Jonas nodded. “Good. So about Gabby and Ethan.” Harris's expression turned wary. “What about them?”
“Don't you think it's time y'all all made up and made nice?”
“I have no idea what you're talking about.” His tone had turned flinty.
“Sure you don't. You know how to find me if you want advice on straightening that out.”
Harris snorted. “Right. 'Cause you're an expert on relationships.” Jonas grinned. “I'm learning at least.”
Harris shook his head, shooting him a dirty look before turning and going back inside the police station.
Jonas got in the truck and turned toward home. His phone rang on the drive, and he might have winced a little when Liza's name showed up on the screen.
“Yeah?”
She jumped straight to the point. “You know, you could have asked me.”
“I thought you'd say no.”
“I would have. At first. We don't need to create an interspecies incident. There was almost a war when my parents mated.”
The reminder made him go cold. “I can take Harper and Dane somewhere away from the pack. Mick will come with us, of course.”
“Oh, give me a break. That is not what I'm suggesting. You're Redhawke. And so is Harper. And now her brother too, I guess.” Liza sighed. “We just need to be prepared.”
“What do you want to do?” Liza was paladin. He'd defer to her on this.
“For today, you take care of Harper and her brother. I'll talk to Ethan and Gabby about increasing patrols and my mom about magical defenses. I'll see you in my office at dawn.”
“Fine. See you then.”
He ended the call just as he drove through the gate. The question was where to put his new charge? Harper and Mick both lived in small cottages with one bedroom. His house had four. No-brainer, right? Except the part where he convinced everyone to move in with him.
He drove to his place. He figured he could tell Harper there was no way he was letting Dane out of his sight, and she'd hustle her cute little butt on over. Mick wasn't so easy. Jonas might have to grovel.