CHAPTER FOUR

And he had made it work. Mercy had grown up – thrived even – in Aspen Creek. Those sixteen years were some of the most trying and unpredictable years of his extensive life. And he had loved every frustrating, infuriating moment.

Now, Mercy was gone – kidnapped – and he could not do anything to free her.

"Adam called," Charles' voice interrupted Bran's thoughts. "He heard from Bonarata. They took Mercy to Milan. Bonarata invited Adam and a limited crew to be his guests. Adam wanted to know if I'd be willing to fly co-pilot. I explained to him that you and I had discussed the possibility, and I was not the best choice for this particular trip."

Bran looked up from his desk, where he hadn't been looking at anything anyway, and examined his son. Charles looked as agitated as Bran felt.

"I pointed him in Austin Harris' direction. Adam's going to need someone who won't mind having all sorts of passengers."

Austin Harris. Suddenly struck with an idea, Bran perked up a little. Bran was correct to convince Charles he was not the right fit for this rescue venture. However . . .

"How long would it take you to gas up the plane and get me to Northern California?"

Charles eyed suspiciously. "Why?"

Bran gave his son a wolfish smile, baring his teeth. "Because Austin still needs a co-pilot."

Charles shook his head. "Da, you know you can't go. If I can't go, you can't go."

Bran waved off his concerns. "You are recognizable, my son. Even if Bonarata had not had a few run-ins with you, he would know you. Me?" Bran raised himself out of his chair and walked around the desk. Gesturing to himself he said, "I am . . . forgettable."

He walked towards Charles, his body language changing subtly as he moved. "Besides, who says I'm going?" The changes weren't big or obvious, just a slight dip of his head, a dropping of his eyes. "Adam should bring a submissive wolf as co-pilot, don't you agree? Someone who will not draw undue attention from the Lord of the Night."

Charles frowned. "You don't really expect that to work?" He held up his hand to keep his father from interrupting. "Yes, you've done it before but it's not just you. Adam will have to sell it. He'll have to lie – and not simply in words but with his body language and pack hierarchy. And then there is whoever he brings with him. Adam's pack knows you. They will all need to lie as well."

Bran narrowed his eyes. "I am going."

Charles internally shook his head but refrained from commenting any further on his father's plan. "I can have you at Austin's landing strip in a couple of hours."

Bran nodded his head and moved to leave the room. "I'll go throw a few things together. I can call Adam once we're in the air and tell him the plan . . . my submissive wolf will need a name . . ." Bran was walking through the doorway when he suddenly stopped and let out a laugh. "Oh!" he said, "she'll really get a kick out of that one!"

He didn't share and Charles didn't ask him to.