Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

"I'm not weak."

"But if you became a werewolf, you wouldn't be a victim any longer, would you?"

Jude got to his knees and reached for his shirt. "I'm going now."

"Yes, it's time." Paco said. "Come back tomorrow, and I'll put on some more salve."

"I don't need it."

"That's right, you told me that. Come back anyway. I might have use for a werewolf to test my potions."

"You're making fun of me."

"No, I wouldn't dare. You might tear me apart… Marrok."

"I might." He stood up. "And I might not, old man."

"My name is Paco. I may be old in your eyes, but I don't like to be reminded of it." He turned away. "And I'm not joking. A fierce cub like you might be a fine apprentice."

"Why? I don't believe in your magic. I won't lie and say I do."

"I know. But you amuse me. I can find something for you to do. Will your father let you come to me?"

"Yes."

Paco smiled. "Or you'll turn into a werewolf and tear him apart?"

"Yes."

"Then I believe we must see that you stay away from him. I'll talk to the elders in the council."

The old man really meant it, Jude realized. Unless he was only playing with him. "Why are you doing this?"

"Not out of kindness. I'm not a kind man. Perhaps I want to see if I can convince you that I have true magic."

Jude shook his head .

"Or maybe I'm wondering if you'll turn on me and let loose all that bitterness and ferocity. I don't believe I've ever seen anyone with all that stored hatred. It will be interesting."

Jude stared at him. What could he say? Hope was beginning to unfold deep within him. "That's not all. What do you want from me? I'll pay my way. Do you need drugs? I'll go to Nakadano and get them for you."

Paco shook his head. "If I want smoke dreams, I'll make my own." He pulled the blanket closer around him. "Go away. I want to sleep now. I know you won't stay tonight. You'll want to go up to those rocks where I found you. You'll hide, you'll think, and you'll fume. Such a waste of time. Then you'll come back…"

"Maybe."

"No maybe. You'll come back, Jude Marrok… "

PACO.

Marrok opened his eyes and stared into the darkness. He hadn't dreamed about Paco for years. Not since he had come to terms with his death. Why now?

He got out of bed and moved toward the window and threw it open. The air was cool on his naked body, and he took a deep breath.

Jude Marrok doesn't sound like an Indian name , Devon had said.

Just a sentence, and all those memories from his childhood had tumbled back.

She was coming too close to him in many ways. Sex was basic, sex was safe. Memories were never safe. They twisted, they turned, and became something that could change and disturb.

Yet he wouldn't send her away. The lust was too intense. He was in a fever, and he could handle the rest.

Paco was gone. That bitter boy he'd been all those years ago had matured. Yet Devon had come into his life, and there were suddenly both here with him.

It was okay. He could handle it.

"YOUR ADDIE IS LIVING IN ONEof those houses?" Devon was looking out the window of the he li cop ter down at the huge mansions below them. "She must be spoiled rotten."

"She's a golden retriever. It's hard to spoil a retriever."

"No, it's not. They just make it so appealing you don't mind doing it." Devon shook her head as the he li cop ter started to descend. "These are incredible estates and the views…"

"It's the Seventeen Mile Strip. Some of the priciest real estate on the coast." He pointed to a huge mansion on a hill overlooking the Pacific. "That's Addie's place."

Devon gave a low whistle. "That's some kennel."

"And guarded like Fort Knox. The own er is a billionaire, and everything he owns is treated like the Hope diamond."

"How did you persuade him to take on Addie? Is he a dog lover?"

"Yes. And he loves his wife even more. She's the one who took Addie for me." He paused. "Though I didn't tell her why I wanted her to do it."

Devon shook her head. "Marrok, you're impossible. You can't go around manipulating people to suit yourself. It's not right or fair."

"I know." He grimaced. "I thought it best. And it was good for her, too. But now I have to face the music if I want her to take you in."

"Another homeless stray?"

"Yeah. I guess you could call yourself that. Since I took your home away from you."

There was a note in his voice that caused her to look at him. "Danner took my home."

"Domino effect." He reached for his phone. "I've got to tell her we're coming in, or we'll have the security boys all over us."

"I'd appreciate that," Walt said dryly.

Marrok dialed the number and waited until it was answered. "We're right above you. Tell Security, okay?" He hung up. "Sarah sounded tense. We may have a problem."

"Sarah?" Devon asked.

"Sarah Logan, Addie's guardian." He pointed to a woman standing on a pad beside the house and looking up at the helicopter. "There she is."

Devon could only make out a tall, slim woman with sun-streaked brown hair blowing in the wind from the rotors. "Sarah Logan… I've heard that name…"

"I thought you might have. And it wasn't on the society pages," Marrok said. "Sarah and John live a very quiet life."

"No, it wasn't in the newspaper." The helicopter had landed, and she was getting a closer look at the woman striding toward them. It wasn't only Sarah Logan's name that was familiar. It was the way she carried herself; she moved with strength and litheness, and her gaze fixed on Marrok was direct and a little belligerent. "She doesn't look pleased to see you."

"Hold on to your hat," he murmured as he helped her from the copter. "We're about to see a few fireworks." He smiled. "Kind of you to come to meet us, Sarah. This is Devon Brady. She's a vet."

"Nothing's wrong with my dogs. I don't need her." She added coolly, "And I don't need you either, Marrok. Go away. You're not taking Addie."

"You always knew it was a temporary arrangement. You were only doing me a favor."

"She's doing fine with us. You're not taking her."

Suddenly it clicked for Devon. "Turkey. An earthquake disaster rescue mission. Years and years ago. It was only my second rescue mission. You were on one of the search and rescue teams from California." She frowned, trying to remember. "You had a golden retriever…"

"Monty," Marrok supplied.

"That's right," Devon said. "What a beautiful boy… But I never ran across you again on any other mission."

"I only went on one other rescue mission after that," Sarah said. "Monty was getting too old for the strain of the trips." She looked at Marrok. "Indonesia. That's where I met Marrok. He was there with Ned. We got to know each other very well." Her lips twisted. "We had a good deal in common. We both have Indian blood."

"I need to talk to you alone, Sarah," Marrok said.

"It's not going to do you any good. You're not taking Addie."

"That's not why I'm here. I may have to take her someday. But that's not going to happen right now."

Devon could see the tension ebb away from Sarah. "Then, dammit, why didn't you say so?"

"You didn't ask. You just jumped to conclusions."

"Well, then come back to the house." She turned to Devon. "I'm sorry. I was rude. But Marrok was his usual noncommittal self and was worrying the hell out of me."

"I can sympathize."

Sarah studied her, then nodded. "I can see how you would." She turned. "Come around to the back verandah, and we'll talk, Marrok."

"Alone," Marrok repeated. "We'll drop Devon off at the grounds, where she can meet Addie and the others."