“I need a hot shower.” Zach rose but swayed. “I’m freezing.”
Kade grabbed him to keep him from falling.
“Dammit. Stop pawing me,” Zach complained. He didn’t sound like himself at all.
The big Were propped an arm beneath his shoulder. “Look, you’ve been blown up. Cara’s put you back together, but you gotta take it easy.”
“You’re the bastard who poured a pot of ice-cold water on me.”
“Yeah, well, you’re too important to be lying on your back.”
“So nice to be needed,” Zach growled. “But I’m going upstairs.”
“Zach, just sit.” Jessie pointed to a cot.
He stared at her for a moment. It was almost more worrying when he relented and planted his butt.
“Lie down and let me look at you.” Cara glanced at Jessie. “Some hot water might be an idea. Let’s get him cleaned up.”
Jessie nodded and headed for the kitchen, which was still full of Weres. They were comparing injuries, and every pot had been pressed into service for cleaning wounds.
Kade followed her in. He eyed Grayson, whose skin dripped water.
Grayson straightened under his scrutiny. “Fire’s out,” he said. “Storm finally broke. It’s coming down in sheets out there.”
Kade pointed to him and Trevor. “As soon as Cara’s tended to you, get back out on patrol.”
“You think they’ll come back for more?” Grayson asked.
“It’s D-Day. He sent a damned explosive strapped to a drone. Anything is possible.”
Trevor’s face spasmed, and he nodded. Jessie swallowed. She didn’t want to think about tonight. If all went according to plan, she’d be a Were when the moon rose.
She pushed past Trevor, expertly surveyed the scene and snagged Rafe’s pot.
“Hey!”
“Need this.” The pot contained water so filthy she didn’t even want to dump it in the sink. Balancing it with care, she carried it toward the back door.
“I can dump it.” Trevor walked toward her.
“I’m good. But if you can get the door...”
Trevor opened it for her, and she flashed him a tired smile as she slipped through.
Tired was an understatement. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, she shook with weariness. As she stepped onto the porch, lightning forked across the sky. The din from the rain pounding on the metal roof was deafening; she hadn’t noticed it inside the house.
She carried the pot to the edge of the porch and poured the water into the hedge.
Embers still glowed in the barn, but the rain had done the trick. Jessie was about to turn back to the kitchen when she noticed Spike standing in the yard. With his fur plastered to his large frame, the big dog pricked his ears and trotted off, vanishing around the corner.
Something niggled at her. Then it came to her. Where was Laura?
Jessie’s mind retraced the frantic events of the last two hours. She’d last seen Laura when she’d followed Kade, carrying Zach, into the kitchen.
The woman was probably upstairs, in the bedroom. But what if she wasn’t?
Cara and Zach were in the house. Along with all the Sabres. For the first time since their arrival at the farm, the Sabres’ guard was down. If Laura was going to bolt, now would be the time.
