As Liam led Kim inside, Sean and another man came down the stairs to her left, and a young, lanky Morrissey bounded out of the kitchen that opened beyond the living room.
“Is that her?” the young man asked.
The oldest man moved past him and held out his hand to Kim. “I’m Dylan.”
Liam’s father. He didn’t look any older than forty, but like Sandra, his eyes held the weight of years. Those eyes assessed her, much as Liam’s had, but without the warm interest. His grip was strong, not overpowering, but it let Kim know he could overpower her anytime he wanted to.
Kim decided that if she’d met Dylan instead of Liam, she’d have hightailed it out of Shiftertown and never looked back. No wonder Liam was the one Brian said everyone approached. You had to be brave to look into Dylan’s eyes and not quail.
Sean stepped off the stairs. “Connor, why didn’t you clean up this crap? I told you Kim was coming.”
“I’m doing it.” The young man started gathering the jetsam into his big hands.
“My nephew, Connor,” Liam said. “Our brother Kenny’s son.”
The brother who’d died. Kim watched the long-limbed Connor shoulder his way into the kitchen, trying to carry everything at once.
Liam gestured for Kim to sit down. A couch, which had seen years of bouncing children and men’s booted feet, sagged when she sat on it. Connor reappeared and handed Kim a cold soft drink. Kim wasn’t in the mood for one, but she thanked him, opened the can, and took a sip. No reason not to be polite.
Liam sat down next to her, close, as he had at Sandra’s. Shifters really didn’t understand personal space. Or if they did, they didn’t care.
Sean stood ill at ease, his hands in his pockets. He wore a frown, as though he didn’t like having Kim there, but not because he didn’t like Kim. Dylan watched also, but with a quietness that the younger men of the family didn’t have. He was closer to the predator than any of them.
And here I am, the gazelle.
To calm her nerves, Kim looked around at the décor, which was mostly bachelor clutter. “Hey, I have a suitcase just like that.” She pointed at a black bag with metallic studs that stood next to the TV set. “Wait a minute, that is my bag.” She glared at Liam, who didn’t look the slightest bit guilt-stricken. “Gee, I wonder how it got here.”
“Remember my friends who went to fix your back door? They brought it.”
Kim set her can carefully on a TV tray. “Want to tell me why? Or do you have a fetish about stealing other people’s luggage?”
It was Dylan who answered. “Because you’re staying here, Kim. Liam knew you’d want your things.”
“What do you mean, staying here? Spending the night? I haven’t had that much to drink.”
Liam slid his arm around her, strong, holding her there. “You need to stay.”
“The Shifter wolf is dead. You and Sean killed him. I’m safe now.” Finally the thing niggling at her broke through the fog in her brain. “Liam, how were you able to kill him? Your Collar should have stopped you from fighting, even against another Shifter. Right?”
Liam said nothing. She felt Sean standing above her, Connor’s awkward uneasiness, and Dylan’s strong silence.
“Liam?”
Liam’s eyes were blue, hard, holding her gaze. “I’m sorry, love. That’s why we can’t let you go.”
Chapter Seven
She took it well. Liam had to give her that.
No screaming, no outraged swearing, no gibbering in terror. Kim simply looked at him, her eyes unreadable.
“Why not?” she asked steadily. “If I can prove that Brian had nothing to do with the murder, it won’t matter whether his Collar can malfunction. I have no reason to share the information far and wide.”
“You should let someone else take over Brian’s defense,” Dylan said.
Now the anger came. “Oh, no, no, no. This case is going to make my career. Besides, I’m your best hope of springing him.”
Dylan’s eyes were hard. “Brian understands the need to protect the Shifters.”
Kim struggled from Liam’s embrace and sprang to her feet. “Are you saying you’d let him go down? Make him pretend his Collar malfunctioned to keep everyone from knowing the Collars don’t work at all?”
“This isn’t about the Collars,” Liam said. “And anyway, the Collars do work.”
“You’re crazy. If Brian’s found guilty, he gets the death sentence for Shifters. Do you know what that means?”
“He won’t die at the hands of the human government,” Dylan said. “If he’s convicted, we’ll take care that he doesn’t face an executioner.”
“What, you’ll send Sean to turn him to dust?”
Sean looked away, unable to meet her eyes.
“No, not Sean.” Liam stood up beside her. “It’s not his job.”
Kim gave him an uncomprehending look; then her eyes widened. “You mean it’s yours? Oh, Jesus effing Christ, Liam.”
“It’s a Shifter problem,” Dylan said in his quiet voice.
“And now I’m a Shifter problem? You can’t take my word that I won’t tell anyone? Liam, you saved my life tonight. I owe you.”
“It’s not up to us,” Sean broke in. “We don’t make the law.”
“The oldest excuse in the book. Aren’t you the leader around here, Dylan? Can’t you make, you know, an executive decision?”
Dylan shook his head. “These are clan matters and Shifter secrets. Only Fergus can override the law.”
“Who the hell is Fergus?”
“The leader of the South Texas clan,” Liam answered. “Dad thinks you should have a hearing with him. I don’t agree.”
“Why not? Maybe this Fergus will see reason.”
“Fergus? Reason?” Liam wanted to laugh. He thought about the big man with the long black braid, the thugs he surrounded himself with. Fergus hadn’t been happy when Kim managed to get Brian a jury trial. He’d wanted Brian to plead guilty and be done, the human prodding into Shifter business over. Liam still didn’t understand why Fergus was so ready to wash his hands of Brian, but Brian had been ready to obey.
Until Kim had persuaded Brian to fight. Of course she had. Kim was a fighter. Fergus had been livid when he learned Brian had a competent defense attorney.
“He’s dangerous, Kim,” Liam said, his voice sharp with worry. “All Shifters are dangerous, Fergus especially so. You shouldn’t have come to see me at all.”