"Rachel, calm yourself immediately." The order was given in a tone just as low, but rumbling with the power of the animal inside him. "You will stand quietly, lend the power of your support behind Cassie and we'll discuss the specifics later."
Her gaze flickered, but only for a moment before her eyes narrowed once again. "If you try to give him my child . . ."
"I would die before I would allow him to take that child," he snarled back at her, furious that she would ever consider that he would do such a thing. "If you want this to go smoothly, without Child Protective Services having Sanctuary surrounded by state police, then do as I say. Lend your support rather than your panic."
Rachel was in shock as he gripped her arm and led her back to where Cassie stood by the side of the Raider, watching calmly as reporters began to arrive at the gates as well.
"Ready?" she asked gently as she met Rachel's gaze, her neon blue eyes seeming deeper, darker than before.
Rachel nodded sharply. "As ready as I'll ever be without preparation."
Cassie smiled back at her. "Everything would have been explained once I finished the paperwork. I would have met with you tomorrow had both our schedules allowed it. But have no fear, Jonas had your back."
Jonas had her back? She prayed to God Cassie knew what she was talking about. Devon's family had power and influence. She'd prayed they wouldn't come after Amber, had done everything to ensure they simply forgot about her. And now here they were.
Devon stood in front of the gate, a glare on his too handsome, darkly tanned face. His blond hair was thick, waving back from the sculpted features of his face, while his blue eyes narrowed in dislike.
He had stolen from her, left her stranded in a strange country, and he was watching her as though he disliked her? There was something wrong with this picture.
More reporters were pulling up as she stepped into the guards' shack with Cassie and Jonas. The small building boasted a large table for just such preliminary meetings, a refrigerator, microwave, weapons locker and an array of electronics carefully protected behind heavy steel-, cement- and blast-resistant glass.
"Crank." Jonas nodded to the guard on duty, a less-than-sociable Coyote with shaggy black
hair and gray eyes.
"Director." Grating and rough, his voice sounded torn from his throat. "Can I shoot the bastards?" He nodded toward the reporters gathering outside.
"Not yet, Crank," Jonas drawled. "But if you could escort Mr. Marshal and his attorneys inside, perhaps we could get this over with."
"I say we set them loose in the woods and use them for the babies to hunt," Crank grunted. "Bastards ain't good for nothin' else."
"Crank, please." Cassie shot him a disapproving frown. "I know how you love intimidating the masses, but let's see about making a nice impression today."
The Coyote sighed but cleared his expression as he moved to the door, stepped out and met with Devon, Buffalo Gap's district magistrate and the three attorneys, all dressed in their finest, most intimidating suits.
They stepped into the security shack, the attorneys staring down their perfectly straight noses as Devon lifted his lip in distaste.
Rachel stood next to Jonas, taking comfort from the strength and complete assurance he projected.
"Director Wyatt." The lead attorney nodded in Jonas's direction, and Rachel could have sworn she glimpsed an edge of respect in the lawyer's gaze before he turned and nodded at her as well.
"Mr. Edgewood." Jonas shook hands with the attorney before turning to Rachel. "This is Miss Broen, and accompanying us as legal counsel today is Ms. Cassandra Sinclair."
The three men glanced at Cassie. Only Edgewood was aware of the perceptive young woman he was now facing; the other two, by the condescension on their faces, didn't have a clue.
Cassie was considered one of the foremost authorities on Breed Law, and was currently in her final year of law school. At nineteen, she had excelled far beyond what even the Breeds had anticipated.
"My colleagues, Ryan Former and Daniel Frost. And may I introduce Ms. Blanchard, from Child Protection Services."
The CPS agent nodded with a faint smile, her brown eyes gazing around in concern as she felt the tension in the room.
"Ms. Broen, a pleasure." John Edgewood maintained a respectful, cool manner as he shook her hand.
"Mr. Edgewood." She fought to keep her voice cool, to keep her voice from shaking with fear.
"Gentlemen." Jonas nodded when the other two stepped back, refusing to partake in a handshake with either Jonas or Rachel.
"And may I introduce my client, Devon Richard Marshal." The attorney turned to his client as he stepped back as well, his arms crossing over his chest as he glared back at Jonas, then at Rachel.