Henri barreled out of the cage and started toward me. Adam hauled back and decked him on the chin. He staggered.
"I won't kill you." Adam jerked his head toward the tall grass. "But they will. Get lost."
Henri glared at me, a promise in his eyes, but he went, gliding into the swamp and disappearing.
"I'll take care of you. I swear."
I wanted Adam's words to mean something, but they were only words he'd say to anyone who'd helped him protect his son. He owed me, and while I should tell him to stuff his help, I'd looked into Henri's eyes and I didn't ever want to run into him again alone.
"Diana?" Adam took one step toward me, hand outstretched.
"Don't move, asshole."
Adam froze. So did I.
Big, muscle-bound men with bandoliers of bullets strung across their impressive chests spilled into the clearing. Each of them had a rifle in his hands, a pistol on his hip, and a knife strapped to his thigh.
Another man walked into the clearing carrying Frank Tallient. Frank's legs hung uselessly over his helper's arm, revealing why he'd sent me to find the loup-garou instead of coming himself.
Frank was placed atop a rotted stump at the edge of the clearing. He pointed a handgun at Adam's head.
"How did you get here so fast?" I blurted.
"I knew you'd find him this time, Diana." Frank never took his eyes or his gun off of Adam. "I came to New Orleans yesterday so I'd be close by when your call came."
"He-he got away," I blurted.
Frank made a tsking sound. "He's right here. Henri, it's been a long time."
"No - "I began.
Adam shot me a silencing glare, and I zipped my lip. Then he returned his attention to Frank. "Do we know each other?"
Fury washed over Frank's face. "I suppose it's nothing for you to wipe out an entire family and leave a man crippled."
"Where was this?" Adam asked.
"You really don't remember?"
Adam shrugged.
"Iron Mountain." At Adam's blank expression Frank continued, "Upper Michigan."
I inched closer to Adam with the vague idea that maybe Frank wouldn't shoot him if there was a chance of hitting me. With my shoulder pressed to Adam's, I felt him jerk at the words.
Michigan? When had Henri gone there? And if he'd traveled that far, where else had he been? How many others had he killed? How many werewolves had he made?
"When was this?" Adam's voice was a bit hoarse.
Frank didn't seem to notice. "Seven years, one month, three days, and five hours ago, you son of a bitch."
Seven years meant Henri had left Louisiana before Adam had taken over his protection. That was irrelevant to Frank. His family was dead and he meant to have his vengeance.
I stepped forward and Adam yanked me back. "No."
One glance at his face and I understood. Adam was going to let Frank riddle him with silver bullets on the off chance the man didn't know a werewolf would explode. Then Frank would leave, believing his vengeance complete.
"Protect Luc," Adam whispered. "Find a way."
My eyes widened. He was putting his son in my care? I didn't like this plan. However, I didn't have a better one, except - "He isn't Henri."
"Diana..."
I ignored Adam's plea. Henri had lived this long; he'd no doubt live a lot longer. He was probably halfway to Acapulco by now. Frank hadn't been able to find him without me, and I wasn't going to oblige him by locating Henri a second time.
"The one who killed your family and hurt you is out there." I pointed to the swamp. "This is Adam. His great - a bunch of times - grandson."
"Bullshit," Frank said conversationally. "I saw Henri maliciously murder everyone I loved. Then he left me alive to remember and mourn."
"He was a wolf; how do you know it was Henri?"
Frank's eyes glazed over with the memory. "I'd taken my family to our cabin. We were having dinner in town and Henri was at the bar. He and I struck up a conversation. He was an interesting, intelligent man. I even considered fixing him up with my daughter." He shuddered. "You should have seen what he did to her."
No, I shouldn't.
"He leaped right through our picture window. I tried to stop him, and he knocked me down the steps. Something snapped in my back, and I couldn't move my legs. I had to watch him kill them all. I'll never forget his eyes. I see them every night in my sleep."
"The curse makes all the Ruelle men look alike," I blurted.
I wasn't certain that was true, but the explanation made sense, especially when combined with the lack of females born into the family since the voodoo queen had done her thing.
"This is Adam," I insisted, "not Henri."
"I don't believe you." Frank sighted down the barrel of his gun.
I threw myself in front of Adam as the weapon fired. I expected pain; instead all I felt was Adam's arms close around me.
"He missed," I breathed in wonder.
Adam glanced at his bicep, where blood dripped from a two-inch gash. "Not exactly."
"Get out of the way, Diana," Frank ordered. "I don't want to, but I will kill you."
"I'm not moving," I said.
Adam's hands tightened on my shoulders. I smiled, thinking the movement was affection, then gasped when he tossed me aside to land with a thud out of the line of fire.