Jia went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I’m sorry I called you an old pervert.”
“I accept your apology.”
Jia petted the beastie. “Isn’t he beautiful?”
“Ah, yeah. Cute as a button,” I lied.
“Momma,” the beastie said, snuggling against Jia.
My eyes widened in disbelief. Whoa! He could talk. Giovanni had outdone himself. “What’s your name?”
“Mean little shit,” the beastie answered.
Jia hugged him. “No. You need a real name. I’m going to call you Pepe after my grandfather.”
Pepe’s black fur puffed up with pride. “Me Pepe.”
“Your grandfather must have been a great guy,” I said politely.
“No. My grandfather was a mean, old bastard.”
“Oh, good choice then.”
Storm clouds rolled down the passageway and explosions rocked the catacombs.
“Samuel has gotten stronger,” Uncle Jesse said.
“Not a big surprise. Zarek’s blood changed Father on the cellular level and gave him one hell of a power boost. He’ll soon be a Coletti warlord. Like we need more of them.”
“Even if I had been there, Samuel’s injuries were beyond my ability to heal. Without that transfusion Samuel would have died,” Uncle Jesse admonished.
“And I’m grateful for Zarek’s help, but Father’s not the same.”
“Aren’t you being a bit of a hypocrite?”
I winced. “I am. I knew the consequences of drinking Jake’s blood, but it was the only way to stop that murdering Chupacabra. Even now I can feel it changing me. I’m becoming something not quite human.”
A frown creased Jia’s forehead. “I’m not drinking anyone’s blood and who’s Samuel?”
“My father.”
“And Jake is?”
“My mate,” I replied.
“He’s a warlord?”
“He is.”
Jia grimaced. “Let me guess. He works for Zarek too?”
“And Central Command. General Saul Jones is Jake’s uncle.”
“Merde!” Jia backed away from me in horror. “Central Command hunts Dragos women.”
I arched a brow. “Are you Dragos? Is Stanka an alias?”
“I will never be a Coletti breeder.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Jia eyed me suspiciously. “You’re not going to give me to a Coletti warrior?”
“Nope.” I placed a hand on my heart. “On my word of honor. You’ll never be a Coletti breeder.”
Uncle Jess huffed in amusement.
“You’re not telling me the truth.”
“I’ll make a deal with you. If you’re honest with me, I’ll be honest with you,” I countered.
Jia narrowed her eyes. “I don’t trust you.”
“Right back at ya.”
“Are you refusing to look for Adam?” Jia asked indignantly.
“I didn’t say that. We will stop Giovanni and free all his prisoners,” I replied.
“What is expected of me?”
Before I could answer, Jake and my father teleported into the chamber with their weapons drawn.
“Good hunting Father?”
“Very.” He retracted his helmet and examined my blood covered form and raised an eyebrow at Uncle Jesse’s nudity.
I gave him a reassuring smile. “Not my blood and his bear came out to play.”
“Why is the old guy naked?” Jake asked.
I hunched a shoulder. “When Uncle Jesse turns into a bear, his clothing goes away.”
Jake’s gaze shot to Uncle Jesse. “You can turn into a bear?”
“I have many talents,” Uncle Jesse boasted.
Samuel pulled an Askole belt from a pocket and handed it to Uncle Jesse. “Cover yourself.”
Uncle Jesse examined the belt. “What kind of belt is this?”
“Askole armor belt,” Father replied.
“How does it work?”
“Let me show you.” Father fastened it around Uncle Jesse’s waist, and with one tap black armor covered my uncle from head-to-toe.
Jia gingerly touched Uncle Jesse’s back. “I’ve heard this armor restricts your movements.”
Uncle Jesse broke into his Death Dance.
“I guess not.”
Jake watched him for a moment. “Is he having a seizure?”
“No, he’s dancing.” I cringed when Uncle Jesse did his famous crotch-thrusting move.
“I know of a good nursing home you could put him in.”
I smacked Jake in the stomach. “He might be a bit nuts, but never forget he’s family.”
“The Jones family is full of crazy. He’ll fit right in, but can you get him to stop dancing.”
Father and I exchanged grins “There’s no stopping him,” we said in unison.
“I could stun him.”
I gave Jake the evil eye.
He held up his hands. “Just saying.”
Her expression bordering on avarice, Jia asked, “Any chance of me getting a belt? I mean, they are shooting at me.”
“Maybe,” I hedged.
Jake switched to his warlord mode. “Introduce us.”
“Jia, this is my mate, Jake Jones and my father, Samuel Tsosie.”
“My condolences for the loss of your humanity,” Jia said politely.
I smothered a groan. When Father got that look in his eyes, watch out.
“I have lost nothing but gained a great deal. You would do well to remember your manners, child,” Father replied and a small bolt of lightning zapped Jia in the ass.
Jia yelped.
Pepe growled.
I asked, “You hungry, Uncle Jesse?”
“Now that you mention it, I am.”
“I apologize. I apologize,” Jia cried.
Picking up on her distress, Pepe bared his teeth and snarled viciously.
Jake pointed at the beastie. “What is that?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. Giovanni created him. He’s a smart little guy and he can mind speak.”
“Huh. Zarek will definitely want to us to confiscate him.”
“No!” Jia clasped the little guy to her chest. “Pepe’s mine and I won’t let you take him from me.”
His eyes cold with menace, Jake stated, “Prisoners have no rights.”
“Prisoner?”
“Partner,” I hurriedly inserted.
Jake slid me a narrowed sidelong glare.
“I’ll explain later,” I said on our private link.
“Yes, you will.”
Jia glared at us. “I thought this was a team effort to stop Giovanni and free his prisoners?”
“We are currently hunting Giovanni and there were no prisoners. Just empty cells,” Jake shot back.
The color drained from Jia’s face. “Dio mio. I knew it. Giovanni killed my brother.”
“You don’t know that yet. There are several drugs that can sever mental links. Once his base was under attack, Giovanni probably had the Rodan transport all his test subjects to another location,” I quickly interjected.
Jake nodded. “We found several stasis chambers in Giovanni’s lab. If your brother was placed in one, you won’t be able to link with him.”
“Adam could still be alive?” Hope flickered to life in Jia’s eyes. “We’ve got to find him before he turns into one of those horrible creatures. I can’t lose him too.”
I turned to Jake “The Rodan have to have a cloaked ship nearby.
