“Because I found my father’s honey badger form stuffed and on display in a woman’s apartment. My father’s death wasn’t over a woman. It didn’t happen during a bar fight. My father was murdered. Not because he was an asshole—as we all know he was—but because he was a shifter. Because he made good sport. And, as Damon Kowalski’s daughter, I’m not letting that go. I’ll never let that go.”

The family remained silent. There was no rallying cry. Nor was there dismissal of what she’d said. Instead, Livy saw sly glances passed between siblings, cousins, spouses.

Balt studied Livy a moment before he asked, “What do you need from us, Olivia?”

That was simple. “I plan to rain down vengeance on the man who did this to my father and anyone protecting or helping him. And you trifling band of miscreant felons are going to help me.”

Balt slowly stood and stalked over to where Livy was standing. They stared at each other for several seconds before Balt threw open his arms and wrapped them around Livy.

“My little Olivia! You make us all so proud!”

Livy looked over at Jake and Jocelyn, but both quickly turned away before they started laughing hysterically.

“We will make the ones who did this to our brother pay and pay and pay until there is nothing left.” He finally released her from the hug, but he still kept one arm around her as he faced the rest of the family. “Now the world bleeds—”

“Or,” Livy emphatically cut in, “we can just go after the ones who did this. Rather than taking it out on the entire world. That seems excessive.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Yes, Uncle Balt.” She patted his ridiculously broad shoulder. “I’m sure.”

Vic helped Shen plug in all his equipment. They’d found a room in the enormous house with a desk and chair, so they made the executive decision that it would be their office.

When Vic had gone back to his house to pick up his stuff, he’d found Shen still there, watching the History Channel while sitting on Vic’s couch and munching away on long stalks of bamboo.

At first, Vic had been really annoyed. He didn’t want a roommate. He especially didn’t want Shen as a roommate. But as soon as Vic told Shen what Livy had found in Allison Whitlan’s apartment, the giant panda’s whole attitude had changed. Vic didn’t even have to ask Shen for help, Shen just assumed he would be helping. He’d gotten off the couch and packed his equipment. And while packing, he’d asked, several times, how Livy was holding up, true concern in his voice.

That had meant a lot to Vic because Livy meant a lot to him. And getting her through this wouldn’t be easy.

“How tall are you?”

Crouching beside the desk, Vic had to lift his head to see who’d spoken to him. Itwas Kyle Jean-Louis Parker, which was strange. Why was he here? Weren’t most kids in school?

Deciding it was none of his business—and he didn’t really care one way or the other—Vic went back to his work and replied, “Seven-one.”

“Really?”

Vic realized he was missing one of the cables, and he again raised his head to ask Shen to hand it to him, but he found that Kyle was now leaning over the desk and right next to Vic’s face.

Jerking back, Vic snapped, “What are you doing?”

“You have amazing bone structure. Such dramatic lines. Are you of Slavic descent?”

Vic frowned. “You don’t recognize me, do you, Kyle?”

“Should I?”

“I helped save your brother from a cult last year.”

“Which brother?”

“You’ve had more than one brother kidnapped by a cult?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t really pay attention to what the rest of my siblings do. Their lives bore me.”

Shen, who’d been wiring the other side of the room, suddenly stood so he could get a good look at the person Vic was talking to. And as soon as he saw twelve-year-old Kyle, he widened his eyes at Vic.

“So,” Kyle went on, “have you ever modeled before?”

“No. And I don’t plan to start now.”

“You’d be foolish to throw away this opportunity.”

“What opportunity?”

“To be immortalized by me.”

Vic had no idea how to respond to that. He’d never met a child with so much arrogance.

“You don’t mind being naked, do you?”

“Livy!” Vic yelled out, not willing to continue this conversation. It could only end badly for him. Very, very badly.

“Believe it or not,” Kyle said, “Livy understands me better than most. She’s an artist. At least as much an artist as anyone who uses a camera. But she has an excellent grasp of my sensibilities. My needs. Which is considerably more than the rest of my family understands.”

Kyle’s older brother appeared in the doorway and Vic was so relieved to see the man.

“Did he ask you to pose naked?” Cooper demanded.

“Unlike you,” Kyle sneered, “I’m not constrained by society’s ridiculous norms. Nor have I sold my soul for record deals and an easy career. I believe that challenge is what brings out true artistic genius!”

Cooper stepped up behind his brother, dropping his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Take your brilliance and wait in your room until Livy is done.”

Turning the boy around, Cooper shoved Kyle, but he missed the open doorway and rammed the boy into the wall next to it.