Range dropped his gear at the back door.

“How’s the hunting,” Asa asked.

“Got one waiting to be dressed.” Deer. Range loved his venison.

“Dressed? Do you really plan to cook it?”

Range shrugged. Normally, he and his three brothers would simply shift into their wolves and feed on the carcass. “Davin griped last time that we don’t act civilized often enough.”

Asa laughed. “So, you’re going to humor him and cook?”

“Hell, no,” Range laughed with his brother, “He’s doing the cooking. And he’s dressing the deer.” He put his rifle on the rack in the utility room.

“Shit, that reminds me, a call came in on the business line.”

The business line. The line they used for the contract work they picked up.

“Mae called?” he asked.

“No,” Asa looked puzzled, “some dude. Name was George something or another. Said he had a job for us.”

“Hmmm. Wonder who gave him our number?” It wasn’t that Range and his three brothers didn’t freelance for people other than Mae Forester of Bear Canyon Valley, it was just that Mae was the one who usually put them in touch with those that needed them.

Mae Forester had been a part of Range and his brothers’ lives since they were little tykes. Mae, who’d seen them fed and raised without being killed. Mae who’d kissed their cheeks and bid them farewell when they’d joined the Shifter Special Forces, SSF.

And finally, Mae who’d advised them not to join a research program that one of the commanders of Shifter Special Forces had offered them.

They’d joined the program. For a whole year, they’d agreed to be guinea pigs. Poked, prodded, stuck with needles, monitored, and tested.

They said that Range, Asa, Davin, and Jason would be stronger and perform better.

They never mentioned there might be complications.

Fuckers.

The four brothers had left the program early, finished their time with the SSF, and left all that behind, taking with them only the medals they’d earned for heroic acts and the complications that had come from the testing.

Complications that every now and then, would rear their ugly heads and mess up their lives.

Range had taken the money they’d all pooled together and bought property in Alaska, some mighty remote property where they didn’t have to deal with people. Or other shifters, or anyone.

Occasionally, Mae would reach out and give them a job. Something that kept their bank account from hitting rock bottom. She’d told them with their skills, they could put themselves on the market and make a lot more.

But money hadn’t been something they needed. Not much.

Until now.

One of their former team members in the SSF had called. His daughter had a disease that Range couldn’t even dream of pronouncing. The treatments were ridiculously expensive, and wouldn’t you know it, they weren’t covered by the SSF insurance plans.

Range had to tell Vince that he couldn’t help him, but he’d ask around. That had been yesterday. Then he’d tried to reach Mae at her hair salon, Forester Cuts, but had to leave a message for her to call him.

Now it looked like she’d drummed up some business, so maybe they could help Vince out.

“Got a number for this George guy?”

“It’s on the pad by the phone.”

Range kicked his boots off and pulled a lager out of the fridge.

Jason happened to walk in and see his older brother getting the beer out. “I don’t know why you bother.”

It wasn’t a secret that shifters didn’t get inebriated from alcoholic beverages.

“I like the taste,” Range grumbled. “I don’t need a nagging wife.” He delivered a mock punch to Jason’s shoulder.

Jason pivoted and dropped, then popped one toward Range’s jaw.

Range drew back. His shifter speed was supernatural, but after all the testing, he was even faster than most shifters.

Jason laughed. “I miss it.”

Range knew what he meant. He missed the military life. The missions. The occasional gig these days didn’t do much toward recreating the action they used to have on an almost-daily basis.

“Me, too.” Range downed half the bottle in one swig. “I’ve got a phone call to make. Hopefully there’s a job for us that will let us help Vince.”

“Hopefully,” Asa added.

Range put the phone down, a stunned look on his face. When things seemed too good to be true, they usually were. He dialed Mae’s number.

The other end was answered on the first ring. “Forester Cuts.” Mae’s voice.

“Mae.”

“Range!” Mae sounded happy to hear from him.

As always, her voice made him feel like he was in a different time, a different place.

“I just got your message. Doc and I were on the mountain, sorry.”

“No problem. How’s Doc?”

“He’s great.” Mae’s voice had a smile in it. “What’s going on?”

“Well, I originally called to see if you might have a job—we could use a little money.” He didn’t want to tell her why. He wasn’t sure if Vince would appreciate it. “But I’m guessing you know that since we already got a call. You sent George our way?”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then, “No. I didn’t recommend you to anyone recently. I usually don’t give anyone direct access to you guys.”

“Odd,” Range muttered.

“But you do have a reputation for getting things done. I’m guessing word’s gotten around, so it’s not surprising you’re getting calls.”

Truth was, Range wasn’t all that social, neither were his brothers. If they’d had their druthers, they’d only deal with Mae.

The job had a nice price tag attached to it. And though he hadn’t said yes, Range had told the man he’d be calling him back within the hour. He still had to discuss the details. He checked his email to see if the information that George had said he’d be sending had come through.

George. He seemed like a slick-talking character. Something about him rubbed Range the wrong way. Was it the nasally way he spoke or the autocratic tone in his voice? Either way, Range shoved those thoughts aside. His duty was to do the job, collect the cash, and help Vince.

“I’m sure you’re right,” he told Mae, his voice distracted.

“Are you okay, Range?”

He didn’t want to tell her he was having aftereffects today, from the testing. He didn’t want to worry her. She already felt bad enough for the choice he’d made to be a part of the testing, even though he and his brothers were old enough to own their decisions when they’d made that one.

“I’m good, Mae. Just fine.”

“Okay,” Mae said, but it was clear from her tone that she doubted him.

He clicked refresh on the monitor. Yup. There was the email from George Skople.

“Hey, Mae, I’ll give you a call later, all right?”

“Sure, Range. Give the guys a hug for me?”

He laughed. “I’ll tell them you’re sending hugs.” Like he’d be hugging his brothers. He pressed the icon to end the call.

He opened the email and hit print without looking at the attached documents.

The first couple lines of the email said the client wanted an ex-girlfriend located. No need to bring her in, simply relay the address.

Hell, I can handle this one alone.

That way he could leave his brothers here in case another job came in.

Then he saw the price tag.

Finding an ex-girlfriend for $300,000?

Maybe she’d stolen a painting from the client’s mansion or something.

He printed several copies, snatched them off the printer and took them to the kitchen where he heard his brothers carousing.

“Looks like we get to help Vince.” He dropped the papers on the kitchen table. Four printouts, one laid in front of each chair at the table.

“I’ll take this one alone, no need to trouble all of us.”

“No, shit? I know Vince will be happy.” Davin picked his copy up.

The others did the same.

Jason let out a wolf whistle. “Holy hell.”

Range frowned and started to thumb through the copy he’d printed for himself.

He quickly saw the reason for Jason’s whistle.

A stunning woman, tall, statuesque, a strong jawline, sexy lips, and eyes that looked like they burned with a deep violet fire.

“No wonder you want to take this job alone.” Davin tapped him on the bicep with his fist. “I’ll offer to do this, if you want to stay home.”

Range ignored him, scanning the rest of the documents. “Why do you think he wants her so badly?”

Jason laughed. “Have you seen her?”

“I don’t know,” Range’s wolf was sending out alarms.

Asa folded his arms over his chest. “I know. I know Vince’s daughter needs the treatments. I know we don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“Yeah,” Range said, but still.

But still.