“Yes.”

“Damn, you Merrows are dumber than I thought. Suit yourself. You want that worthless kid, you can have—”

Hank’s fist closed Clemens’ mouth and knocked him to the ground. “He’s a child. He’s not worthless.”

Clemens propped himself up on one elbow and swiped at the blood trickling off his lip. Gold edged his pupils. “You think that’s a good idea? Coming on my property and laying hands on me? Son, you got no idea the world of hurt you just put yourself in.”

“Hank, don’t,” Ivy pleaded. “He’s not worth the trouble.”

Hank snarled. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you. Cross me again and I might yet.”

Clemens pushed to his feet. “You dumb son of a—”

Hank punched him again.

“Hank!” Ivy’s sharp cry echoed through the surrounding woods.

Clemens rocked back on his heels and fell hard. He moaned and shook his head. When he opened his eyes, the gold was gone.

Hank pointed at him. “Stay down.” Then he snagged the chain attached to Clemens’ wallet and gave it a tug. A black leather billfold popped free of her father’s front pocket. Hank opened it, lifted a fat wad of cash out and handed it to Ivy. She took it, unsure what to do with it. Hank let the wallet fall onto the ground near Clemens. “That’s for the stipend you owe your daughter.”

Then Hank put his hand on Ivy’s back. “Let’s go.”

She tucked the money in her front pocket, walked around her father’s sprawled form and headed for the car, hugging Charlie tight.

Hank went ahead of them and opened the door to the back seat. “You two sit here until we get to the airport.”

“Thanks.” She couldn’t manage more and not break down. She put Charlie in the car and told him to scoot over, then climbed in beside him. Hank shut the door and went around the driver’s side just as Patsy came running out of the front of the house with a brown paper grocery sack.

Ivy opened the back door to see what she wanted, but kept one arm firmly wrapped around Charlie.

Patsy held out the bag. “I put some of his clothes in there for him.”

Ivy took the bag but said nothing. Patsy looked like she was on the verge of tears. Good. Let her cry. Ivy was tired of being the only one.

“I hope it helps,” Patsy mumbled. “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too.” Ivy shut the door.

Clemens bellowed for Patsy again, and she went running to him.

Hank got in, started up the car and took off for the airport with the kind of speed Ivy appreciated. When they were clear of her parents’ property, he glanced at her and Charlie through the rearview mirror. “You okay? You want to stop for anything?”

“Nope.” She hugged Charlie tight and smiled at Hank. “I have everything I need.”

Despite Ivy’s answer, Hank stopped at a drive-through burger joint near the airport and placed a large order, making sure to get milkshakes. Charlie deserved one. And Hank wasn’t above using ice cream to get the kid to like him.

It was a good plan.

Charlie spent his first fifteen minutes on the plane devouring two cheeseburgers and a large order of fries with more ketchup than was probably healthy. After takeoff, he carried what was left of his milkshake around with him as he explored every inch of the plane, including the cockpit, which the pilot and co-pilot were nice enough to give him a tour of.

Ivy glowed with joy. She’d spent the first fifteen minutes in the car with Charlie checking him for other injuries and asking him a thousand times if he was okay. She leaned forward in her seat. “Charlie, don’t touch anything.”

“I’m not, Mom.”

The co-pilot gave them a wave. “We’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Thanks.” Ivy sat back as she turned to Hank and slipped her hand into his. “You shouldn’t have hit my father. I’m glad you did, but I worry what the repercussions will be.”

“There won’t be any. Not unless he wants to open this whole business up to pack scrutiny.”

“I hope you’re right.” Her mouth turned up in a half-smile. “I owe you more than I can repay you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. And later, when Charlie’s asleep, I’m going to do my best to show you just how much I appreciate everything.”

“I’d say you don’t owe me anything and that repayment wasn’t necessary, but I’m not about to turn down an offer like that.” He definitely owed Hugh Ellingham, though. Without the plane, they’d still be on the road and Charlie would still be locked in the damn shed. Fresh anger welled up in him.

Then she leaned in and kissed him, and he forgot all about Clemens Kincaid. “I love you, Hank Merrow.”

He smiled and kissed her back. “I’m happy you’re happy. Charlie’s a great kid.” His smile flattened. There was only so long he could stop thinking about what Clemens had done. “Your father ought to be brought to tribunal for the way he’s abused Charlie.”

She frowned. “Good luck with that. He’s been alpha for almost fifty years. He’s too powerful.”

“He’s not above the law, pack or human. What he did to Charlie is inexcusable. I’m not going to let it slide.”

“No one ever cared how he treated me when I was kid.”

“I’m sorry about that, Ivy, I truly am. Did anyone ever try to do something about it?”