“Bullshit. I’m sorry, MacDuff. Anything I can do, just call on me.” His gaze moved to the courtyard gates, which were burned and blackened. “Would you like to tell me how that burned-out gate adds to the general pizzazz?”

“No, I’d like to tell you to shut up about it,” MacDuff said. “I lost five men in the explosions that tore the courtyard apart. They can’t be replaced, either.” He turned on Caleb. “But this is my home, my heritage, and everything that has ever happened here has told its own story. I meant what I said: When I finish the repairs and make those bastards pay for what they did to my people, they’ll tell their own story. It will only make MacDuff’s history richer and more complete. Understand?”

“Absolutely. An interesting plan, and, as usual, totally your own. But I don’t believe you’ll be selfish enough to keep me from helping with that rebuild?” His lips tightened. “Jane is still out there.”

“Do you think we haven’t been looking for her?” MacDuff asked. “We’ve been a little busy beating back those assholes who invaded the castle. I figured she was safer outside the gates than if we sent someone to bring her in. But as soon as I could spare the men, I ordered a unit to go out to find her.”

“And you found that she’d disappeared,” Caleb said. “You should have known that she’d opt out once she saw the castle burning. She warned me that she wouldn’t stay if she thought she was causing trouble for you. Bohdan couldn’t have been more trouble.”

“We’ll dispatch another unit,” MacDuff said. “We don’t think that Bohdan has managed to get any more men into the hills yet. We managed to beat him back this time. And if he hadn’t arranged to shoot off those drones, he wouldn’t have been able to inflict near the damage.”

“Bohdan may be a sadistic beast, but he’s a damn good soldier,” Caleb said. “Give him a chance to recoup and he’ll be back in the game. Let me go after him…before he goes after Jane.”

MacDuff frowned. “And if I say no?”

“Then you’d better tell any men you order out on the property to stay out of my way. I’ll be going to get her, and no one is going to stop me.”

“Anything else?” MacDuff asked coldly.

“Palik will be here, and he’ll furnish you with protection while you’re doing your repairs. If you have any more urgent needs, call me.” He stared him in the eye. “Don’t be an ass. I owe you. Let me pay you.”