“We’ve kind of had trouble with leash training.”

“No kidding.” But she managed a smile now to include Seth and Danny and Will when they hurried up behind him. “I thought I’d walk back to the boatyard with you. I wanted to talk to you.”

“Sure, that’s cool.”

She stepped determinedly out of Foolish’s path, then quickly back again as a bright-red sports car screamed up to the curb and stopped with a wild squeal of brakes. Before she could snarl at the driver that he was in a school zone, she saw Gloria in the passenger seat.

Sybill’s movement was fast and instinctive. She put Seth protectively behind her.

“Well, well, well,” Gloria drawled and eyed them both out of the window.

“Go get your brothers,” Sybill ordered Seth. “Go right now.”

But he couldn’t move. He could only stand and stare while the fear settled in his stomach like balls of ice. “I won’t go with her. I won’t go. I won’t.”

“No, you won’t.” She took his hand firmly in hers. “Danny, Will, run to the boatyard right now. Tell the Quinns we need them. Hurry. Go straight there.”

She heard the smack of running sneakers on the sidewalk but didn’t look. She kept her eyes trained on her sister as Gloria slipped out of the car.

“Hey, kid. Miss me?”

“What do you want, Gloria?”

“Everything I can get.” She fisted a hand on the hip of her lipstick-red jeans and winked at Seth. “Wanna go for a ride, kiddo? We can do some catching up.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” He wished he had run. He had a place in the woods, a place he’d picked out and fixed up. A hiding place. But it was too far away. Then he felt Sybill’s hand, warm and strong on his. “I’m not ever going with you again.”

“You’ll do what the hell I tell you.” Fury flashed in her eyes as she started forward. For the first time in his life, Foolish bared his teeth and growled a vicious threat. “Call off that fucking dog.”

“No,” Sybill said it simply, quietly, and felt a surge of love for Foolish. “I’d keep my distance, Gloria. He’ll bite.” She scanned the car, the leather-jacketed man behind its wheel, beating a rhythm on the dash to the blasting radio. “It looks like you landed on your feet.”

“Yeah, Pete’s okay. We’re heading out to California. He’s got connections. I need cash.”

“You’re not going to get it here.”

Gloria pulled out a cigarette, smiling at Sybill as she lit it. “Look, I don’t want the kid, but I’m going to take him unless I get a stake. The Quinns’ll pay to get him back. Everybody’s happy, no harm done. If you mess with me on this, Syb, I’m going to tell Pete to get out of the car.”

Foolish shifted from growling to snarling. Sharp canine teeth bared. Sybill raised a brow. “Go ahead. Tell him.”

“I want what’s due me, goddamn it.”