The Mane Squeeze
Page 102

All right, all right. She let out a breath. I may have found a new job.
Is that right? A new job that has you huntin our kind? And he couldnt keep the snide tone out of his voice, which was something he should have thought about a little more so he didnt get that fist to his face.
Smitty briefly closed his eyes and let out a breath as pain tore through his jaw and bells rang in his head.
Hed almost forgotten the kind of strength his cousin had.
Ow, he snarled.
Watch what you say to me, Robert Ray Smith. I dont take shit from your daddy and aint gonna take none from you. I protect my kind. Always have, always will. Just like my daddy before me. But sometimes our kind needs to be protected from within as well as without. Sometimes, there are a few who dont know what loyalty is.
Realizing that Dee was the last being on the planetfull-human or wolfwho would ever betray their own, Smitty dropped his head and nodded. Youre right. And Im real sorry for what I said.
Thats when Dee smiled a little and he wondered if she was going to kill him now. You may look like your daddy, but you sure dont act like him. Never known that man to apologize bout a damn thing, no matter how wrong he is.
She patted Smittys arm, sending him stumbling into the table. He had to remember to brace himself better when dealing with Dee.
He turned and watched her head toward the door. Where you goin?
To find what I came for before your mates little party goes to shit. She glanced back at him and shrugged nonchalantly. Althoughit may already be too late to bother.
Mitch was trying his best to untangle the wild dog females and one wolfdog whod wrapped themselves around him like boa constrictorstrying to prevent him from marching right outside and telling his sister that the whole thing with the bear had been a plot hatched by Blayne I have no boundaries or sense Thorpe
when his phone rang.
Snatching it off his sword belt, Mitch snapped, What?
He stood up straight, blinking, the words his cousin Trish were hurriedly telling him not quite making sense. Something about his mother and McNelly and revenge and Asiatic lions andanda hair salon?
Mitch? Sissy asked, the headlock she had Brendon in while Ronnie held on to the cats waist, loosening as she watched him. Darlin, whats wrong?
With her chin resting on Locks shoulder, she watched the wolf pup desperately searching for something.
He kept trying to cast for a scent, but he was too young to even understand how to separate the hundreds of scents that were surrounding him. When he stopped near her, going onhis toes to look over the crowds collective head, she couldnt take it anymore.
Johnny. She said his name low so she didnt get anyone elses attention. He blinked, startled by her, and tried to slip away. Get over here, she snapped.
Letting out a sigh, the kid walked over to her and Gwen sat up straight, Lock looking over his shoulder at Jesss adopted son.
Hey, Johnny.
Hi, Lock.
Whats going on? Gwen asked, although she already kind of knew.
He shrugged and said, Im looking for Kristan.
Of course he was.
You two have a fight?
Sort of.
Gwen couldnt help but smile. Let me guessyou scared off the full-human she was supposed to meet outside.
Growling, the kid arrogantly put his hands on narrow hips. I dont know what she was thinking! Shes thinking how can she torture you, but Gwen wouldnt say that out loud. I know that kid, he went on. Hes a complete scumbag.
So she ran off mad.
Not quite. She started talking to some wolf. I didnt know the guy and I told her that and
She completely ignored you. Right. Go on.
Lock looked away but she could feel his chest move as he quietly chuckled.
Then they were gone. And we all know the Packs going to blame me. Itll be my fault if something happens to her. Gwen knew Johnny was more worried about what little Kristan may be up to with another wolf than he was about his moms Pack, but why argue that with him now? In another few years, hed learn that all on his own.
Ill help you find her. Gwen patted Locks chest. Ill be back in a minute.
Why dont you just get her mother?
Shocked hed even suggested it, Gwen said, Im not rattin the girl out to her mother. Ill take care of it.
Lock caught her arm before she could walk off. Because shes your responsibility? I thought you had the night off with your mother still in Philly?
Gwen leaned in and said, You have your wild dog loyalties, and I have mine. And Gwen wasnt about to let Kristan do something shed regret in the morning just to get even with Johnny. If she could stop even one girl going down that road, she would. Now stay here and I better not find any more swarms of females around you when I get back.
Im still not sure how that would be my fault.
She snorted in reply, took Johnnys hand, and went off into the crowd of partiers.