The Mane Squeeze
Page 27

Waiting until she knew Gwen was definitely gone, Blayne picked up the phone and dialed the in-building number. She waited until she got an answer. Hey. Its me. We have a problem. A six-four, two-hundred-and-fifty-pound, big-haired problem.
So what else havent you told me? Mitch snapped at his brother as they walked down a quiet side street about four blocks from the hotel.
Huh?
Dont huh me. You didnt tell me Gwenie had moved here. So what else have you been hiding from me?
Hiding?
Mitch stopped and faced his brother. All right, bruh. You better
The brothers blinked at each other and then, slowly, they turned their heads to look down the street.
There were seven wild dogs standing on the corner, facing them. Mitch recognized them. Hed had enough karaoke nights with them. They were all from Jesss Pack.
The brothers looked back at each other and then down the opposite end of the streetwhere there were more wild dogs from Jesss Pack.
But before either brother could say anything about it, Jess Ward was there, circling around them and glaring.
What are they doing? Bren asked out of the corner of his mouth.
Trying to scare us, Mitch replied.
The brothers looked at each other again, and this time they laughed. They laughed and laughed until
Long time no see, Mitch.
Aaaaaah! both brothers screamed before Mitch spun around and glared at the pretty little wolfdog smiling up at him. And to say he didnt trust that smile was an understatement. He and Blayne had always had a strange relationship. She was like his second baby sister. Hed protected her, bailed her out of jail, and loved to make her laugh just like with Gwenie. But he also knew that Blayne was the kind of woman who, if he were writing a horror novel, would always be the one shoving Mitch down the stairs, cutting the brake line to his car, making it look like hed killed one of his girlfriends, while in the story none of the other characters would believe it was her because she looked so damn innocent, but Mitch would know. And although he knew Blayne would probably never do those things, he also knew, in that deep-in-his-bones way he had that he had to watch Blayne Thorpe closer than he watched those enemies who had actively tried to kill him.
Blayne, he said, watching her closelike always.
She nodded at his brother. Hi, Bren.
Hi, Blayne. You startled us.
What are you doing here? Mitch asked her, the hair on the back of his neck rising up.
Came to see what the fuck youre up to.
What the hell does that mean?
It means my best friend wasupset and you upset her.
I wouldnt have upset her if she were home, in Philly. Where she belongs.
She belongs right where she is, and who are you to say different?
Im her brother.
Barely.
Mitch gasped. Blaynie!
Oh, dont give me that Blaynie-shit, ONeill! Youre going to back off my Gwenie and youre going to do it right now!
Or what? He stepped into her, his anger making him ignore what eleven years of being around a wolfdog had taught him. What are you going to do?
Blayne moved in closer until they were nose to neck. Gwen is my best friend and Im going to do what I can to ensure her happiness.
And Gwen is my baby sister and Im going to do what I can to ensure her safety. Guess who wins?
The one not afraid to set you on fire?
Okay, okay. Bren stepped between them. Everybody just calm down.
Blayne looked around Bren. Dont fuck with me on this, Mitch.
Dont get between me and my sister, Blayne. Shes going back to her Pride.
Like hell she is.
Both of you stop it, Bren said again. You both want the best for Gwen, isnt that all that matters?
Oh, shut up! Mitch and Blayne yelled together.
Bren stepped back. Fuck you both then.
Look, Unstable Girl, Mitch said while poking Blayne in the forehead, you know how far Ill go to protect my baby sister. Dont push me.
And, she replied calmly, Ill tell you like I told Frankie Caramelli in the tenth grade after he inappropriately touched me in gym class, and while I was bricking him up in the church wall after I bound and gagged himdont mess with me.
Then she punched him in the chest and walked off, the wild dogs disappearing with her.
Rubbing his chest where shed hit him, Mitch glowered blindly across the street. Shes up to something.
Shes trying to keep Gwen here for some reason.
Maybe because theyre best friends and shed rather Gwen be here than in Philly?
Oh, please. Blayne Thorpe has never been that linear. Trust me, its not that simple.
Uh Bren said, maybe we should let this go anyway.
Shocked at his brother, Mitch demanded, Why would we do that?
Lots of reasons, but mostly because I dont want to be bricked up in a wall like Frankie Caramelli.