Page 18 of Sparks Flying

I had to get out of here and blow off some steam.

Without saying anything more to them or even asking what they swung by to see me about, I left. They didn’t try to stop me from leaving, but a few others did try to talk to me on the way out. I simply ignored them and walked on, right out of the building, and all the way to my car.

Once safely inside, I turned over the engine and cranked up the music as I sped out of town. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to fix my attitude either.

“Dean? Is that you?” Mom yelled as I walked inside.

I wasn’t exactly being discreet about it, but I’d also hoped I wouldn’t run into anyone. I was not fit for company and the worst part was I didn’t even know why.

Overall, it had been a good day. They hadn’t found any serious concerns for perimeter breeches, aside from the obvious, with the highway running right through the middle of town. But I’d already setup cameras tracking every vehicle that drove through and I’d personally created an algorithm that searched the motor vehicle registry. I received an alert when any missing tag hit, or if it was a rental, or any other possible concern. But if it was a valid licensed vehicle with no red flags, there was no alert to give.

If I tracked every single car that passed through Ravenden, I’d need an entire team just devoted to that. This was about the best I could do with my current resources.

“Oh, there you are,” Mom said. “Why didn’t you answer me?”

“Sorry. Long day.”

“We have the dinner party tonight at Ginny’s,” she reminded me.

“Mom, there’s always a dinner party at Aunt Ginny’s. I’m going to pass tonight.”

“Dean,” she said in that exclusive mom voice.

“Not tonight,” I snapped.

“What’s wrong? Something’s wrong?”

I groaned. “Nothing is wrong. I just had a long day at the office. Westin Force is in town running some routine checks,” I lied.

“Routine? I don’t remember your father mentioning them coming into town?”

“It was last minute. I’m sure he’s aware of it.”

“Aware of what?” my father asked.

“Westin Force is in town?” Mom asked him like I hadn’t just told her that.

“Ah, yes. I had lunch with Patrick O’Connell today. Good man, for a wolf shifter.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“Slipped my mind, I guess. It’s nothing to worry about, sweetheart.”

He gave her a quick kiss and then a hug, while shooting me a look of warning over her shoulder. That look told me that we did not to involve my mother with any unnecessary possibilities. Stick to the absolute truth and only fill her in when the situation was dire. Otherwise, she would be crying our imminent doom all over town.

She overly worried about things and wanted to let everyone know about everything.

Right now, that was the last thing I needed.

I nodded and excused myself.

Upstairs in my room, I stripped down to my boxers and signed on for a round of Chaos.

JH and wolfhunter found me almost immediately.

“Hey guys.”

“Bird, what’s up?” JH asked.

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