Page 41 of Hollyhocks

I’m flabbergasted. “Rhett, will you please get your feral fucking cat away from me before I decide to do something about it?”

“What could you do to me?” His eyes glow with fury. Smoke drifts from his nostrils, showing that I have awakened the dragon—literally. “Before you could try, I would rip your skin from your fucking bones.”

“Enough!” Rhett shouts, rubbing his temples. “I can’t work in here. It does smell, Fitz. I’m sorry. It is causing my head to throb. It’s overwhelming my senses.” He stumbles backward, grabbing his chest. “My beasts are thrashing inside me. They hate it in here.”

“Mine don’t like it either but it could be you, Fitz.” Creed curls his lip as he looks me up and down. “You say the word Rhett, I’ll roast him. It won’t take but a second since my fire is so hot.”

I’m very close to snapping. I won’t have a chance at all against Creed, but I’ll die trying to get one punch in at this point.

“Will you please stop? Everyone lower your voice and open the windows. Air this place out,” Rhett orders with a loud, deep, monstrous boom.

Creed and I exchange judgmental looks, our shoulders bumping against each other as we walk to the doors that are closed. He gets to the one on the far right and I’m far left. I unlocked the bolt and lift the metal door. Creed does the same.

“I have no idea what you two are smelling but I don’t smell it. I’m sorry. Maybe something died?”

“Did it die inside you? Because you are what stinks, Fitz,” Creed once again adds his opinion when I didn’t fucking ask for it.

“Creed.” Rhett snarls at the delusional beast.

I cross my arms, a smug grin tugging my lips.

“Smell him, Rhett.” Creed fists the front of my shirt, tugging me forward so hard, I slam against Rhett’s chest.

The breath is knocked from my lungs. Rhett grips my shoulders, blinking at me in horror, his mouth curling into a frown that suggests he smells something bad.

And it’s me.

He sniffs me again. He buries his nose in my chest, and he can only get away with that because he is my best friend. He pulls away, covering his mouth with his hand.

“Oh, come on!” I shout, plucking the front of my shirt to my nose. I inhale, smelling nothing but laundry detergent. “I have no clue what you two are smelling. Okay. You know what?” I take a deep breath, holding up my hands for us to calm down. “I can’t deal with this right now. I was about to call you, Rhett. I have to close the shop for the day. I broke my phone.”

“Again? Fitz—”

“—My dad came to see me.” I cut him off before he can give me a lecture.

His eyes turn from reptilian to crimson, his fangs lengthening with only one purpose.

Rhett wants to drain my father’s blood. I can’t say I blame him. Rhett has always hated my parents due to how they treated me and Heather.

“What the fuck was he doing here?”

“He did what he always does. He is giving me an ultimatum. Either I work for him or Elijah does. My sister is at risk because if Elijah says no, my dad will go after her in every way. He will strip them of everything, so they have no other choice but to fall into his hands. I called her to tell her they need to move here. I need to go get my house ready. I can’t have her so far away with him on the prowl again, Rhett. You know Heather and my nephew are my only family.”

He steps forward, holding his breath as he grabs my shoulder. “You aren’t alone. Whatever you two need but I’ll need you to go home and shower. Creed and I can finish up here. Okay?”

“Okay. Thank you.” I rub my neck, needing to ease some of the tension.

I want to tell Rhett one more thing. I want to say I think someone is following me but then, I don’t want to be disrespectful. I know Rhett and Creed didn’t necessarily go through the regular dating channels with their mates.

I don’t want to offend them because that could mean my death.

Keeping my mouth shut is my best option.

“He isn’t welcome here,” Rhett growls. “We will get security installed in your house when I bring the rest of your belongings over later. You, your sister, and your nephew will be okay.”

“If it means I can kill someone, I’m in,” Creed says.

I snort, not surprised in the least. “Thanks, Creed.”

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