Page 68 of Bonded

“Green eyes… Well, you certainly know how to pick ’em. Darius, you okay brother? This is not like you. All the time I’ve had this place, I’ve never known you bring anyone here—except for the boys. And certainly not a woman. Are you looking for my approval?”

“I don’t know what the hell I’m looking for. I really don’t.”

“So, if you didn’t do that, and she’s not yours, whose is she? That’s fresh, so who did it?” Darius hesitates and concerned Marco turns away from the machine and stares at him. “Okay, so either you did somethin’ really stoopid or… you’re thinkin’ about doin’ somethin’ really stoopid. Especially if you’ve come looking for my stoopid advice.”

“I’ve not come looking for anything. She was hungry, and I knew you’d be open. I knew you did good pie. That’s it.”

“Yeah, yeah right… and that is the best smellin’ bullshit my nostrils have smelt in… oh, I don’t know how long. Darius, you can get food in a gazillion places this late at night. So, what is it? What’s goin’ on with you?”

“She… she’s Digby’s. What I mean is, Digby, did that. Tonight—earlier.”

“Holy shit… mother of God! Digby, huh? Well, I never thought that day would come. Digby a one-woman wolf. Did hell just freeze over?”

“Yeah, maybe. But how long he’ll stay a one-woman wolf, that I not sure.”

“So, what’s your problem with it? Things change, you knew those boys were gonna find someone one day. Oh… oh wait!” He frowns, staring Darius in the eyes. “Holy moly… please don’t tell me you’ve got a dick-itch for her? Oh, praise the lord, you damn well have? Darius, how the hell did that happen?”

“I don’t know, not exactly. It just did.”

“So, what the hell’s so special about her? I mean, you’ve not had a woman you’ve liked in a long-long time. So why, her? And don’t just tell me it’s cos you can’t have her.”

“Well, first, I didn’t know Digby was going to do that. I mean, sure, I knew he was hung up on her. Hell, he marked her the first fucking night she arrived. But there’s something else…” he sighs loudly, “she’s also our medic.”

“Holy Joleen… Geez Darius, you definitely know how to go-big-or-go-home dontcha. So, what do you want me to say, exactly? Take her? Have her… Make her yours? Cos you know I can’t do that or is that not what you want me to say? Maybe you’d rather me tell you to walk away.”

“Maybe. She’s a wolf.”

“Yeah well…” he laughs, “I don’t have to be a Sherlock to work that out dumbass. I mean that on her neck kinda gives it away. And the fact Digby’s interested outta the blocks. C’mon Dee, you gotta give me more than that if you want my advice.”

“Just… I like her. Marco… I really like her,” he sighs.

“Well, you know you can’t have her; you and she can’t be together. So, you gotta let go of this, it’s a pipedream. Right, you do know that? What she is, you can’t go there. You can’t do that to her, that’s no life. So, walk away now, before you both get hurt.”

Darius breaks eye contact and looks around the restaurant, watching the small television set above his head. “You should get a better TV in here, attract some new clientele.”

“Don’t change the subject and my clientele is just fine; I do a good trade and I’m happy. My customers are not your concern, but that itch you wanna scratch for her, is.”

Darius turns back and there’s something about the way he looks. Marco sighs. “Oh Geez… Darius, please tell me that didn’t happen already? No, don’t say it, don’t say it cos I can see it’s written all over your damn fuckin’ face you did. You need to stop this right now. You know in all these years and I never saw this comin’…. Shit!” He looks over at Kat fiddling with the salt on the table staring out of the window watching the people outside. “Okay, let me bring this pie over. She’s gonna ask questions. You gonna answer any of them? Maybe start there. Tell her some truths, then see what happens?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Darius gets up from his stool.

“Hm. What you worried she’ll run a mile. Well, maybe that’s the reason to do it?”

“Very helpful, Marco. As always, your advice is off the chart.”

“I aim to please.” He smiles, “Go sit, brother, and I’ll bring it over. You still sure you want two pies?”

“Yeah, two.”

“Hey…” Kat smiles. “I thought you’d abandoned me?”

“Sorry, I just haven’t seen him in a while so we were catching up.”

“Here we go, two of the best apple pies you’ll ever taste. Two spoons, and two cawfees… enjoy!” Marco smiles, placing the plates in front of them both. “Darius, please tell me if that pie is as good as the last one you had?” He says with a smirk.

“Hm.” Darius hisses sarcastically, “Oh, you can count on it.”

Kat laughs at the banter between them. Unable to decide if they like or loath each other.

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