Page 162 of The Dragon's Mate

“It isn’t over,” the senator said. “We can- we can help each other, Bren. I’m your father for God’s sake. If you backme up, if you tell your captain that these dragons burned a man, he’ll believeyou.”

“I won’t lie for you,” Bren said. “Give methe gun and maybe, just maybe, you won’t go to prison for the rest of yourlife.”

The senator laughed, a bitter sound thatset Kaida’s teeth on edge. “You have no fucking idea what you’ve done, Bren.You and your fucking animal friends have wrecked everything. My entire life, everythingI’ve worked for, gone just like that because you couldn’t stop from stickingyour dick in her!”

He sneered at Kaida. “Brainwashing my soninto turning against his own father was your plan all along, wasn’t it? You stupid,lying whore! You -”

Kaida cried out when Bren drove his elbowinto his father’s stomach. His father jerked back, retching and coughing, butwhen Bren reached for the gun in his hand, he stumbled back, aiming the gun atBren’s face. “Don’t.”

“It’s finished,” Bren said. “Give me thegun, Dad.”

“I’m not going to prison,” his father said.“I’m walking out of here and getting in my fucking car and driving away.”

“You know I can’t let you do that,” Brensaid.

Kaida’s stomach dropped when the senator puthis finger on the trigger of his gun. “I’m your father.”

“I’m your son,” Bren said softly as he tookanother step forward. “You may not be a good man, but even you wouldn’t shoot yourown son.”

The senator stared at him for a few secondsbefore lowering the gun, his body slumping. Kaida released her breath in a harshrush, adrenaline still singing its way through her veins, her dragon still snarlingand growling in its glass prison.

Bren reached for the gun and Mal shouted awarning as the senator shoved Bren aside and pointed his gun at her. “You don’tget to have my son, you stupid bitch!”

The senator’s body jerked wildly at thegunshot. He staggered back, catching his balance as the gun fell from his handand landed with a clatter on the cement. He clapped his hand against hisshoulder as he stared at his son. “You shot me. You shot your own father.”

“It’s just a flesh wound, you’ll live.” Brenholstered his gun and grabbed the handkerchief sticking out of the front pocketof his father’s suit jacket. He pressed it against the wound in his father’s shoulder.“Put pressure on it.”

“You shot me,” his father whispered again.

“Stay still, Dad.” Bren, his face pale andgrim looking, pressed hard against his father’s shoulder before glancing at Mal.“Call 9-1-1.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Oh, you are the sweetest little hatchling.Yes, you are. Look at that beautiful red hair.” Gram lifted Lila into theair, studying her in the sunlight that filled the cabin. “I could just eat youup.”

She brought Lila down to her chest, kissingher cheek before grinning at Ava. “That’s only a saying, human. I don’t meana harmful thing by it.”

“I know,” Ava said with a smile.

“My goodness, you really are so sweet,”Gram said as Lila stared up at her. “The clan members would go crazy over you.”

Ava glanced at Kaida and then at Bishopbefore standing. “Why don’t we introduce Lila to a few of the other clan members.”

“Oh bless you, they’d love it,” Gram said.“Most of them are in the community cabin right now.”

Ava kissed Bishop. “You and Kaida stayhere and get… caught up.”

“Sure,” Bishop said.

Kaida smiled at Ava when the curvy redheadtook her hand and squeezed it. “You have a lovely home, Kaida. I’m so glad tofinally visit your clan.”

Kaida nodded but didn’t say anything. Shecouldn’t. Her throat was too tight, and the compassionate look Ava was givingher was threatening to break loose the flood of tears Kaida had been holdingback for the last two days.

Her dragon made a plaintive cry before fallingsilent. Kaida wasn’t sure what was worse – her dragon badgering her constantlyto go to Bren, or the melancholy and misery it kept lapsing into.

She realized that Gram and Ava had left thecabin with Lila, and Bishop was staring silently at her from across the table.

“My bear,” she said. “How is your shoulder?”

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