Page 41 of The Dragon's Mate

“Yourmom wasn’t complaining aboutmy hips last night, Dillon,” the tattooed man said.

The two other boys burst into laughter. “Sick,man. Real sick. Your mom’s banging a bird shifter.”

“Shut up!” Dillon’s face was turning red.“My mom isn’t banging a bird shifter and if you say another word about her, I’llkick your ass.”

“Whatever, man. Your mom’s a whore and weall know it.”

“You fucking asshole!” Dillon snapped beforeshoving the other boy.

“Shut the fuck up,” Jeff shouted. “All ofyou!”

Dillon glared at him. “He’s talking aboutmy mom.”

“Who the fuck cares? Sheisa whore,”Jeff snarled. He turned toward the tattooed man and a shiver went down Tyler’sback at the pure rage radiating from Jeff’s gaze. “Last chance. Leave now orI’ll have my boys fuck you up.”

“Will you though?” The man cocked his headat Jeff, studying his black eye and split lip. “Because from what I heard, youand your boys got your asses handed to you by a girl.”

Jeff’s mouth dropped open and a flush of redcovered his cheeks. “Dillon, kick that fucking bird’s ass.”

Dillon rushed forward and Tyler watched instunned silence as the tattooed man, moving ridiculously quick, grabbed Dillon’sleft arm and spun him around. He pushed him up against the car and yanked his armup until Dillon screamed.

“Uh-uh,” the man said when the two otherboys moved toward him. He moved Dillon’s arm again and a fresh scream pealedfrom Dillon’s throat. “I’ll break his arm.”

The other boys hesitated, and the man leveledhis gaze at Jeff. “I don’t want to break Dillon’s arm, but I will.”

“What kind of cop are you?” Jeff said.

Dillon drew in a ragged breath. “Mister,my arm, please. It hurts.”

The man ignored him, keeping his gaze onJeff. “Oh, I’m not a cop. You know why? Because I am not a good guy. Infact, I’m the type of guy who’ll break a kid’s arm. I hate bullies. You getit? So, if you and your homophobic bully friends keep bothering my boys here,things are gonna get ugly.”

His gaze turned dark, the humour completelygone from his face as he stared at Jeff. “You’re gonna play nice from now on.Stay away from Corey and Tyler. I’ll be watching and if you go anywhere nearthem…”

He tugged on Dillon’s arm and the boysquealed in pain. He released him and Dillon staggered away, rubbing his armand hitching in his breath.

“Let’s go, Jeff,” one of the other boyssaid nervously.

“We can take him,” Jeff said.

“No, we can’t. Have you lost your fuckingmind? Let’s go. The faggots aren’t worth it,” the boy replied.

The three boys walked away, and Jeff made alow snarl.

“Go on, Jeff,” the man said, “don’t makestupid life choices.”

Jeff glared at him before shoving pastTyler, nearly knocking him off his bike. Corey steadied him and they watchedas Jeff stalked past their Good Samaritan.

“Oh, one more thing,” the man said.

Jeff stopped, his back stiff and his handsclenched in fists before looking over his shoulder at the man.

“Say anything to anyone about Corey and Tylerdating, and I’ll cut out your tongue.”

The man’s voice was pleasant, but Jeff’sface paled, his black eye a dark and painful looking beacon against the white.

“Have a good weekend, sweetheart,” the mansaid.

Jeff jogged after his friends. When theyhad turned the corner at the end of the block and disappeared, the man stuck hishand out.

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