Page 7 of Chaos Claimed

Santiago held his gaze. “Don’t take him to the tavern. He’s not ready.”

“Cuidaré a tu niño en tu casa y también cuidaré de su madre.” I’ll babysit your brat and keep an eye on his mom, too. Diablo grinned, but his eyes spoke of barely contained violence if a single cop so much as sneezed the wrong way.

“His house,” Santiago corrected. “Not mine.”

A single nod. A silent promise. Santiago trusted Matias with Percy and Macey, but the alpha had pack business to handle. Diablo was more than capable, even if he still couldn’t shift.

Shit. Santiago really didn’t want to spend the night in jail. He hadn’t even gotten a bite of Percy’s spaghetti. Looked like Diablo would be the one enjoying it instead. Gilmore had no idea how badly that pissed off Santiago. The goddamn garlic bread alone was enough to make him want to commit homicide just to enjoy a bite of something Percy made with his own hands.

Jacob was becoming a liability Santiago needed to handle before the piece of scum escalated any further. So far, Percy’s father was a menace, but hadn’t been cunning. This had been intentional. Premediated, and that raised the stakes.

With a frustrated sigh, he walked toward Gilmore. “Será mejor que reces para que mi alfa nunca anule la orden que te mantiene a salvo de los verdaderos monstruos,” Santiago said calmly, a smile tugging at his lips.

You’d better pray my alpha never revokes the order keeping you safe from the real monsters.

“I hope that wasn’t a threat.” Gilmore twirled his finger. “Turn so I can cuff you.”

He leaned in close after snapping them in place. Santiago snarled, resisting the urge to rip out his throat for daring to stand at his back. No one stood at his back. Ever. “You’re going to love the five-star accommodations.”

Santiago highly doubted it would even qualify as a one-star accommodation.

The screen door slammed open, Percy barreling toward them. Santiago’s arms ached to circle around his elegido. “This is bullshit! Jacob should be arrested, not Santiago! You bastard!”

Elijah grabbed him, coaxing him back toward the house, though Percy fought against his best friend’s hold. “Let him go!”

Santiago’s wolf growled, his third form—his lycanthrope—snarling relentlessly. He had to remind himself why he was doing this, why he was letting the cops take him away from his cariño, because he was seconds away from snapping the cuffs and going after his mate just to bring him comfort.

Two pack members forced Jacob off the porch. He stomped down the stairs, shouting that they had no right to make him leave. His gaze burned into Jacob, his hatred for the male digging deeper into his heart.

Santiago’s gaze locked with Diablo’s, feeling his own eyes glow faintly. Diablo threw up a peace sign. His silent vow to protect Percy.

The brotherhood, the trust, the power behind it. This was Santiago’s life, his family.

Then Santiago looked to Matias. “Encuentra a la madre de mi compañero.”

Find my mate’s mother.

Matias answered with a solemn nod.

Santiago could’ve blown up. He could’ve fought. But he didn’t, because Percy needed more than vengeance. He needed safety. And Santiago gave it, without question. He would always give it to Percy.

“Let’s get this shitshow over with.” Santiago slid into the back of Gilmore’s cruiser, legs cramped, the top of his head brushing the interior roof. The rank asshole could have at least brought an SUV to arrest him instead of this Matchbox car. With his hands cuffed behind him, Santiago had to lean forward, his face nearly touching the disgusting plastic divider. There was no telling how many germs were on them.

As Gilmore pulled away, Santiago’s pack remained in Percy’s front yard—nineteen men strong, watching, their expressions somber, lethal.

But it was the sight of Percy crying on the porch that gutted him completely.

* * * *

The patrol cars rolled away, lights flashing as they finally allowed the idling vehicles to move forward.

Despite knowing why he’d done it, the sight of Santiago in handcuffs was seared into Matias’s mind. That corrupt son of a bitch had dared go after one of Matias’s own. His fingers twitched, craving violence against the ones who’d set up Santiago.

The neighbors gradually retreated into their homes, ushering their children and nosy gazes behind closed doors. Now, the street stood silent. The only proof of what had just gone down was Percy, shedding quiet tears while Elijah sat next to him on the steps, speaking softly.

Suddenly, Percy shot to his feet and stormed inside, the screen door slamming noisily behind him. A bang echoed inside. Matias was through the door in seconds, his men on his heels.

He’d given Santiago his word that Percy would be safe. If Jacob had slipped inside the house through the back, Matias would tear him apart himself.

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