Page 2 of The Tech Guru's Heart

“Shit,” Link growled, frowning at the road.“What can I do?”

Link knew that Tucker’s sister was Amelia Rolden.When Tucker had come out and started a relationship with Rigel, he’d been disowned by his father.Amelia was standing by her brother, choosing to walk away from their bigoted parents, instead.

Amelia was also pregnant with a rogue shifter’s baby—not that she’d known about shifters at the time of her one-night stand—so not only did she have Tucker and Rigel’s support, but she had the backing of the Shifter Council, as well.

“Can you tell me if anyone we know is in the area of Amelia’s apartment?I’m texting you her address.”

Upon hearing Rigel’s request, Link winced.“Eh, sorry, Rige.”He shook his head, even though he knew his buddy couldn’t see him, and told him, “I’m not in the office.I’m driving in myHummer.I can’t look up—”

Link paused as Rigel’s text came through.Since he had his phone hooked up to hisHummer’s maps system, his dash immediately told him how far he was from the address.It also began giving him directions.

He was only about seven minutes away.

“Damn, I understand, man,” Rigel began to reply.“I’ll contact Theo.Maybe he’ll—”

“Wait,” Link countered.“I’m right around the corner from there.”Even as he voiced the suggestion, he fought back a grimace for a whole new reason.“I’ll head over.”Link detested being front and center in any altercation, but he would do it for a friend in need...or the sister of one.Flipping on his left blinker, he began following the directions on his dash.“Any idea what I’m walking into?”

Rigel hesitated before asking, “You sure, man?”

His friend knew of Link’s aversion to conflict.Just because he was a big man who shared his psyche with a huge musk ox didn’t mean he was a bruiser.In truth, there wasn’t a dominant bone in Link’s body.

“Yeah,” Link grunted out through gritted teeth.He tightened his hands on the wheel, doing his best to ignore the way he already felt nervous sweat beginning to pop out on the back of his neck.After taking a deep breath, Link urged, “Tell me what you know.”

“Okay.”Although Rigel still sounded uncertain, he explained, “Amelia left her two-week notice on her father’s desk when she left work this evening.”

Link winced, recalling how both Tucker and Amelia had been working for their father, Gary, at their family dealership.Tucker had been in sales but had lost his job when he came out as bi and took up with Rigel.Amelia had remained while she and her brother tried to figure out their next steps.

Evidently, Tucker and Rigel had finally convinced her to move in with them.In Link’s opinion, that was a good thing.Amelia would need the support as she grew further along in her pregnancy, not to mention after having the babe.

It takes a village to raise a child.

Link believed in that old adage, and he was always happy to spend time with his niece and nephew.

“I bet that went over like a lead balloon,” Link muttered as he made another turn.“He there raising a stink, then?”

“Oh, yeah,” Rigel confirmed.A growl entered his voice as he snarled, “He’s threatening to sue for custody of her baby.”

“What the hell?”Link snapped, anger surging through him.“How the hell does he even know she’s pregnant?”

“Don’t know,” Rigel admitted.

“I’ll have to look into that,” Link muttered, scowling as he spotted the apartment complex ahead.“Check for bugs or malware on her phone,” he commented absently, his mind spinning with ideas.“Okay.I’m here.”

“Tell her we’ll be there in thirty,” Rigel told him.“Can you wait with her until we get there?”

“Sure.”Link glanced in his rearview mirror, thinking of his nephew’s cake in the back...and his ice cream.It’ll be fine.“See you shortly.”

After parking in the visitors’ area, Link shoved out of his vehicle.He slammed the door and began jogging toward Amelia’s apartment, using his fob to lock his doors in the process.Link reached the stairs—her apartment was on the third level—and he heard the shouting, his enhanced shifter hearing easily allowing him to make out the words.

“How dare you choose that faggot over your family,” a male roared, and Link assumed it was Gary.“You will cease this despicable behavior.You will move back in with your mother and me so you can relearn proper values,” he continued to demand.“You’ll return to work until you start showing, then stay at home until the baby comes.”The man’s voice hardened further.“Come on.We’ll put in your notice to the building super.I’ll pay the fee to get you out of your lease, then take it out of your paychecks.”

“Let go of me,” a female replied—Amelia, obviously.

Link switched from taking the stairs two at a time to three at a time, knowing he needed to intervene.

To Link’s surprise, he heard a second male voice—a smooth, silky tenor that caused the hairs on his arms to stand up.“Hey, man.Father or not, you can’t drag her anywhere she doesn’t want to go.She’s an adult.Let Amelia go.”

“As if you could stop me,” Gary replied with a sneer in his tone.“Get out of my way.”

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