Page 51 of Midnight Mate
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My phone rang, and I snarled out loud as I ripped the phone free from my pocket. It was too late for a call that meant anything good.
“What?”
“Good evening to you too, Raines.”
I sat up, panic ripping through me. “Angus. Is she okay?”
Angus had been the first call I’d made after my mom was stable. He was the only one I trusted to watch her.
“Relax. Your mom’s fine. How are things on your end?”
I stole a look at the clock on Cat’s bedside table. Beside me, Cat rolled closer, pressing her breast and hip into my ribs. My body warmed.
“Better than expected.”
Angus chuckled darkly. He was also the only one who knew where I was right now. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
His voice held a note of teasing my sleepy brain did not have time for right now.
“It’s late,” I said, pulling Cat closer.
The humor dried up instantly. He sighed. “Tobias asked me to call. He’d like to talk to you and your pop.”
“Right now? What the hell happened to giving a guy some notice?”
“Tobias thinks catching your dad off guard will go better. Barnett’s gone to round up your old man from whatever bar he is hiding in. You’ve got about an hour to get your ass to the clearing.”
“Fine. I’ll be there.”
I hung up and glanced at Cat, hating the choice I had to make.
“East?” She sat up, pulling the sheet high to cover herself.
I wanted to spend the rest of the night underneath that sheet with her, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen.
“You should go,” she said quietly. “Face your dad. Talk to Tobias.”
“You heard that?”
“I might be human, but Angus talks loud.”
I snorted but sobered quickly.
“I can’t leave you alone. Not with Travis still out there.”
“I’m not alone. I have Rudy. Besides, it’s the middle of the night.” She leaned in and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Go,” she said again. “Make things right for your mom.”
I hesitated. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Don’t rush for me, East. It’s not . . .”
“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence,” I growled, recognizing that look in her eye.
“Look, this was fun but we can’t . . .”
“You’re mine now, Cat.” I grabbed her chin and forced her to meet my eyes. To see the resolve there. I might not have claimed her with my bite, but I’d made her mine in every way that counted to me as a man. “We’ll figure out the rest.”
