Page 22 of Fight
"I don't really see any other way to put it."I was getting irritated that he'd let it go on this long.
Devon was saved from having to answer by Raine pulling up in his patrol truck.
"I hear you're having car trouble."My brother stepped out of the pick-up.
"I guess you could say that."Devon replied.
"So, what's going on?"Raine approached us.
"We came out to leave, and found the truck like this."Devon indicated the tilted truck.
"Any idea who might have done it?"Raine bent to sit on one heel.He inspected the damage to one of the slashed tires, on the driver side.
"Not really."Devon said.
"Raine, I have a few ideas, but I'd rather not go into it here."I spoke up.Raine looked up sharply, meeting my eyes.
"Nickie, you can't."Devon warned.
"It's okay, Dev, he knows."Devon looked pained but I turned back to Raine."You didn't get this call at random, did you?"
"No, I heard Dev's name, and said I'd take it.I didn't know you'd be with him though."
I raised one eyebrow at him, not believing that.
"So what do I need to do?"Devon asked."I want to file a police report so there's a record of it.If you need to do something to the truck, that's fine, but if not, I need to know, so I can arrange to have it towed."
"Just these two, not all four?"Raine confirmed.
"Just the tires as far as I know, I don't see any more damage."Devon replied.
Raine asked all the questions he needed for his report.After we'd told him all we could, he had Devon call for a tow truck, saying that there was little the lab would be likely find out from the truck, and he offered us a ride home.
We climbed into the cab of Raine's patrol truck, Devon and I squished together in the passenger's seat for the short trip.Pulling into the lot of our complex, Raine radioed in to the dispatcher that he was taking his lunch, and he would be away from his truck, before he came up to my apartment with us.Once inside Raine got down to business.
"Tell me what's going on here, you two."His tone was all business.
"There's a group within the kindred that believes that non-shifters are inferior.Apparently they've been harassing Devon since he came back."
"But he shifts."Raine scowled.
"Apparently that he shifts now, doesn't matter to them, only that he didn't.It's also possible that how he came to shift, still makes it a problem."
"All right, two questions."Making himself at home, Raine took a seat on the edge of the recliner, while Devon and I sat together on the couch."Why haven't you reported this before?And can you give me the names of any members of this group?"
"It was just a nuisance before, this is the first real damage."Devon answered the first question.
"I can give you one name, but you're not going to like it."I answered the second.Devon was quiet, but I could tell he didn't like me giving Raine so much information.Raine raised one eyebrow, looking at me, waiting for me to continue."Brandon's one of them."Both eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"You're right.I don't like it."He paused for a moment, shifting slightly in the chair, getting more comfortable."Are you still spending much time around him?"
"Not in a while."
"Because of this group he's part of?"
"Kind of."Raine waited for me to elaborate.I sighed before continuing."You know he was there when I shifted the first time.Well, after that, he kinda got strange.Add in Devon coming back to town, and that I spent so much time with him, and Brandon got possessive.He tried to control me, and it backfired."
"I'll bet.I want the details, Nickie."Raine's voice was firm, determined.I knew better than to argue when he got this way.
