Page 40 of Frank's Felon
“Frank’s still in a mood, I see,” Blade said as he took a seat beside Tess.
“Nice to meet you, Delilah,” Mason added as he leaned against the wall. “Back to our debate. Let’s assume no gun, arrow, or weapon of any sort. Which method would you use to take down the bear shifter?”
“Still easy. I wouldn’t. I’d run.”
Blade chuckled this time. “Next time I’m out scouting near bear country, I’m taking her and leaving you behind, Mason.”
“Like hell you are,” Frank said, his face darker than before.
“Ok, then moving on,” Damien said. “I want to update everyone on my meeting with the Department of Shifter Affairs. I’m not thrilled with the DSA’s proposals, but we’re making progress. Basically, any pack which signs the treaty automatically gains what the DSA’s calling Non-Humanum Origin Civis, Latin for Non-Human Origin Citizen.”
“Makes us sound like aliens,” Blade said.
“Who cares about the title? What does it do for us?” Mason asked.
“We basically have all rights as human citizens, but we haven’t hammered out issues such as taxes, registration.”
“Don’t let them register us,” Frank said.
“We may have no choice.” Damien’s dark eyes homed in on Frank. “Is there a problem here, Frank?”
“No.”
Blade cleared his throat, breaking up what looking like a non-verbal stand-off starting. “What about my baby? And other half shifters?”
“There are a lot of unknowns still. Right now, my top priority is protecting us from the WSSO and other organizations as much as possible. We can’t continue to fight them alone, especially when they’ve inserted them into the government.
“I’m not signing anything without Liam and Drake agreeing. We’re still stronger working together than apart.”
“No man left behind, right?” Frank said, his tone as heavy as Delilah had ever heard it.
Damien’s eyes grew darker, and Tess was running her hand up and down his arm, trying to keep him calm.
Delilah and Tess traded glances, trying to figure out what was going on between Frank and Damien.
“One step at a time,” Mason said, watching Frank closely. “Which reminds me. . . Frankie wants to know if you’ll bring Delilah to dinner with you on Sunday.”
“Sure,” Frank said rather flat, still staring at Damien.
Delilah stood up and sidled her way past Frank’s chair, making sure she hooked her foot on the leg as she did so. As she plummeted face first toward the floor, Frank caught her.
“You okay?” he said, concern lacing his voice and his eyes fully on her now.
“I tripped. Not paying attention to my footing, I guess. I’m heading to the kitchen to get a drink. Want anything, babe?”
“Excellent idea, Lil,” Tess said, jumping up while throwing a look toward Frank. “You can sit back down. I’ll get the drinks.”
Delilah sank into Frank’s lap instead of returning to her chair.
“Comfortable?” he asked, his tone lighter than before.
“Uh, huh. Much warmer here.” She wiggled her ass on his lap. “Though something really hard is poking into me.”
“Oh, brother,” Tess said from the kitchen.
“Are we done, Damien? I don’t want to leave Anna too long,” Blade said as he worked his way toward the door.
“One last item. Liam closed his borders. I’m still not sure what’s going on over there in the aftermath of the SDA holding them hostage. It’s one thing for Liam to keep the SDA out, but I don’t like how he’s keeping us out too. The guards he sent were tight-lipped, but they did mention the WSSO has changed tactics. They’re trying to pit packs against one another. There have been kidnappings north of here, though it’s not clear to what purpose. Frank, take whatever precautions you see fit to secure our borders.”
