Page 21 of Fated Redemption
Finn’s head swung around and the look he gave him had the man stepping back. Rhys had to avert his eyes, he had never seen a more murderous expression. “Neither is he.” Finn growled low.
“Damn, you learned ‘The Look’ from Pa. I’m jealous.” Duncan bent over and grabbed Glenn by the ankle.
“Hey, Salsiby, I heard you were impressed with my shifting abilities,” Felix said, stepping forward. He removed his coat and pulled his sweater sleeve up to reveal his forearm. Slowly the pale skin turned to dark green scales.
“I’m going to the council!” Salsiby threatened before he turned and fled, stumbling away from Finn’s dark gaze and Felix’s demonstration.
“Man, I love you like a brother, but damn. I hope you never look at the kids like that.” Moe shook his head.
Instantly Finn’s expression cleared. His eyes danced with humor. “Only the teenagers, and only when they are doing something where they would get hurt.”
Rhys shuddered.
“Come on, Finn, we have to take the trash out.” Duncan began walking, dragging the slightly struggling form of the wolf behind him.
“Try to avoid pavement if you can. We don’t want him looking too bloody when he goes before council,” Maddox suggested.
Duncan stopped and turned to Maddox pouting. “Aww, Doc, you’re taking all the fun out of it.”
Maddox sighed and looked heavenward as if asking for help. “I don’t know how his mother did it.”
“Can we please fuck now?” Felix demanded, his hands on his hips.
“Come on, Trouble, I seem to recall that you owe me.” Maddox’s grin turned feral. Felix shivered.
“Hell yeah! Later, peeps, I have a cock calling my name.”
“Felix!” Maddox exclaimed, embarrassed. He followed the redhead down the street back to the clinic clearly admiring the view of his mate’s ass swinging back and forth.
Laughing, Finn turned to where Peyton stood with the twins.
“Peyton, I’m honored that you called. I wish I could have gotten here quicker.” Finn ruffled Peyton’s hair and followed his older brother toward the truck to help him with the struggling wolf.
“Now Peyton, honey, you don’t have to be afraid. You are family. If anyone tries to hurt you again, you just coming running to my store. I may be smaller and weaker than most shifters, but I have a double-barrel shotgun behind the counter.” Miranda gave the startled man a hug before patting both David and Daniel on the head. She turned and shooed the onlookers away.
“You can also come to me. I’m right across the street. I would have loved to lay into that guy.” Brice Marshall stepped forward cracking his knuckles. The large man always managed to lookcomfortable in his three-piece suit, despite having the build of a linebacker.
Rhys had met the accountant on one of his trips to Moe’s in the month leading up to his moving in. He was the only rhinoceros shifter he had ever met in his centuries as a vampire. Even though Brice was in his prime, the man had a headful of silver, not gray, hair. It gave him a sophisticated look without making him look old. His gray eyes were gentle when speaking to Peyton, but Rhys would bet that even though he had a sedate accounting job, this man knew how to fight.
“I don’t, I mean, I couldn’t,” Peyton stammered, hiding his face in Daniel’s back.
“I know we haven’t said much to each other, only wave from across the street. But, you can come to me if you need anything.” Brice’s voice was soft and non-threatening.
Peyton nodded and peeked out shyly from behind Daniel.
“Good work on that asshole.” Brice nodded to the twins and he too walked back to his office.
“Come on squirt, we brought our Xbox from home. We’re going to beg Rhys to play, you can join us,” David offered.
“I’ve never played before,” Peyton whispered.
Daniel grabbed his chest as if faking a heart attack. “Say it ain’t so!”
Peyton giggled.
“David, get the Xbox, stat!”
David ran to where their car was parked outside the bar. He reached into the back seat and pulled out a box holding the gaming console, controllers and wires and returned to where Daniel stood.
