Page 45 of Fated Redemption
“We leave to pick up Giddey and there’s three new lovely ladies here.” Connor winked at his mate before walking over to Bethany and Asling. Madison rolled her eyes and collapsed into the chair next to Rhys.
“Who are these two beauties?” Connor said, smiling.
“Little Bethany Prescott and Asling Stafford,” Aleks said in a deadpan voice.
Connor jumped back as if they had turned to snakes. “Little Bethany and Asling? My goodness, look at you two. When did you guys get back? Is everything okay?” Connor swung one leg over a chair and sat so that he could rest his arms on the back of the chair. Madison sat beside him.
Giddey stayed where he was at looking over all the men in the diner, winking at a few.
“Hey, Connor. We’re fine. Just glad to be home. Things were getting a little crazy down in Florida,” Asling explained.
“The ladies are darling, but umm, where are the men? Preferably the gay men?” Giddey asked, still standing near the door.
“Oh for goodness sakes, Giddey, you’ve been in town a whole five seconds,” Madison said, sounding exasperated.
“Oh come on Mad-a-sin, you promised hot, gay lions.” Giddey pouted.
It was too much for Abby. She started to giggle. “The men here are gorgeous. I was in town for all of thirty minutes and met my mates. Both of them.”
“Oh god, that would be amazing. Mating sex is supposed to be super hot.” Giddey looked around the room, sizing up the men.
The diner door opened behind Giddey and a sleazy looking man slinked in. Rebecca tightened the hold she had on Aidhan and wiggled out of Aleks’s lap. She took her seat and leaned over to Abby.
“That’s Salsiby, an evil lawyer, he tried to take my baby,” she whispered.
Abby felt a cold rage fill her belly. No one messed with her family. She could almost feel Rebecca’s fear. She could handle a pissed off Rebecca, a rambling Rebecca, even a caffeinated Rebecca, but what she could not stand was seeing her bravest friend afraid.
“He did, did he?” Abby stood and walked past Giddey. With no preamble she raised her fist and punched Salsiby in the face. She aimed for the tiny spot between his eyebrows. The sound of flesh hitting flesh reverberated through the diner. Salsiby dropped like a rock.
“Oh my god, I thought that was my ex. Oh my, how silly of me, when I look closer, they are nothing alike. Oops. Oh dear he’s blocking the doorway, I’ll get him.” Abby grabbed an ankle and dragged the smaller man’s body outside and left him on the sidewalk in the January winter air. She walked back in, brushing off her hands. “It’s cold as balls outside,” she said.
Everyone was staring at her in shock.
She tilted her head. “What?”
“Is it just me…” Rian started.
“Don’t say it,” Moe, Rhys and Aleks said in unison.
“Doesn’t she remind you of Rebecca?” Damian finished Rian’s thought.
Connor, Madison, and the entire Inner Court laughed hysterically.
Abby grinned. “We did live together for four years. Our mannerisms were bound to rub off on one another.” She flexed her hand.
Liam sighed. “He’ll go directly to the council.”
“I was in fear for my life!” Abby said dramatically. She walked back over to her table and sat down.
“Girl, I don’t know you, but I need you in my life, and I don’t say that to females often.” Giddey winked at Abby and sat down next to her at the next closest table.
“Two. There’s two of them.” Aleks had his head in his hands.
“It’s like Abby is the version of Rebecca if Rebecca had been raised a shifter,” Kate said, shaking her head.
Moe reached over and massaged her knuckles.
“That’s the same asshole that has been trying to get Rhys executed too,” Rebecca said impishly.
