Page 12 of Midnight Rules
“I don’t need to. As long as Dad and Cass agree. Since they’re silent partners already. It should be a group decision.”
Cass took Riley’s hand. “I’m good with Griffin being a partner too.”
Iven nodded. “It’s a family business.”
“Exactly.”
“This place…it holds memories from when you boys were little. It’s a good place for making more memories”
“Smoothies and pizza.” Griffin’s main motivation in life involved food.
“I remember asking for quarters for the jukebox.” Riley smiled.
“They played the good stuff too.”
“The oldies.” Riley sighed. “Wouldn’t it be fun to have that? Like donuts and milkshakes.”
Griffin shook his head. “No, it has to beMuffins & Milkshakes. It has a better ring to it.”
“Do you mean as a name for the business?” Riley wrinkled his nose. “Because I already have a name. It’s going to bePalmer’s Bakery. But maybe we can have something like theHome of the Muffins & Milkshakesas a slogan.”
Griffin grinned. “I like it. But we could also name itPalmer’s Handyjobs Baked Goods.”
Riley and Cass chuckled.
Iven rolled his eyes. “Everyone in town would know Griffin had a hand in naming it.”
Riley met Iven’s gaze. “What do you honestly think about this space, Dad?”
“Cost is a factor. With Griffin’s proposal, it just might be doable. And I love the name and the slogan.”
Riley nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Iven and Cass’s radio went off at the same time. Iven took the call. When he finished, he said, “I’m sorry, but we have to go.”
He met Cass’s gaze. They didn’t say anything to each other, but they didn’t have to. The disturbance was in a public place and, from the way it sounded, it had to do with pack fighting. Iven hoped it wasn’t the case, and it was something else entirely, but he had his doubts.
Cass kissed Riley. “Gotta go to work, honey.”
“Stay safe. Both of you. Please.” Riley frowned. He wasn’t used to having loved ones with a dangerous job. Not in the same way Griffin was, who’d been living with it for a long time.
All Griffin said was, “Hope it’s not too bad.”
Iven hoped it wasn’t either.
Chapter Seven
They parked inside the lot where the nature trails began. The crime wasn’t visible at first, but as soon as they got out of their vehicle, they heard the fighting. Wolves growled. Flesh hit flesh.
“It’s the pack.” Cass pulled his gun from its holster, so Iven did the same without questioning why. “I smell blood. A lot of it.”
Iven didn’t know that flesh had a sound when it was torn from the bone. Tearing was the most accurate description.
A wolf whined.
As soon as they rounded a group of trees, Iven got his first look at the bloodiest scene he’d ever seen.
Some people were in wolf form, while others fought as humans. Someone was in their third form. Iven wasn’t sure who it was.
