Page 48 of Secrets at Dawn
One look at Riley’s tears, making trails through the soot on his face, made Griffin question whether or not the dream was dead for them.
Chapter Twenty-Five
There was no way he’d let Griffin leave his side ever again. That was why he took the chance and let Griffin go with him to the meeting with Bobby Ball. Well, that need for close proximity and the fact that all of Griffin’s family were hidden in various places throughout the park across from Toby’s apartment.
Toby’s new friend Gus and his mate were also there.
Toby should feel safe enough, but he knew something was off. He just wasn’t sure what it was. It was good to know the sheriff was so close by, watching Bobby Ball approach them.
Griffin squeezed his hand. “Are you okay?”
Toby shook his head. “I just don’t like the unknown.”
“This whole thing isn’t right, is it?”
“Definitely not.”
Bobby and his son resembled each other, even from a distance. When they grew closer, Bobby Sr. smirked, and Bobby Jr. seemed as if he wanted to be anywhere else but standing in front of Toby. Junior stood just behind Senior.
Senior stopped in front of them. “I see you brought your mate. Hello, Griffin.”
Griffin just raised his eyebrows and didn’t say a word. Not at first. Instead, he let the silence stretch between them.
Bobby was a used-car salesperson, so he was used to filling the silence. “I appreciate your making Ransome disappear. He’s standing in my way of becoming alpha.”
“So that’s your motivation. I wondered if that wasn’t it.” It was the first time Griffin had spoken, and it was clear Griffin knew Bobby better than Toby did. So Toby stayed quiet.
Bobby held out an envelope to Toby.
“Don’t take it,” Griffin said without taking his gaze off Bobby.
Bobby shrugged.
“You burned down my brother’s bakery.” Griffin was getting him to talk about all the things he had done. Was he recording the conversation, wanting him to confess so that they had direct evidence of his crime?
“It was necessary. How else would I show the Magic Council what a menace your mate is?”
Toby stiffened. His instinct was to challenge Bobby for the alpha spot, but he let Griffin lead—for the time being.
Griffin smiled. “He saved our lives. He wasn’t the menace that night.”
“He killed Kinnison.” Boss Dickwad smiled. “He seems like a menace to me.”
Toby thought that might be the incentive he needed to bring Kinnison back to Fortune Falls. He thought about him, lying in a hotel room, bored out of his mind, watching television.
Toby brought him back to the park, but he made sure he showed up next to Iven, so Griffin had time to work Bobby into a corner.
Toby panicked when he saw a woman and two men approach them from the parking lot. It was obvious they were the peoplefrom the Magic Council. Their magic was so strong, Toby felt it from a distance.
Griffin had the opposite reaction. He sighed as if in relief. He lost all the tension in his body.
Toby’s instinct was to get them out of there before the magic council representatives found out about his abilities.
Griffin let go of Toby’s hand and hugged the woman first. “How’s the bathroom treating you? Is everything still good?”
“It’s perfect. I want to talk to you about renovating the bedroom. I want to get an estimate for installing an ensuite. But maybe after”—she waved her hand toward Bobby Ball—“he tells us why we’re here.”
She didn’t like Bobby if the curl of her lips was any indication.
