Page 21 of OutFoxed

Ula covered her lips with her fingers. “Her name is Merry. Merry Noel Bright.”

Thomas cut in, “Wait. Merry N. Bright? Your family likes the holidays?”

Merry sighed. “Yup.”

The officer came back and looked pale. “Miss, you and your party are free to go. The DA is going to be pressing assault charges against the suspects as soon as they are released from hospital.”

“Will I be needed to testify?”

“No, Miss. The photographs and witness statements are sufficient.”

“My alphas aren’t in trouble?”

“No, witnesses also state that they were defending you. You are cleared to leave the scene, Miss. I wish you a speedy recovery.” He was practically sweating.

She smiled and nodded, looking at his name. “Okay, Officer Kreese. Thank you for your help tonight.”

“It was my pleasure, Miss. Take care.”

Giovanni leaned in and murmured, “How did you do that?”

Ula smiled. “Merry is an analyst authorized by the defense department to work on any work she wishes. She can pull a situation apart in seconds and find the bad guys before you can say sneeze. The police and other departments that use her services do not want her turning down their projects.” Ula giggled. “She is also a member of a prestigious foundation that has a bank of lawyers to watch her back.”

Merry smiled then winced. “Right. I really want to get home so I can heal this.”

Giovanni murmured, “We will bring you home. Is it private?”

Clark laughed. “It is very private.”

Thomas nodded. “I will get the car.”

Giovanni nodded, and the bird moved so rapidly that he disappeared.

As the ambulance and its twin were blocking the drive, he said, “We should meet the car.”

She rose, and Giovanni picked her up. “Whoa!”

He smiled. “Problem?”

“I am rarely this far from the ground unless I am flying.” She looked around, and Ula gave her a thumbs-up. Merry flipped her off.

There was laughter behind her. She groaned as she saw phones aimed at them from the line of folks who wanted to enter the club. She turned her head and hid against Giovanni’s neck. “Why is it always you taking point?”

“You like the way I smell, I like the way you smell, and my beast is bigger.”

“You had better be talking about your animal.”

“Whatever you want to call it, precious. Mine is the biggest.”

Richard was walking with them and laughing outright. “He takes point because he’s the predator and was the only one to catch your scent at the club.”

“So, finder’s keepers?”

Giovanni’s voice got low. “So, I get to keep you?”

“Consider me on loan, not a free gift with purchase. Like a library book.” She looked up at him and grumbled, “You break it, you pay a fine for it.”

A huge vehicle pulled up in front of them, and he carefully tucked her in the back seat.

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