The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,24

her car door, but as soon as she turned over the engine, she rolled down the window. “Are your health issues improving? Or is it something permanent?”

Thanks to her, they were much better. I grinned. “I’m on the road to recovery.” I couldn’t help the smile spreading as my tattoo burned. She was concerned and the bond felt it. “I’m sure I’ll have a clean bill of health in no time. Or, at least, I hope so.”

She smiled, and her face softened. I wanted to make her smile like that every day. “I’m glad to hear it, ‘cause you were starting to look like shit.”

I burst out laughing as she backed out of the parking spot and headed toward Kaylee’s apartment. I’d forgotten that Kaylee had left with her. The poor woman was probably already passed out in the passenger seat.

My step as light as it had ever been in my life, I went back inside and got to work. The bar didn’t close for another couple of hours and there was a house full of customers.

Of course, I smiled until the last customer left. I’d had a talk with Bri that hadn’t ended with her glaring at me or me being an asshole. Progress.

I’d just waved at the last customer and was about to walk around the bar and lock up when someone came in. As soon as he crossed the threshold, I knew he was a shifter. But he wasn’t anyone I’d ever met before. We were the only clan in a hundred miles. Shifters from other clans didn’t usually make it all the way out to Bluewater unless it was for special business.

The guy stared at me as he approached the bar. “Hey, buddy,” I said. “We’re closing in like two minutes. I can pour you a shot, but then I have to show you the door.”

He nodded. “I know. I’ve been waiting all night.” His deep voice sounded familiar somehow, but I knew I’d never met this man in my life. My hackles were on edge, and my dragon prowled beneath the surface.

“What can I do for you, man?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest, ready to jump for my bat if needed. This dude was a shifter, though, we’d be more likely to fight by claw than a weapon.

“My name is Porter,” he said. He held out his hand to shake mine, I only stared at it. Who was this fucker?

The man, Porter, smiled and drew his hand back. “I understand why you seem suspicious. I can explain, if you’ll give me just a little bit of your time.”

I couldn’t help but be curious. “Okay,” I pulled a beer out of the cooler and popped off the top, then slid it across the counter. “Take a seat.”

Porter took a long pull and then looked into my face. “Six months ago, my mother died.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” And I was. It would tear me up when I lost my mom.

“Thank you. She told me some things, there at the end. Things about my father that I’d had no idea about. His serial cheating. His refusal to mate with my mom.”

It sounded all too familiar, but I remained quiet.

“My dad left us years ago, never to be heard from again. I believed I was my father’s only child up until six months ago when my mother told me that I wasn’t and that she knew of one other son my father had. A son that had been created with one of the many women my dad was sneaking around with.”

He raised his eyebrows at me, and my gut twisted because I was already certain of what was about to be said.

“My father’s name is Alexander Collins,” he said.

Yep. That was my father’s name.

On one hand, it was shocking news, but on the other hand, not so much. I’d always kind of figured my dad had other kids out there somewhere. What had me upset was that I was a product of my dad stepping out on another woman to be with my mom. My chest tightened… was Porter the other woman’s son?

Fucking hell. I already hated my dad, but this topped it. I hoped the man never turned up again. I eyed my brother and took an extra-long drink. “What is it you want, exactly?”

Porter shook his head. “I don’t want anything from you. I just lost my mother and you’re the only blood family I have left. I wanted to meet you,