Crossing Ties - Susi Hawke Page 0,50

Sure, we’re mostly of the feline persuasion, but that’s just because most other species don’t have the stomach for what we do in the field. But there are lower-stakes jobs than what you’ve seen us on. But you’re right. Mostly cats. Just not all.”

The whole time he was talking, Dante didn't seem as though he was entirely there. He was sniffing the air and looking around. He froze when he locked eyes with Pops. A seductive smile spread over his face as he slowly sashayed over and ran a hand over my father's chest.

"Hello, big papi. Don't you smell delicious? I'm Dante, obviously. What's your name, papi? I need to know what I'll be crying out later tonight."

Ew. What was happening right now? I looked at Vasily and he looked every bit as grossed out as I felt. It was like a bad traffic accident, I didn't want to see it but I couldn't look away. And… was Dante actually purring?

Pops set his drink down and put one hand on Dante’s waist. "Hello, little one. I'm Francis Novak but you can call me anything you want."

Dante shivered and walked his fingers up to Pop's shoulder. "Now I'm torn. You're a total papi, but Frankie is such a cute name for my silver..." He lifted onto his toes to sniff my father's neck. "Bear. My silver bear." He shivered again. "We're going to have so much fun, Papi Frankie."

Pops was so entranced that he barely lifted a hand to wave as the two of them wandered off to flirt privately. Rory elbowed me in the side. "Somebody better make sure Patrick doesn't go around opening any closets. I could be wrong, but I think your Pops just met his fated mate."

Nacho looked both happy for his brother and maybe a little jealous. "Si. Es verdad. My brother never would've acted like that otherwise. At least, not in work company." Thankfully, Patrick came back right then with the whiskey. Nacho rubbed his hands together. "Ooh, nice. It's not tequila, but I'm in. Pour me a shot, por favor. Make it double."

Seamus chuckled, shaking his head as he watched Pops walk down the hall with a hand at Dante’s lower back. "Good for Francis. He's been alone for a long time. I'm glad to see him get a second chance at happiness. Come on, boys. Let's go in the kitchen for the shots so Rory doesn't get mad at me."

They wandered off, taking half the room with them. My brothers came over, every last one of them looking as shell-shocked as I was feeling. Joey craned his neck to look down the hall in the direction where Pops had gone. "Did Dante just call Pops Frankie?"

"He was purring too," Ivan added. "I distinctly heard it."

Vasily snorted. "That's nothing, he started out by calling him papi."

Cyrus stared at the floor for several seconds before looking back up. Even though he was smiling, his eyes were filled with tears. "Papa would be happy for Pops. It's going to be a little different, especially for those of you who still live at the estate. But Seamus was right. Pops has been alone for a long time. We need to remember that and be glad for him."

Boris took a deep breath before nodding. "Cy's right. Pops deserves this. Think about how amazing it felt when each of us found our fated mates. Would we deny that for Pops? I know I wouldn't."

Following my first instinct, I turned and put my arms around Rory, holding him close as I breathed in his scent. Boris was right, they all were. Finding my fated mate was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me.

Rory nipped at my earlobe then whispered an old Biggie Smalls lyric, changing the last word to fit. "I love it when you call me Big Pa-pi."

I burst out laughing and jerked away. "Rory, I love you with all my heart, but you are sick and wrong." I snorted and started laughing again. "Patrick is wrong, by the way. You are funny. You're just way more twisted than your brothers will ever understand."

When I realized my own brothers were all staring at us in horror, I laughed some more. "What? You didn't like Rory's song choice?"

Joey shuddered. "Please. No. Just… no. Never do that again. That is not the earworm I need whenever I think about my father and Dante."

Ciara started fussing and Rory reached for her. Leaf gave her cheek a reluctant kiss before passing