but frankly Lexi and her people were too caught up in their web. The trap had been sprung. It’s just that the San Andreas Pack didn’t have any idea what to do with their prey now they’d caught it.
At that moment, a large black SUV pulled to a stop outside the café and disgorged eight very large men in pinstriped suits without shirts, all of them carrying equally large guns, plus one incensed Blubber Bozo Prince.
Selkie. What joy is ours.
Apparently the floppery had arrived.
Judd was actually relieved when the selkie showed up. Finally, something he could hit.
The level of critical discourse on the subject of inappropriate jackets was not one he felt able to handle. And yet, it would keep happening.
The moment the selkie entered the café, smell of brown butteriness carried alongside, the pack went into action. Tank moved to the counter, ready to protect Trick. Max straightened up and took a wide stance. He’d be their backup and remote firepower. Alec stood, stepped forward, body shielding Marvin. Judd swung so that he was between Colin and the selkie. Isaac moved within grabbing distance of Risa. No one cared about Blanc and the rest of her crew.
“Who the hell are you lot?” barked out the country music queen in the coffee shop.
The Prince of the Blubber Bozos muscled through to the front of his gang. “We meet again, goddess of my heart. Angel-voiced moonlight mistress.”
“Fucking hell in a goddamn handbasket,” said Max. He looked at Judd. “Seriously?”
Judd laughed at him. “Now you see what we’ve been putting up with for three days?”
“Dude.” Max was blown away. “I don’t know what to say.”
“How novel,” said Marvin, sipping his drink, still sitting at the corner table.
Trick was leaning on the counter, white-knuckled, scared eyes fixed on the big men in pinstriped suits with big guns and no shirts.
Blanc was looking confused. “Is this normal weekend activities for commoners in cafés?”
“No, lady love, you’re special,” replied her blubbery prince.
“Well, of course I’m special,” shot back Blanc. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
The blubber prince approached her.
Blanc looked at Judd and Kevin. “Well?”
“Well what?”
“You’re my bodyguards, defend me from him.”
“He doesn’t seem to want to hurt you,” pointed out Judd. “And you allowed contact twice before.”
“That was paid for! Kevin,” she said, eyes narrowed, “protect your mother!”
“You don’t seem to be in any danger,” replied Kevin, not moving.
“Colin? Baby?” she turned to look at her younger son.
“Don’t even start,” said Colin from behind Judd.
Judd was pleased that his Gingersnap didn’t budge from his side.
The Prince of the Blubber Bozos reached Lexi Blanc. He grabbed her hand, clutched it in both of his beefy ones. “You are even more beautiful in the daylight.”
“Oh! Why thank ya, sugah.” Blanc batted her lashes at him. “Is all this just for little old me?” She gestured to the invading selkie mob.
“My love for you is infinite,” confessed the large man.
“Or at least worthy of… two, six, eight, mobsters? Are you mobsters? Please say you’re mobsters. It’s much more romantic if you are. The press might even make it front page news.” She seemed to have decided to try to flirt her way out of the situation.
The selkie prince looked pleased. “The baddest of the bad mobsters, my pure one.”
“How delightful. You aren’t here to, erm, kidnap me or anything so gauche, are you? It’s only, Kitty Cherry was kidnapped last month. So it’s kinda been done recently, you know? I’d look like a copycat. Can’t have that. Besides, much as I admire your persistence, my darling sweet cheeks, I can’t survive under the waves with you. I’m still a land mammal, even in shifted form.”
Prince Blubber Bozo nodded, jowly and sad. There might even have been real tears in his eyes. “The tragedy of our love, my precious gem, is in the impossibility of any future. So we are left to pine for each other, eternally.”
Judd suppressed the instinct to gag.
Blanc looked nonplused. “Uh, yes, of course, sugah. Eternally, as you say.”
Judd caught Kevin and Colin exchanging looks. “Surf and turf don’t mix,” the brothers mouthed at each other.
“Which is why, my love, I must ask you to forgive this transgression.” Prince Blubber Bozo moved remarkably fast for such a big man. He lunged at Blanc, twisted her around, and then ripped the gold jacket off her curvy figure.
“What is with that jacket?” Judd asked the shocked room.
Lexi Blanc screamed in surprise and stumbled to one side. Recovering, she lurched after her coat, werewolf fast and Alpha