doesn’t know how to watch out for children?”
“Don’t get all defensive on me. Amar needs to know about this. I smelled those guys, and I knew they were shifters. This obviously has something to do with Ruby.” He pounded his fist into his thigh.
“Of course, but do you seriously think I need you to tell me that? Or to come down on me like I’m some sort of dumbass who doesn’t understand all the possibilities? I might not be an official part of the Force, but I’m sure as shit going to do everything I can to protect these kids!” She slapped her hand over her mouth, realizing she’d cussed twice in front of the little ones now. Turning, she was relieved to see Lucas asleep in his car seat.
“Yes, you are going to do just that by staying home and keeping them as far out of harm’s way as possible. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to them.” He triggered the turn signal with an angry flick of his hand.
“You?” she spluttered, unable to fathom how or why he’d suddenly come to decide that Lucas and Ruby were his responsibility instead of hers. If it had just been the two of them in the car, she would’ve ripped him up one side and down the other, telling him to take his polar bear ass straight back to Wyoming where he belonged. But the children were asleep, and they’d had a traumatic enough evening without seeing two grown adults fighting like children.
Instead, she crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned her head toward the window, though she hardly saw any of the lights or decorations of the city as they made their way back. As angry as she was, she could at least be grateful that Lucas and Ruby were safe. And that Roman wouldn’t be joining the Force.
7
“I’m not going to push you into participating, but I’m glad we’ve got a mission happening while you’re here. It’s a good chance for you to see what things are really like for us.” Amar smiled, looking completely at ease behind the wheel of his sedan as they pulled onto the highway.
As much as it had felt like Christmas the night before, with the lights, festivities, and hot chocolate, the brilliant morning light and the palm trees made Roman feel like he was on a tropical vacation. He wasn’t particularly in the mood for one, though. “Yeah. That’s true.”
“It should be a pretty easy operation today. The Alpha of this clan isn’t exactly known for his pleasant disposition, nor for cooperating with other clans in the area, but he agreed to the meeting readily enough,” Amar continued. “We’ll just sit down with him, have a chat, and see what he has to say. Of course, you’ll still want to be ready in case shit goes sideways.”
“I always am,” Roman said with a half-smile.
“What’s eating you?” Amar asked after a moment of silence. “You’ve been a bit off ever since you and Melody got back home last night.”
Roman let out a long breath. Ever since he’d arrived, he’d been trying to decide how to talk to Amar about this, but he’d have to do it eventually. “I know Melody is my mate.”
His friend let out a light laugh. “I had a feeling. The air practically crackles between the two of you.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t anymore. She got so pissed at me last night.” It was impossible to avoid each other, even in that huge house, so he’d seen her at breakfast. She’d turned away from him with a stiff jaw as she made a bottle for Ruby, and not a single word had been exchanged. “I don’t understand it.”
“What did you do?” Amar pressed.
“What do you mean, what did I do?” Roman’s muscles bunched in his shoulders. “Why do you think it’s my fault?”
Amar shrugged as he changed lanes. “Because you’re a man, and us men are usually the ones doing stupid things, as far as women are concerned. You got Ruby back, but what else did you do?”
Roman flicked his fingers in the air. “Nothing, man. I just told her she needed to be more careful, and that until we got this figured out, she and the kids needed to stay at headquarters. I told her to call you, and since I was the one driving, that only made sense.”
“Hold on,” Amar said, putting his hand up. “You’ve already hit the nail on the head.