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Tangee and Loco nodded.
“That’s a problem.”
“How?” Tangee was alarmed. Was there something else wrong with his mom?
“She won’t live to be a thousand years old like the rest of us, but she will age differently than humans. When she is sixty, she will look in her late twenties. Questions will be raised. Do you think she will agree to move here, with me and my son, Heaven?” Tangee lowered his head as he shook it. “She says it’s too painful to have reminders all around her of what she lost.”
“That’s what she said when Sky died and I tried to get her to move here. Do you think that I could possibly talk to her again?”
“You could try. I’ll give you her address and phone number, but you know, I have to tell her I talked with you and gave you her information.”
Windstorm nodded. “Understood.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon going through pictures and stories of what Sky was like growing up, especially how forgetful he was.
Tangee soaked up everything his uncle gave him.
When it was time to depart, Tangee finally felt a sense of heritage and belonging, but he was also sad that he had to leave his newfound family.
“Heaven isn’t here right now. Would it be okay if I sent him to you?” Windstorm was asking Loco’s permission. This ticked Tangee off. He was a grown man. Why should Loco have to give his permission?
“Sounds good. It will be nice to have more family around,” Tangee answered for himself.
* * * *
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Cody grabbed his vibrating phone off of the counter as he made a fresh pot of coffee. “Yello.”
“Is that any way to answer your phone?”
“Jazz! How’s it hanging?”
“Limp and to the left. How the hell are you, Code-man?” He laughed.
“I’m hanging in there. How are you doing with Zeus?” Cody finished preparing the coffee and then walked into the back office.
“We’re doing fine. But I do have something to tell you.”
Jasper and his secretive crap.
“You never could hold a glass of water,” He teased.
“What does that mean? You mate Keata and now you try to sound hip.” He chuckled.
“It means you spill every chance you get. Stop beating around the bush, Jazz. Spill those beans.”
“Well,”
—he dragged the word out—“
both
my mates are fine.”
“Get the fuck out of here! Two?” Cody was stunned by this news.
He knew Jazz was going to be a handful for the Alpha, but two mates? This blew Cody’s mind.
“Yep, the other one’s name is Toby. He’s adorable.”
“I just bet. How did Zeus handle that, or did he have him gift wrapped and waiting for you?” Cody sat back and listened to Jazz fill him in on what was going on in the Eastern pack.
“Sounds like you’ve been having a lot of fun.”
“I have been. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing like the Den, but I wouldn’t change anything that I have now. I love them both with all my heart. I’m sounding cheesy, aren’t I?”
“Nope, same thing I say about Keata.”
“How is Mr. Keata? I miss the man, along with the other mates.
Loco just left here not too long ago with his mate. It was good to see him.”
Cody kicked his feet up on the desk and commenced to telling Jazz about Keata’s kidnapping, the new cook, George, and all the
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shenanigans Cecil was still up to. He explained how he became part owner to a restaurant and how the pack was doing well.
“I’m happy for Tank. He deserves someone nice. And I’m glad you got Keata back. I would have come to help you if you had called.
Just because I’m with another pack now, it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t help my best friend. Toby and I would have kicked their asses.” Jasper growled.
“I’ll keep that in mind. As far as George, he was so buried in the closet that there might as well have been a trap door in there with a labyrinth behind that.”
Jazz laughed on the other end, making Cody smile. “That bad, huh?”
“He’s fine now. Tank straightened him out.”
“And where is Keata?”
“Down at the rec center helping Thomas get ready for the annual bake sale. I would have gone, but Frank volunteered to help so someone had to stay behind and run things.”
“A business owner, I’m proud of you, Cody.”
“Thanks. Two mates? I’m proud of you,” he teased.
“It has its moments, but I have two of the best men in the world.”
“Glad to hear it.” They talked for another hour before saying good-bye.
It was good to hear from his best friend, and Cody was happy everything worked out for Jazz.
He missed him, his smart mouth, and sassy attitude around the Den, but no one could take the place of his Keata, and he wouldn’t want anyone trying.
* * * *
The drive back was filled with his mate’s excited babble telling Loco of his father as if he hadn’t been right there listening to
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Tangee’s uncle. Loco indulged him, letting him bask in the glow of his family.
They made an early night of it. With all the excitement and Tangee starting his new job in the morning, his mate fell fast asleep.
Loco tucked him in, heading to the den while his mate slept.
“How’d it go?” Gunnar asked from the billiard table he was playing at with Evan.
“Good. Real good. Tangee finally knows where he came from.” Loco grabbed a beer from the bar. He could feel his mate’s happiness all afternoon. Windstorm seemed just as excited with his nephew’s presence.
Somehow Loco knew he would be making more trips to the Eastern pack for visits. Maybe they could get his uncle to join their pack? He was definitely large enough to join their ranks.
A talk with Maverick was in his future about that decision. Of course, he would have to talk this over with Windstorm as well.
“Glad to hear it. So, Tangee starts work at the diner tomorrow?” Gunnar asked as he made his shot.
Evan glared at him as he sunk ball after ball. Gunnar was the best pool player in the house, with Johnny coming in second.
The short mate had surprised everyone. Johnny had been diagnosed as mildly retarded, but show the man something once and he was a pro at it. Everyone ignored the label that had been placed on the mate. They knew better.
“Yep, Cody will drive him in.” Loco held up a finger as he answered his ringing phone.
“Yeah?” His lips thinned as he snapped his fingers, gaining the attention of the other two wolves, gesturing for them to follow him.
He hung up. “That was Drew. There are five vamps attacking Remi, Kota, and Hawk. The mates are in the truck, but two more showed up, and they’re trying to get inside.”
The wolves cursed, Loco jogging to inform Maverick of the situation when the Alpha didn’t answer his cell phone. Loco also
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wanted to let him know that the Alpha would be the only protection for the mates still at the Den.
* * * *
Gravel spit from under his tire as he raced to town, slamming the brakes right outside of the recreation center.
Gunnar and Evan jumped from the truck and into the fray immediately.
Loco rushed over to the truck the mates were locked in. He Oliver opened the door when he saw Loco heading their way.
“God damn it.” Loco cursed when someone jumped on his back.
He spun around, dropping to the ground on his back to dislodge his unwanted guest. “Fucking bloodsuckers.” Loco tussled with the undead man until he managed to break free.
He extended his claws and pulled the fuckers throat out. Enough was enough already. Loco pulled his arm back and punched the next vamp that charged at him. It barely registered on the fuckers face, but Loco waved his hand in pain.
“Get them out of here.” Hawk growled as he pulled the vamp away from Loco.
Loco punched the guy once more for good measure before running over to the vehicle the mates were in. Talk about a piss poor ending to a good day.
“You men ready to get out of here?”
“I was ready to go twenty minutes ago, but Dakota refused to let me drive. He was afraid we’d be attacked on our way back home,” Blair said from the front seat.
“Then let’s get out of here.” Loco palmed the steering wheel, pulling from the rec center without incident.
The warriors could handle themselves, but the mate’s needed to get home where it was safe and the warriors could fight knowing they
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didn’t have to keep turning around to ensure their mates were unharmed.
Loco ushered them into the den. Maverick had the rest of the house sitting in the den when Loco walked in. Loco checked on Tangee and Melonee before rushing back to the recreation center to help the other warriors with the vampires.
Where the hell were they coming from? Maverick had been furious, calling Prince Christian immediately to demand answers.
Like answers were going to make the damn undead things tuck tale and run.
Loco pulled his truck into the same spot as before and jumped back in, pissed as all hell that he wasn’t at home with Tangee and Melonee. Didn’t the vampires have respect for family time?
He’d promised Melonee an exciting game of Chutes and Ladders.
Winner got to indulge in one of Maverick’s Fudgesicles. It was rare Maverick parted with them.
Instead? What the hell was he doing? Loco cut through the vampires with a vengeance, pissed that he was here in the first place.
Ten minutes later, only two were dead. They were harder to kill then they looked. Evan and Hawk were the only ones able to take them out. How the hell had George roped the one outside the diner that night with Tank? Loco had a new respect for the cowboy.
Loco shot a look behind him when a loud growl rent the air, Christian was standing there, eyes crimson, fangs bared. He took out three in under a minute. The other two were thrown in the back of his car by his guards.
“My apologies, wolves. As I have explained to your Alpha, these vampires are not of my coven. A group of them have moved into the territory, but I have yet to find where they sleep.” Christian dusted himself off, wiping the corners of his mouth with his hands.
Loco helped the others toss the carcasses into the Prince’s trunk, watching as he nodded at them, and then got in his car and drove
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away. “There seems to be an outbreak of them lately,” Loco muttered in irritation.
“Thank you for getting our mates to safety.” Hawk clapped Loco on his shoulder.
“No problem. They’re in the den with the other mates. Maverick is watching over them.” Loco cursed when his phone rang again. It was turning into a night of chaos.
“What?” he snapped.
The warriors watched as the emotions played over Loco’s face He nodded a few times, answering in single syllables, and then hung up.
“I need to get to the city. Tangee’s mom was in a car accident and Melonee was with her.”
* * * *
“I’m here for Olivia Highland. I’m her son,” Tangee stated frantically to the nurse behind the desk.
The nurse took Loco, Tangee, and the Alpha back. Melonee looked so tiny in that big hospital bed. The doctor assured them that Melonee was only being given antibiotics for a deep cut she had on her leg and was only sleeping from exhaustion of the ordeal.
Olivia wasn’t so lucky. The truck driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel had plowed into the driver’s door. She was badly injured.
The doctor said her whole left side had been smashed. They had her in surgery right now trying to repair her. The doctor was upfront and honest. He wasn’t expecting a good prognosis.
Things looked grim.
* * * *
Loco was dozing in a chair. Tangee was in the next room with Melonee, so Loco had promised his mate he would keep an eye on Olivia.
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The surgery had gone better than the doctor had predicted, and Tangee’s mom was stable now.
She lay in the hospital bed, looking serene in her sleep. Her face wasn’t really that bad, but her whole left side was wrapped in white gauze.
Loco looked up when Windstorm came into the room. “I told the nurse I was Olivia’s husband so I could get back here.” The wolf walked over to the side of the bed and stared down at her. Loco swore he saw something close to adoration or even love in his eyes.
“I’m going to take her home with me. She needs to rest and recuperate there.” Windstorm reached a hand out and brushed the hair from off of her face. “I checked on Melonee first. The doctor said she would make a full recovery.” Windstorm’s hand hovered over Olivia but never touched her face. “It’s not my place, but do you think Melonee can stay with you? Olivia won’t be up to running behind her, and I’ll be too busy helping her out.”
“I think the decision should be my mom’s, but I’ll take her for now,” Tangee said as he walked into the room.
“We’ll take her. If Olivia protests, then we’ll bring Melonee to you. I agree with you though. She should focus on her recovery right now. Melonee will be in good hands.” Windstorm nodded at Loco, never taking his eyes off of Tangee’s mom.
* * * *
The evening rush had Tangee running from table to table, trying to keep up. He wasn’t doing too bad considering he only screwed up one order. Even though he had his order pad and pen, he kept forgetting things. Prime example would be giving the man at booth three his drink and leaving his dinner sitting on the counter to get cold.
George called, “Order up!”
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Tangee grabbed the dishes and served the customers, finally feeling like he was getting the hang of things.
It was a nice place to work. The other boss, Frank, was real cool.
He noticed the guy slip Keata a smoothie every few hours. It was a wonder the Cody’s mate wasn’t three hundred pounds.
“You did good, kid.” Cody patted him on the back once the rush was over. “I’ve made my decision. You’re hired.” Tangee beamed. Even though his mate insisted he didn’t have to work, he felt like he was contributing to his sister’s care and his place in their home. Besides, he liked getting out and meeting new people.