by Tl Reeve
“Girls, I’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Martin.” Rapier pointed to Zoe, then Bell. “These are my daughters, Zoe and Bell.”
“Hi,” Bell said softly. Her gaze flickered between them.
Zoe’s hi was much more boisterous and friendlier.
Mrs. Martin turned her attention to the girls. “Good morning, Zoe and Bell. I’ve heard so much about you two.” Zoe’s face crinkled up. Rapier watched her intently, ready to step in if Zoe’s mouth got the better of her with Mrs. Martin.
Zoe tilted her head. “How? He didn’t know our names until he met us. He didn’t even know we were twins.”
“Oh, well, not you specifically, more like I’ve heard about how your dad couldn’t wait to meet his cub. He’d tell me the endless things he wanted to do with you, conversations he hoped to have. Every time he’d leave, my heart would ache for his loss. It’s never easy being separated from family. I suspect, although you girls didn’t have it easy, at least you had your mother. Rapier.” Mrs. Martin laid her hand on his arm. “He really had no one. I was starting to get worried about my new friend.”
Many nights, Rapier had visited with the older woman, either to get cookies for Aiden or, he gave a silent chuckle, for himself. No lie, Mrs. Martin made a mean-ass cookie. Between that and the hot tea she’d force him to drink, he’d open up to her. It helped that she was easy to talk to. Mrs. Martin never judged, and she always gave sound advice, whether he wanted it or not.
Rapier didn’t miss the brief flash of pleasure in Zoe’s blue gaze at the older woman’s words. Bell, well God damn, his youngest cub was looking at him with a hefty dose of hero worship. With an added dramatic flair, the older female wolf laid her hand on her chest. “Well, enough of me being all sappy. I’m just glad he has gotten the chance to do everything he wanted. Best of all, I get to see it.”
Zoe stood, gesturing to the empty chair at their table. “Would you like to join us for breakfast, Mrs. Martin?”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly. I know your dad just got his girls back and wants to spend as much time as his responsibilities allow him to. I don’t want to take any time from them. I’d feel horrible.”
“No, please, we’d love you to join us,” Bell said before standing. Like earlier, she fiddled with the hem of her shirt.
Rapier was proud of his girls, and he knew he had his mate and her sister to thank for teaching the girls respect and manners. “We insist.” Rapier pulled the chair out, waiting until Mrs. Martin sat before retaking his. “We ordered, let me flag down the waitress.”
Mrs. Martin chuckled. “No need to, my dear. Ida no doubt saw me come in and where I was headed and simply added my usual order to yours.” She gently patted his thigh before turning her attention back to the girls. “How is Apache County treating you?”
“It’s…different,” Bell admitted. “We were kind of isolated where we used to live. Mom or Jenna mostly went into town. We stayed behind with the other to keep us safe.” Bell looked at her sister. “Zoe and I didn’t have friends, just each other. Mom homeschools us.”
“I’m sure now you’re here, you’ll be attending school. Apache County has an amazing school system,” Mrs. Martin said, her voice filled with pride for her county.
Rapier didn’t miss the flair of excitement in both girls’ expressions.
“Dad?” Zoe asked.
Rapier smiled. Like their mother, if it made them happy, he’d move heaven and Earth to make it happen. “If my girls want to go to school, then so be it. I think you’ll enjoy it more so than homeschool.”
Zoe smiled, and Bell squealed in delight.
“What about mom?” Bell asked. Rapier noticed when she got worried or nervous, she tended to bite at her lower lip. It was her tell.
Rapier sighed. “Mom wants you both to be able to live and experience life too. Believe it or not, she was never happy about keeping you girls isolated from the world. She did it to protect you.” Rapier reached out, taking both girls’ hands in his. It was then he realized how dainty and tiny they truly were. He expected Zoe to pull her hand away, but instead, she gave him a firm squeeze. The lion within him purred and stretched, and Rapier knew by the girl’s gasps they saw what their mother did when his lion showed himself.
Zoe cocked her head and whispered, “That’s so cool. When we get home can you shift so we can see him?”
“My lion isn’t a pet, kid. It’s an Apex predator,” Rapier reminded her.
Zoe snorted. “So am I.”
“Yes, but your Panther isn’t full grown,” Mrs. Martin gently reminded Zoe. “When your father shifts, his human side takes a backseat to the lion who shares his mind and body. In the wild, male lions are known for being ill-tempered, unpleasant, and unfriendly. Shifter lions are no different.”
“Except we’re just as much the lion’s as we are dad’s,” Zoe interjected.
“Yes, but—”
“And if his lion can peek through and communicate with our mom when he’s in human form, why can’t the other be possible? Shouldn’t dad be able to spy on the lion?” Bell asked inquisitively.
Mrs. Martin turned wide, shocked eyes toward him. “Is this true?”
Rapier ducked his head. Very few people knew. Only Jasmine knew he could hold conversations with his lion. His brothers knew his lion peeked through. “Ahh, yeah.”
“Does Kal know, dear?” Mrs. Martin asked.
“Kal saw my eyes yesterday when the lion was present, and he made a comment about it.” Rapier shrugged. “To be honest, I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal, Mrs. Martin.”
The older wolf female gasped. “Oh, dear. It’s a huge deal.”
“Most felines have the ability.” Rapier glanced around the packed Café, hoping no one was paying attention to their conversation. He didn’t need the members of the pack thinking their Co-Alpha was some sort of feline freak.
Mrs. Martin clucked her tongue. “No, dear, most felines don’t. They either have one or the other, not both. I should have known.”
“Known what, Mrs. Martin?”
“Kal is special.” Rapier frowned, not understanding what she meant. Yeah, they all knew Kalkin was an asshole, but a special asshole was pushing it. Mrs. Martin continued. “He can do things other wolves can’t.”
“Like?” Rapier all but demanded.
The older woman’s gaze flickered to his girls and then pinkened in embarrassment, and Rapier suspected it had something to do with sex. “Little ears, Rapier. This should be a conversation you have with Kalkin.”
“Okay,” he said, unsure if he wanted to dip his toe into the lake of Kalkin Raferty’s sexuality.
“Promise me, soon, Rapier, it’s important,” Mrs. Martin urged.
“I promise. Next time I see him,” he swore.
Thankfully their food arrived, ending their awkward conversation, and their attention went to their meal. Yet Rapier wondered why Mrs. Martin had been awed by his revelation. He was just a lion shifter, who worked construction to help provide for his Pride and family. Nothing special, unless you called being a son of a bitch, special.
* * * *
After they finished breakfast, Rapier paid the bill, then promised to see Mrs. Martin later once he spoke to Kalkin. For now, he figured, since the girls wanted to go to school in the fall, he’d show them the elementary school then introduce them to the orphans. He’d also grab Henry and Tate and bring them home too.
He hadn’t been lying about the conversation he had with Jasmine the night before. Sure, he’d been balls deep, her tucked into his side, when he explained what he wanted to do with the girls, but it didn’t matter. They discussed everything, including bringing home the boys who’d been little more than babies when she last saw them. They needed a family. He and Jasmine could provide that for them.
“I have one more thing we need to discuss, but we’ll do it on the road,” Rapier said, pushing open the door to the cafe.
“Okay,” Bell replied. “Where to next?”<
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“It’s a surprise.” He chuckled when Zoe’s shoulders sank.
As he stepped out of the establishment, the sound of the morning rush greeted him. Though the town was small compared to some, they still had their regular hustle and bustle. By now, most of the shops were open and, once again, the town was filling up for the last summer push.
“Stick close, girls.” Rapier held out his hand for both of them as a man approached.
Rapier step to the side to allow the man entrance into the cafe, when, instead, the man shoulder-blocked Rapier. The stench of unclean coyote and something unfamiliar wrinkled his nose. The man stood a good two inches shorter than Rapier, but he was beefier. The man wore a short sleeve button down shirt, brown flat cap, and silver industrial frame aviators. The guy oozed awkwardness and stuck out like a sore thumb.
“Hey, wha—”
“Be mighty sad if something should happen to those pretty little girls.” The man’s creepy tone along with his horrible disguise sent off every warning bell inside Rapier.
“What did you say?” Rapier snarled.
“Panther pussy is the best, after all.” The man licked his lips. “Be a sha—”
Rapier saw red. No one talked about his daughters like that. No one threatened his family, not even the measly piece of shit standing in front of him. He drew his fist back and punched the man square in the nose, snapping it. The man’s head jerked back, spraying Rapier’s shirt and the ground in the man’s blood.
The minute the scent hit Rapier’s senses, he lost control. Everything around him disappeared. How dare someone approach him on the street and pull their bullshit with him. He roared in outrage, and the lion pushed forward, joining him as he beat on the man, not giving the guy an inch. “Fucking piece of shit. Who the fuck do you think you are talkin’ ‘bout my girls? I’ll kill you.”
The guy laughed at Rapier with each blow. Blood poured from his mouth and nose. The now broken glasses sat askew on his dented face while his right eye began to swell shut. He hit the man in the mouth again, desperately trying to shut that maniacal laughter up.
With each strike, another patch of skin opened on the man’s face, and yet he still didn’t stop. The guy got off on being hit. He was fucking insane and needed to be put down before he could hurt anyone, but more specifically before he could hurt Rapier’s girls. He opened the path between himself and his lion and let the wild beast out. Rapier lifted his hand, his fingers and palm shifting to that of his lion’s massive paw, and extended his claws. He was done being a passive, morose motherfucker. He would cement his place and send out a clear warning.
If anyone ever thought about fucking with his family, they were dead.
“Rot in hell, motherfucker,” Rapier roared, swinging his arm.
“Not today, Rapier.” Caden snatched his arm and held it inches from the man’s face.
The smell of urine and shit hit Rapier’s olfactory, and he shook his head. He glanced up at Caden and curled his lip. “You shouldn’t have stopped me.”
“You shouldn’t have tried to kill someone in public.” He jerked Rapier up, surprising him. “You’re under arrest.”
Fuck. “Bell? Zoe?”
“Sage has them.” Caden slapped the handcuffs onto Rapier’s wrists. Then explained his Miranda Rights. “You have the right to remain silent...”
He glanced over at his girls and sighed. Zoe stared at him as though she’d forever worship the ground he walked on while Bell sobbed into Sage’s hip. Fuck. All he’d wanted to do was spend time with his kids. Get to know them. Then some fucker had to ruin it all. “You should be arresting him too.”
“For what?” Caden led him over to his vehicle. “If I cuff him now, it’ll look bad.”
“Who the fuck cares, Caden? He threatened my family!”
“Did anyone else hear it?”
Rapier scrunched up his face. “Is this some kind of retaliation for messing with you? For pissing in your territory when you were a limp dick?” How could he even ask a fucking question like that? Caden and Kalkin knew the shit that was coming down the pike at him and Jasmine. That threat had been credible. That fucker lying on the ground coughing up blood meant to hurt his twins.
“No, asshole. I’m doing my job.”
“Well, thank fuck you figured out how to do something,” Rapier snarled.
“I’m going to let that one slide. I might be the pack Beta, but I can still kick your ass.”
“Take these cuffs off and let’s go.” The lion flexed within Rapier, and his chest expanded.
“Stupid fucking lion. You can’t threaten the Under-Sheriff.” Caden sighed and pushed Rapier into the car then closed the door.
He stared at the unmoving man on the ground, the pool of blood growing along with the wet stain on his pants. All of it was a display. The not fighting back. The not being heard. Rapier, in all his wisdom and tactical abilities, had his feet knocked out from under him. He allowed himself to be baited. He allowed himself to lose focus. He’d done the one thing he promised Jasmine never to do—put his girls in danger.
Fuck... Jasmine.
He second guessed bringing her home. Second guessed not staying at her place and waiting for everything to die down. For every right decision he made, he made an equally bad one, like this. Shit, how could I let this happen? He should have ignored the guy. Should have kept his head down and kept walking. Instead, he let the guy fuck with him, and this was the end result.
Caden strode back to where Sage stood with his girls. Already, fire and EMS were on scene to help the man who’d threatened his babies. Rapier yanked at his cuffs. He couldn’t let the guy get away. If he did, he knew they’d never see him again. The minute the guy had opened his mouth, Rapier had realized Raymond had sent him. He didn’t have the hows just yet, but he’d figure it out.
Sage walked toward the Enforcer and opened the door to where Rapier sat. “I thought you’d like to see them before you go.”
“Where are you taking them?” He glanced up at the woman, and for the first time, saw a hint of Raferty in her.
“The station with you. Jasmine can pick you all up at the same time.” She nudged the girls forward.
“That was epic, Pops!” Zoe vibrated with excitement. “You’re really a badass, aren’t you?”
Rapier scowled. “Language.”
Zoe snorted. “You said way worse.”
“Bell?”
She wouldn’t look at him.
“Bell...princess. I would never hurt you. I was protecting you.”
“But...” She swallowed hard, and her bottom lip trembled. “He didn’t fight back.”
No, he hadn’t. Rapier assumed the guy got exactly what he wanted. A show. A distraction to see if Raymond’s people could take what was his or worse. He fell right into their trap. “He said something ugly about you and your sister.”
“Words don’t hurt, Daddy,” she whispered. “Fists do. Momma always says never use your hands. Always use your words.”
“It’s my fault,” Zoe added. “I’m a scrapper.”
Yeah, Rapier had an inkling. “Look, Mommy is right. You should never use your hands, but sometimes there is justification for it. Today was one of those days.”
“But why, Daddy?” Bell looked up at him with her tear-filled blue eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“Go with Sage,” he murmured. “I’ll see you soon, and then I can explain it better.”
“I got this, Pops.” Zoe wrapped her arm around Bell’s shoulder and started away from the Enforcer.
“Watch over them,” he said. “That was an attempt, whether you believe me or not.”
“I believe you,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’ll guard them with my life.”
Sage walked away from the vehicle as Caden got into it. He didn’t say a word to Rapier, and that was just fine with him. Going anywhere without his brothers had been a mistake. It wouldn’t happen again. While they made the drive over to City Hall where their make-shi
ft jail was located, Rapier replayed the scene over in his head. With all the time he’d spent dealing with Raymond’s shit, he didn’t know the guy who approached him.
Which could only mean one thing—someone hired him.
“You have to check the phone records for Raymond. See who he’s been talking to,” Rapier stated.
“You sound like a fucking lunatic right now.”
“Why aren’t you taking me fucking serious?” A low rumbling yowl built in Rapier’s chest.
“Because you just beat the shit out of and almost killed someone,” Caden answered. “No one heard what he said but you.”
“I’m not lying, you’d smell it if I was,” Rapier snapped. “For being a fucking Beta wolf, your senses suck donkey dick.”
“My fucking senses won’t stand up in a court of law, asshole. And, fuck you too, for being a stupid freak out in the middle of town. What the fuck is your malfunction? We try to keep the peace here. Then your lumbering Alpha lion bullshit has to disrupt that by beating that guy to a pasty pulp!”
“He’s a coyote,” Rapier muttered. “He’ll survive without even a scar to prove I beat his ass.”
“He shit himself,” Caden growled. “Do you know how fucking gross that is?”
Rapier rolled his shoulder. “Well, what can I say, he had a weak constitution.”
“Or, he’s innocent as fuck and you scared him bad enough he lost control of his bowels.”
“I don’t love Danielle,” Rapier said.
“What the hell does that have to do with any of this?” Caden glanced at him from the rearview mirror.
“Just thought you should know.”
“You’re a fucking asshole.” Caden shook his head. “Do you think telling me something I already know will get you out of trouble?”
“I was hoping you’d dump me out somewhere where people couldn’t see me.”
“Fuck you.” Caden snorted. “You’re still going to jail. I can’t let you go, Rapier. You beat that man, coyote or not.”
Fucking perfect. Now he’d have to explain to Jasmine why, on the first day he spent time with his daughters, everything went to shit. “Jasmine is going to have my ass.”