Kiefer joined his hands, pushed them out, and cracked his knuckles. “I love magic as much as the next fellow, but I never play with a trick deck. So unless these cards morphed, there were never two diamond aces.”
Phoenix and Micah scooted their chairs away, distancing themselves from her.
Bastards.
“Unless you can produce a top hat with a white bunny, you better hope you’re faster than-” he nodded to the door, “-Tiny.”
Electric energy draped itself over Lou’s shoulders as Tiny shifted into a lion. He shook out his mane and stretched his neck. A loud growl bounced off the walls.
“Look, Kiefer, Kief, we go way back. This is a simple misunderstanding. I assure you. We’re old friends.”
“Lovers cheat. Friends don’t.”
There wasn’t much time to decide. She was pretty sure the rest would stay out of a fight between Lou, Kiefer, and Tiny, but if they felt cheated too, they might want their pound of flesh.
She slid back her chair. “Well, it’s not something I’ve ever done before. Just needed to make sure I made enough tonight to pay my rent.”
“I know of a place where the rent is real cheap. Dirt cheap.” Kiefer put one hand on the top of his head and the other under his chin and twisted.
Crack.
She hated the sound of cracking joints.
Kiefer stretched across the table. Lou grabbed a handful of money from the pot and threw it at him. He lunged across as she crawled under. Momentum pushed him over the edge of the table, and he fell headfirst on the floor. Tiny must not have noticed she was now on the other side of the table, because he landed on Kiefer when he pounced.
“Get the fuck off me,” Kiefer growled.
Lou scrambled to her feet, pushed Cole out of his chair, and defended herself like a lion tamer from the circus.
Kiefer motioned to Phoenix and Micah. “Get her.”
Lou had trapped herself in a corner.
Kiefer called to Ruby, who amazingly still sat in her chair, appearing bored.
She huffed as she stood, complaining about a new pair of heels damn near impossible to walk in, so fighting was out of the question.
“Get off your ass,” Kiefer barked.
“Stupid shithead,” she mumbled and advanced on Lou.
Lou could shift. Many shifters relied on the power from their animal half in situations like this, but not her. She made sure her human side was as strong as the feisty honey badger locked inside. If she shifted, there would be a split second of invulnerability she couldn’t afford.
Ruby stood the closest. If she could distract her and scrape by, she might make it to the door.
In the time of a single breath, three things happened. Phoenix shifted into his bear but didn’t account for the cramped room, so broke the table and pinned Cole and Micah to the wall. Ruby pushed her chair to block Lou, and Tiny pounced but lost his footing as the table collapsed. While the men scrambled to recover, Ruby caught Lou’s eye and pointed up.
Lou followed her finger but didn’t understand why Ruby showed interest in the exposed ductwork. Ruby cocked out a hip, planted her foot, and pointed between the chair and the pipes. When Lou still didn’t understand, Ruby used an open hand to point at Lou, then the chair, the pipes, and then the door.
Why are you helping me?
The men continued struggling to free themselves from the mess. Lou raised an eyebrow to Ruby, who winked.
“Stop that bitch,” Kiefer demanded.
Ruby moved to the other side of the chair, allowing Lou clear access to the exit. “You owe me a new pair of shoes,” Ruby whispered to her.
Lou almost laughed watching Ruby lean back on her heel hard enough to break off the pump. “Shit, I just broke my shoe.” She bent over, took it off, and dangled it in front of her for Kiefer to see.
“I don’t give a fuck about your damn shoe. Get her.”
Ruby turned her back to Lou. “Who?”
Lou used the chair as a step to jump up and grab a pipe. She swung over an exposed pipe, resting her hips against the pipe. She flipped head- first over the table, then tucked when she landed. It was only a few steps to the door from there.
Once outside, she bent over, resting her hands on her knees. That was close, too close for her comfort. Before she could get too comfortable, a low growl came through the door as Phoenix and Tiny burst through, splitting boards and the door frame. The lion and bear were less than thrilled. Neither was quick, but anger and fear of disappointing Kiefer fueled both.
“Shit,” Lou said to herself, then took off running down the alley. If she could make it to the main street, she might blend in enough with any pedestrians out for the night. Rio City wasn’t a big, fancy city, but it had one small gentrified section of up-and-coming restaurants and shops. But on the edge of this area, was an area the exact opposite. That area was the home for the Friday night poker games in the back of Emmerson Biggins Strip Club and Bar.
Humans lived in Rio City right along with shifters, witches, and other supernatural creatures, but everyone kept to themselves. On the street, Phoenix and Tiny would be forced to shift into their human form. Two naked men would stand out in the crowd.
The smell of barbecue and pizza filled her senses. Her stomach growled. When this was over, she had to get something to eat. But of course, all her money was back at the game.
The energy signature behind her dwindled the closer to the alley exit she ran. With one last adrenaline rush, she stumbled out of the dark and into the twinkling streetlights of the small Rio City nightlife.
The scene in front of her differed from the one she just left. These people were cheery. They laughed, joked, and shared stories. They also ate glorious food. Besides barbecue and pizza, Lou now smelled popcorn, caramel, and apple cider.
She’d forgotten it was the Winter Street Fest. Vendors lined the streets selling trinkets and snacks. A cover band played in a small grassy area. Children and dogs ran around everywhere. It was like a damn Hallmark movie.
“Lou. Hey, Lou. Come help us.”
Lou found the woman calling her name and headed toward her table, but not before noticing Tiny, and Phoenix had shifted, dressed, and searched through the crowd for her.
She rushed toward a friendly face. “Sybil, I didn’t expect to see you here.” She picked up a flyer from the table. “Mating auction? What’s this about?”
Sybil and her mate, Hank, owned a small medical practice. She once told Lou that she considered herself the unofficial mother of just about every shifter in the area. Either she or Hank had helped deliver most of them.
“I’m surprised you haven’t heard. It’s tomorrow. We’re having a mating auction to raise money for our scholarship fund.”
“Here, take some cider. I think you need it.” The woman standing next to her handed Lou a styrofoam cup.
“Hey, Wednesday, I didn’t see you.”
She beamed at Lou. “We just got her a few hours ago. I missed you in class yesterday. We tried headstands, and I could have used an extra set of hands.”
Wednesday owned a yoga den at a local resort. Lou subbed for her occasionally. She didn’t enjoy yoga. Too much stillness, but it gave her awesome abs, though.
“Please say you’ll come. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Wednesday pleaded.
Lou put back the flyer. “Isn’t Opal going to be there?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yeah, I’ll be there. She didn’t tell me exactly what it was but I’m acting as her assistant.”
“That’s great,” Sybil said. “I’m glad we got her to come take pictures. She does a great job. Are you interested in photography too?”
Lou liked her roommate, but only helped her on photoshoots when she needed a reduction in the rent. Now, with her recent loss of all funds, she’d need help with the rent, food, gas, and everything else that cost money.
“Um, no. Just like helping a friend.” She added her sweetest smile.
Wednesday poi
nted across the street. “Are those friends of yours, Lou?”
Tiny and Phoenix stood, glaring. They wouldn’t attack her in front of all these people, but they’d make her miserable.
“Oh, those two. They wanted to go out with me, tried to pick me up at the bar, and weren’t thrilled when I said no.”
Wednesday turned to the man standing next to her. “Caleb, see those jerks over there-” she pointed to Phoenix and Tiny, “- Lou said they didn’t take it so well when she let them down.”
Caleb, her mate, tapped his brother, Cameron. Their eyes shifted to their falcon animals. Lou didn’t know the Hanson brothers very well, but they’d always been friendly with her.
The two men walked toward the others. Phoenix and Tiny hurried back down the alley before Cameron and Caleb crossed the street.
Lou’s phone vibrated in her pocket.
Blocked number.
“Hey,” Lou said into her phone.
“I don’t like cheaters.”
“Kiefer, you got all your money.”
“Doesn’t matter. You better never show your honey pot around here again.”
He ended the call.
She put the phone back in her pocket, wrapped her arms around her midsection, and watched the people walking around. She needed to be around these happy people. Rio City was kind to her when she needed it most. After living here for a while, it felt more like home than any other place she’d been.
Years ago, James Brock introduced her to Chip Normandy the Third, the director of the Badass Badger Task Force. At first, the team was like family, even better than hers. Brock told her he had faith she would fit in, be able to use her talent for good. But there were too many rules, and the pressure of others relying on her was too much for her. In the end, no one trusted her.
Brock found her after a three-week bender in a cheap hotel, during Mardis Gras. He brought her to Rio City and her grandmother.
When her grandmother passed away, Sybil, Hank, and all the Hanson Women surrounded her with love. Sybil introduced her to Opal, who needed a roommate. It was a good fit because after Lou moved in, Opal went on a photography shoot to New York and then went to Africa. It gave Lou a chance to grieve in private.
Sybil put an arm around her. “You doing okay? The boys took care of those punks. I don’t think they’ll bother you anymore.”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Just hard not to miss Carla. She loved the winter and told me about this festival long before I came here.”
“I miss your grandmother, too. She and I canned fruit every spring.” Sybil squeezed Lou a little tighter. “It’s okay to miss her. I’d be surprised if you didn’t.”
“Got any more cider?” someone interrupted them.
Lou watched a couple step up to the table. She’d known Axelle Michaels, the alpha for the wolf pack from Sangre del la Sol, the next town over. Her mate, Washington Bender had only been here a couple of months.
“I’m glad to see you, Axelle, Washington.” Sybil nodded to each of them while Wednesday handed them cider.
“Should I be nervous?” Axelle asked.
Sybil dropped her arm from Lou and planted her hands on her hips. “Now, why would I make you nervous?”
Axelle chuckled. “Because lately, every person who runs into you, ends up working on your mating auction.”
Sybil clucked her tongue. “Nonsense.”
Everyone in the booth stopped and stared at her.
Even in the dark, Lou could see Sybil’s cheeks reddened.
She used her index finger to point at them. “You all stop it. I just want to make sure this goes off without a hitch.”
Wednesday put an arm around Sybil’s shoulders and leaned her head against the other woman. “It’s going to be great. You’ve worked so hard. We couldn’t have done this without you. But it’s too much fun to tease you.”
“If I wanted someone to tease me, I’d call my sons.” Sybil kissed Wednesday’s cheek.
Washington said, “I heard about the trouble you had last week. You fought a dragon queen, and no one thought to call us?”
“We didn’t need help, though it’s nice knowing you’re available. We took care of it. It was something. I haven’t used those fighting muscles in a long time,” Sybil said.
“Man, I haven’t had that much fun since the twins were born,” Wednesday said.
“Wednesday, I forgot to ask how Iris and Maisie are doing,” Lou handed out a cup of cider.
“They’re good. Growing like crazy. They have way too much energy, though. Most days I crash when I fall into bed.”
“Do you think this dragon queen is coming back,” Washington asked.
Axelle swatted his arm and narrowed her eyes at him. “Really, do you have to be on call all the time? Even Deputy Sheriffs get a night off once in a while.”
Lou watched as the two of them bickered. They weren’t arguing. It was the playful banter couples develop after years together. It would be nice to have something like that.
“Is that cider I smell?”
Washington turned away from Axelle and greeted the man who stepped up next to him. He was clean-shaven with a short haircut. It gave him a military vibe. Dark eyes sparkled in the light, and Lou sensed joy. She inhaled. The scent of cedar and rain swirled around her and slapped the sleeping badger in her head.
“Who’s this?” Sybil said.
“Sybil Warner, this is Ford Weston. He and Washington worked together once,” Axelle said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Ford shook Sybil’s hand.
Ma’am? Who says ma’am?
“What brings you out here?” Sybil asked.
“Taking a little time off. I have to be back to work by Monday, though,” he said.
Lou watched his Adam’s Apple bob up and down as he talked. Her eyes were glued to him as if she’d never seen a man. His type wasn’t new to her or the badger, but something about him made it hard to breathe, warmed her inner core, and aroused her so much she’d have to go to bed with him soon or buy new batteries on the way home to take care of her own business.
He glanced at her and tilted his head, smiled, and winked. Her trance intensified, and it wasn’t until Sybil nudged her elbow that she realized he’d spoken to her.
“Um, I’m sorry, I missed what you said.” She shook her head to clear the warm goo that was once her brain.
“I said ‘Hi, what’s your name?’” Ford’s extended hand looked odd to her.
She glanced down and knew what an extended hand meant, but it took her a heartbeat to understand she needed to extend hers too.
Sybil bumped her elbow again.
“Um, I’m Lou. Nice to meet you.” Her hand found his, and she watched it move up and down but didn’t feel it.
The others talked about the auction, but Ford’s eyes never left hers. She saw his wolf and was startled that her badger didn’t want to attack.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Axelle said as the three of them turned to walk away.
Sybil stepped close to Lou. “You’ve got it bad.”
“Mm-hmm,” Wednesday added.
“What are you talking about?” Lou straightened the flyers than the napkins. Anything to keep her from looking at the two women.
If they were talking about what she thought they were talking about, she was in trouble. Honey badgers don’t care about anyone but themselves. A mate was out of the question.
Right?
Wild Horses in Love Page 14