135
David
I stood between Tony and Stacy’s car, listening for when Lucy got into the car. I heard some the Council Enforcers murmuring between themselves as the humans from Helping Hands started disbursing. Stacy’s car didn’t move. Tony didn’t move, glaring at me with fury in his eyes. I felt it rolling off of him, but it felt subdued.
It felt like I was right. My instincts were telling me that Tony was under some kind of curse. It was probably the only thing keeping him from breaking the law again. Strangely enough, Matt didn’t seem as affected. The feeling I got from him was subdued, but not in the same way. They had both been cursed, but Matt’s curse seemed to be dissolving faster if it had been completely dissolved.
I glanced at Matt again and kept myself from smirking. I bet every tire on every car the Blood Moon Pack owned that Tony didn’t know that his little brother was free. I decided to tuck that little tidbit away.
“You think I’m going to let a witch’s barrier keep me from our mate?” Tony asked.
“I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”
He growled, frustration growing on his face. he tried to step around me, but I continued to keep him from approaching Stacy’s car. Another pair of Hecate Enforcers came to block his path as well. He looked like a caged and furious animal.
“Is that her dad?” Someone asked from far away. Tony bristled and turned stiffly toward the pair of human teenagers heading toward their car.
I smirked. “You could be in a very twisted way. Doesn’t that burn you?”
He turned back, his eyes wild with fury. He reminded me of a rabid dog the way his mouth twitched and his canines seemed a little longer than they should be. His eyes didn’t flash. I could see the hold the curse had on him.
“Tony,” Matt said coming up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tony, please, just calm down. We can talk about this--”
“Talk?” Tony growled. His gaze locked on me. He shook off Matt's touch, baring his fangs at me. "Talk? There's nothing to talk about. This little bastard is keeping our mate from us. And if he doesn’t get out of my way. There’s going to be a problem.”
I eyes him. “Oh? You’re sure about that? From where I’m standing, you wouldn’t even be able to land a punch.”
The air crackled with tension. “You think so? You think these witches will help you.”
I help up a hand signaling the Enforcers to step back. “I don’t need help to deal with you. I’d gladly make today the day I knock your fucking lights out.”
His face turned bright red.
“How do you think it’ll look?” I asked, goading him, enjoying he fury in his face, knowing that every Enforcer was watching us. “Blue Moon Alpha goes rabid? Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”
“Tony,” Matt said. “Just let it go. He’s goading you.”
“All this talk about your mate? Only to be put down like a wild beast?” I asked, glaring into his eyes. “Give me the chance to make her year, Tony. Do it.”
“Tony,” Matt said again, but it was too late.
Tony reared back and slammed his fist into the barrier I’d moved to give Lucy safe passage to Stacy’s vehicle. It was erected around the entire car and wouldn’t be moved until we had Tony and Matt contained. Tony's clenched fist collided with the barrier. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the air as pain contorted his face. He cried out in agony, stumbling back, cradling his destroyed fist. Time seemed to slow as I shifted my gaze towards Matt as he turned on me, a bit of light in his eyes as he growled but held himself back from springing forward. His skin rippled as if he was on the edge of a shift, yet he didn’t have the same rabid loss of reason as Tony.
Matt’s curse was lesser or gone, and his interest in Lucy was nowhere near the level of interest Tony had, meaning that Matt knew they weren’t mates and was just playing along in the hopes of calming his brother.
Well, that would be of use later, wouldn’t it?
“You son of—”
“Fucking coward,” Tony panted through the pain. “Hiding behind a witch’s barrier?”
“How interesting,” I said, looking at Matt with a smile. He went pale as he glanced between Tony and me.
The realization and terror took over his expression. He knew I knew now. He’d probably be fretting about when I would cash in that blackmail. His eyes shuttered closed as he went to Tony.
“Calling me a coward while harassing an eighteen-year-old woman who wants nothing to do with you?” I tilted my head as Tony glared up at me. “Pulling every underhanded trick you can think of to take her back to that hovel your call an Estate.”
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Tony growled, turning towards me, raising his fist again.
I smiled. “Give me a reason to say it was self-defense and put her out of her misery.”
Tony roared ready to swing, but Matt came up behind him.
“Tony, stop!” Matt hauled him back, catching him under his arms. “There’s a barrier there. You’re just going to hurt yourself again. Calm down. We’ll find Lucy some other way, okay? Okay?”
Tony panted and struggled against Matt’s hold, but he didn’t get free. Matt kept talking to him, but as our eyes met, I could see the conflicted feelings in him: helplessness, confusion, desperation.
I clenched my jaw. Neither of them deserved mercy for everything they’d done to Lucy, yet I couldn’t bring myself to want to destroy Matt. He seemed just as trapped in his circumstances as I had once been.
I met Matt’s gaze and felt the moment he realized I was unlikely to say anything if he kept Tony in check.
“I’m sure we’ll be talking more soon,” I said. “Next time, there won’t be a barrier for either of us.”
Matt glanced at Tony then to me before he continued to pull Tony back toward the car.
“Fuck you!” Tony snarled. “The only one who needs protection here is you—”
“Mr. Chance,” one of the Hecate Enforcers said. “You’re causing a scene. If you don't calm down and leave this premises immediately, we will have no choice but to arrest you for harassment."
“Arrest me?” Tony growled. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
I shook my head and turned back to walk away.
“Don’t you fucking walk away from me, David!” Tony yelled.
“Tony, please. We still need Hecate’s help. Do you really think that starting a scene and getting arrested is going to help us? We can’t afford to make things worse.”
I climbed onto the back of a Blood Moon truck that would be a part of the caravan leaving the garden. I leaned against the cab and pulled out my phone as Tony and Matt started to argue with the police officers.
Then, I sent the message to Stacy to get going. Stacy’s car roared to life and started to drive away. Tony pulled away and got back into the car. Matt looked back at me one last time. I waved him goodbye with a grin as he got in looking miserable and their beta started to follow Stacy’s car. When they were gone, I shook my head. Turning my attention to the officers, I grinned.
"Thank you for your intervention," I acknowledged, my voice filled with gratitude. "I’d like this to be completely documented and added to case number LG-345-2467.”
The officers nodded and pulled out their tablets, taking the notes before leaving. “We’ll transmit the data within a few days.”
I held out a hand. “I’d like a copy of the incident report.”
One of them looked nervous, but the other handed over the tablet so I could send myself a copy. I took note of the officers’ names as the report came to my email and filed a separate request for investigation into the nervous looking one through the Council and Trent. I gave them back their table and called Trent as they began to leave the area.
The truck started up and started moving. I sighed. I had hoped to keep Lucy’s presence in Hecate City undercover a little longer, but it seemed like everything was standing in the way.
“So,” Trent said as he picked up. “Cat’s out of the bag?”
“I’ve filed the reports, but the officers who came need to be looked into. Print out that report I sent you and archive the log of it in our secure database. I have a feeling someone’s going to try to make it disappear.”
“Sure thing. How’s Miss Graves?”
I sighed. “I’ve got to call Knives and check on the escort.”
“Happy alpha-ing!”
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