Beast Behaving Badly
Page 74
No.
Thank you! She skipped out of the room. Were grown adults supposed to skip?
I said no, he called after her. It was definitely and unequivocally a no.
And Im definitely and unequivocally ignoring your no, she called back.
And for some damn reason that reply made him smile.
Gwen paced incessantly in the small airports main room, the staff that handled all the transport for wealthy shifters watching her closely, ready to bolt at any second. She, however, didnt care. She only knew she wanted Blayne back.
The doors opened and the three males whod gone after Blayne walked throughalone. Her muscles going tight, Gwen rushed up to Lock. Where is she?
Lets talk over here.
No. Tell me now.
Lock caught her arm and pulled her toward the corner, but she knew if Blayne wasnt back, it was one mans fault.
Knowing that shed never be able to get away from Lock without causing him damage, she simply turned her head to scowl at the male she blamed for all this. He and his cousin or uncle or whatever the hell Niles Van Holtz was to Ric stopped walking and the cousin or uncle or whatever suddenly screamed, Jesus Christ! How does she do that with her neck?
Wheres my Blayne! she bellowed over the other one. What did you do, Van Holtz?
Lock picked her up and carried her to the closest bathroom. Once inside, he said, You need to calm down.
Ill calm down when I have Blayne back. Wheres Blayne?
She wont leave Ursus County.
It was Locks wording that caught Gwens attention, and she immediately calmed down. What do you mean, she wont leave?
She says she wont leave.
What did those bears do to her? Is this some kind of Munchausen syndrome or something?
You mean Stockholm Syndrome. And its Munchausen or Munchausen by proxy, which is completely different from
Lachlan!
Okay, okay. He blew out a breath. Blaynes really upset right now because someone microchipped her, so shes not coming back.
Gwen felt her anger spike again. Ric microchipped Blayne?
No. Of course he didnt.
And if it wasnt Ric, then it had to be . . . That She-whore!
Gwen flung the door open to walk out and find the heifer whod done this to her friend when Locks big hand slammed the door closed before she could leave.
Youre not going anywhere.
Like hell Imnot.
Let Ric handle this.
Do you really expect me to leave my friend alone in bear country while these bureaucrats screw around with Blaynes life?
Gwen, shes got the protection of someone I know will watch out for her. Hes a former Unit commander and Novikovs uncle. No ones going to hurt Blayne.
Shes not planning to stay there forever is she? Although Gwen wouldnt put it past Blayne. Actually, she wouldnt put anything past Blayne when she was pissed off enough. And microchipping her . . . oy.
Of course shes not. She simply wants her father to come for her. Probably to ensure its safe enough to come home. The snort was past her nose before she could rein it in, and Locks eyes immediately narrowed. What?
Gwen shook her head. Nothing. So is Ric going to, uh, talk to Petty Officer Thorpe?
Probably his Uncle Van.
Okay then. Gwen turned, grabbed the handle to the bathroom door, and pulled it open.
But, again, Lock shoved it closed with his hand.
What arent you telling me?
What makes you think Im not telling you something?
Maybe because you answered me with a question?
Maybe youre reading questions that arent there?
Gwendolyn
Im positive that Blaynes father will do what is in the best interest of his daughter.
Really?
Absolutely. She grinned because it helped her to stop from laughing hysterically. Because if theres one thing I know, Lock, is how much that man loves his baby girl.
I dont remember what they were wearing.
You said earlier they were wearing ski masks. So which is it? You dont remember or they were wearing ski masks?
Dammit! This was why Blayne avoided lying. She simply wasnt very good at it. It took too much to remember what shed said and what the truth was and what she could tell and what she couldnt. So she handled the gruff, less-than-friendly black bear police chief, Ray Adams, the way she was often forced to handle her dad when he found her crawling into her bedroom window after curfew . . .
Blayne burst into tears.
The police chiefs entire body jerked in surprise, and Grigori hit him in the shoulder. What the hells the matter with you?
Me?
Apologize.
Fine. Miss Thorpe, Imwhere did she go?
She heard Bo clear his throat. Shes under the couch.
Thank you! She skipped out of the room. Were grown adults supposed to skip?
I said no, he called after her. It was definitely and unequivocally a no.
And Im definitely and unequivocally ignoring your no, she called back.
And for some damn reason that reply made him smile.
Gwen paced incessantly in the small airports main room, the staff that handled all the transport for wealthy shifters watching her closely, ready to bolt at any second. She, however, didnt care. She only knew she wanted Blayne back.
The doors opened and the three males whod gone after Blayne walked throughalone. Her muscles going tight, Gwen rushed up to Lock. Where is she?
Lets talk over here.
No. Tell me now.
Lock caught her arm and pulled her toward the corner, but she knew if Blayne wasnt back, it was one mans fault.
Knowing that shed never be able to get away from Lock without causing him damage, she simply turned her head to scowl at the male she blamed for all this. He and his cousin or uncle or whatever the hell Niles Van Holtz was to Ric stopped walking and the cousin or uncle or whatever suddenly screamed, Jesus Christ! How does she do that with her neck?
Wheres my Blayne! she bellowed over the other one. What did you do, Van Holtz?
Lock picked her up and carried her to the closest bathroom. Once inside, he said, You need to calm down.
Ill calm down when I have Blayne back. Wheres Blayne?
She wont leave Ursus County.
It was Locks wording that caught Gwens attention, and she immediately calmed down. What do you mean, she wont leave?
She says she wont leave.
What did those bears do to her? Is this some kind of Munchausen syndrome or something?
You mean Stockholm Syndrome. And its Munchausen or Munchausen by proxy, which is completely different from
Lachlan!
Okay, okay. He blew out a breath. Blaynes really upset right now because someone microchipped her, so shes not coming back.
Gwen felt her anger spike again. Ric microchipped Blayne?
No. Of course he didnt.
And if it wasnt Ric, then it had to be . . . That She-whore!
Gwen flung the door open to walk out and find the heifer whod done this to her friend when Locks big hand slammed the door closed before she could leave.
Youre not going anywhere.
Like hell Imnot.
Let Ric handle this.
Do you really expect me to leave my friend alone in bear country while these bureaucrats screw around with Blaynes life?
Gwen, shes got the protection of someone I know will watch out for her. Hes a former Unit commander and Novikovs uncle. No ones going to hurt Blayne.
Shes not planning to stay there forever is she? Although Gwen wouldnt put it past Blayne. Actually, she wouldnt put anything past Blayne when she was pissed off enough. And microchipping her . . . oy.
Of course shes not. She simply wants her father to come for her. Probably to ensure its safe enough to come home. The snort was past her nose before she could rein it in, and Locks eyes immediately narrowed. What?
Gwen shook her head. Nothing. So is Ric going to, uh, talk to Petty Officer Thorpe?
Probably his Uncle Van.
Okay then. Gwen turned, grabbed the handle to the bathroom door, and pulled it open.
But, again, Lock shoved it closed with his hand.
What arent you telling me?
What makes you think Im not telling you something?
Maybe because you answered me with a question?
Maybe youre reading questions that arent there?
Gwendolyn
Im positive that Blaynes father will do what is in the best interest of his daughter.
Really?
Absolutely. She grinned because it helped her to stop from laughing hysterically. Because if theres one thing I know, Lock, is how much that man loves his baby girl.
I dont remember what they were wearing.
You said earlier they were wearing ski masks. So which is it? You dont remember or they were wearing ski masks?
Dammit! This was why Blayne avoided lying. She simply wasnt very good at it. It took too much to remember what shed said and what the truth was and what she could tell and what she couldnt. So she handled the gruff, less-than-friendly black bear police chief, Ray Adams, the way she was often forced to handle her dad when he found her crawling into her bedroom window after curfew . . .
Blayne burst into tears.
The police chiefs entire body jerked in surprise, and Grigori hit him in the shoulder. What the hells the matter with you?
Me?
Apologize.
Fine. Miss Thorpe, Imwhere did she go?
She heard Bo clear his throat. Shes under the couch.
