The Mane Attraction
Page 102
Again, Mitch went to tell her she didnt have to do anything, but Brens elbow slammed into his side.
Pushing herself up, she gazed down at the two cats. Steak all right with you two?
The brothers nodded.
The boys are out back with their daddy. Guess I gotta make enough for them, too. She shook her head and walked out of the room.
Bren
Not a word, Mitch. Not a word.
Bubba walked his baby girl to the rental car. Shed told him everythingwell, shed told him enough. Enough to know that he could have lost her.
Enough to know she was madly in love with a damn cat. She hadnt said the words, but Bubba knew the signs. He didnt blame the catit just meant the feline had good taste. But hed always hoped Sissy would find a nice wolf to settle down with. In the long run, though, all he cared about was that his baby girl was happy.
And because she was a lot like her momma, it wouldnt take just anybody to keep her happy.
So he testifies tomorrow?
Theres some prep or whatever, but pretty much.
Youll be there with him?
Yes, sir.
And after?
DaddyI dont know. I love him.
I know. Bubba kissed her forehead. But dont forget, Sissy Mae, your Pack needs you. But you need them more.
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him one of her warm hugs. I know, Daddy.
I love you, he reminded her gruffly and stepped back. Now you better get out of here. You got a long flight ahead of you.
Bubba stood on his porch and watched his baby drive away while Dee-Ann waved and headed by foot into the woods back toward Eggies place.
Itll be all right, darlin. Janie slid her arm around his neck. Dont you worry now.
Bubba brushed his head against Janies cheek. She still had the softest skin.
Im going inside and taking a good look around, she said. That daughter of yours was hiding something.
You know, he said after kissing her cheek and watching her saunter away. I noticed something when Sissy was telling us what had been going on around here.
Oh? Janie said, opening the screen door. What?
I noticed that what she was telling us you seemed to already know. And you got quite a few calls from your sisters the last day or two.
His mate paused outside the door, smiled, and stepped into the house.
Chuckling, Bubba put his hands on his hips and looked out over his territory. He was so glad to be home. You could keep those boats and tours andcruiseswaste of time in his estimation.
His brothers walked out of the woods, already shifted and wanting a good hunt. Smiling, Bubba pulled his clothes off and began to shift.
Goddamnit! he heard Janie yell from the family room. What the hell happened to my couch cushions?
She stormed back onto the porch, the couch cushion in her hand, but when she saw Bubba trotting down the stairs toward his kin, she snapped, And I better not find out yall are playing tug again with that damn crocodile!
Chapter 30
You ready?
Mitch nodded. Yeah, Im ready.
Theyd been back in Philly for three days, his testimony pushed off until this morning. Just as shed promised, Sissy came with him.
He pulled at his tie again, and Sissy playfully slapped his hands away. Youre gonna end up strangling yourself.
I hate wearing these things.
I hate you in them. But youve got to look respectable.
He looked outside the windows of the SUV the cops had used to transport him here. It had started raining last night, and it didnt seem to show any signs of stopping soon.
Want to just get this over with?
Yeah. Lets go.
He knocked on the window, and one of the police escorts opened his door. He walked around the vehicle and found Sissy already getting out before anyone could open the door for her.
She took his hand in hers, and they walked into the courthouse.
Sissy knew something was up when that cranky cat ADA came up to them. I need to talk to you and to her. She walked off, Sissy and Mitch following. She entered a room and waited until they were inside, then she slammed the door shut.
Who? Who was it?
Mitch glanced at Sissy before giving the female a helpless shrug. I dont know what youre talking about, Jen.
She flung a file at the enormous table that took up most of the room. It flipped open, and photos sprayed out across the wood.
Mitch leaned over, moving the pictures around with the tips of his fingers. Its OFarrell.
Whats left of him, Jen snarled.
After a few moments, Mitch blinked and stood straight. Wait. Do you think I had something to do with this?
Detective, everyone knows about your mother.
My mother? Youre blaming my mother?
And then theres your new girlfriendHuckleberry Hound!
Watch it, Sissy sneered, or its time for a declawing.
Shes got an uncle in prison, the female damn near snarled.
Pushing herself up, she gazed down at the two cats. Steak all right with you two?
The brothers nodded.
The boys are out back with their daddy. Guess I gotta make enough for them, too. She shook her head and walked out of the room.
Bren
Not a word, Mitch. Not a word.
Bubba walked his baby girl to the rental car. Shed told him everythingwell, shed told him enough. Enough to know that he could have lost her.
Enough to know she was madly in love with a damn cat. She hadnt said the words, but Bubba knew the signs. He didnt blame the catit just meant the feline had good taste. But hed always hoped Sissy would find a nice wolf to settle down with. In the long run, though, all he cared about was that his baby girl was happy.
And because she was a lot like her momma, it wouldnt take just anybody to keep her happy.
So he testifies tomorrow?
Theres some prep or whatever, but pretty much.
Youll be there with him?
Yes, sir.
And after?
DaddyI dont know. I love him.
I know. Bubba kissed her forehead. But dont forget, Sissy Mae, your Pack needs you. But you need them more.
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him one of her warm hugs. I know, Daddy.
I love you, he reminded her gruffly and stepped back. Now you better get out of here. You got a long flight ahead of you.
Bubba stood on his porch and watched his baby drive away while Dee-Ann waved and headed by foot into the woods back toward Eggies place.
Itll be all right, darlin. Janie slid her arm around his neck. Dont you worry now.
Bubba brushed his head against Janies cheek. She still had the softest skin.
Im going inside and taking a good look around, she said. That daughter of yours was hiding something.
You know, he said after kissing her cheek and watching her saunter away. I noticed something when Sissy was telling us what had been going on around here.
Oh? Janie said, opening the screen door. What?
I noticed that what she was telling us you seemed to already know. And you got quite a few calls from your sisters the last day or two.
His mate paused outside the door, smiled, and stepped into the house.
Chuckling, Bubba put his hands on his hips and looked out over his territory. He was so glad to be home. You could keep those boats and tours andcruiseswaste of time in his estimation.
His brothers walked out of the woods, already shifted and wanting a good hunt. Smiling, Bubba pulled his clothes off and began to shift.
Goddamnit! he heard Janie yell from the family room. What the hell happened to my couch cushions?
She stormed back onto the porch, the couch cushion in her hand, but when she saw Bubba trotting down the stairs toward his kin, she snapped, And I better not find out yall are playing tug again with that damn crocodile!
Chapter 30
You ready?
Mitch nodded. Yeah, Im ready.
Theyd been back in Philly for three days, his testimony pushed off until this morning. Just as shed promised, Sissy came with him.
He pulled at his tie again, and Sissy playfully slapped his hands away. Youre gonna end up strangling yourself.
I hate wearing these things.
I hate you in them. But youve got to look respectable.
He looked outside the windows of the SUV the cops had used to transport him here. It had started raining last night, and it didnt seem to show any signs of stopping soon.
Want to just get this over with?
Yeah. Lets go.
He knocked on the window, and one of the police escorts opened his door. He walked around the vehicle and found Sissy already getting out before anyone could open the door for her.
She took his hand in hers, and they walked into the courthouse.
Sissy knew something was up when that cranky cat ADA came up to them. I need to talk to you and to her. She walked off, Sissy and Mitch following. She entered a room and waited until they were inside, then she slammed the door shut.
Who? Who was it?
Mitch glanced at Sissy before giving the female a helpless shrug. I dont know what youre talking about, Jen.
She flung a file at the enormous table that took up most of the room. It flipped open, and photos sprayed out across the wood.
Mitch leaned over, moving the pictures around with the tips of his fingers. Its OFarrell.
Whats left of him, Jen snarled.
After a few moments, Mitch blinked and stood straight. Wait. Do you think I had something to do with this?
Detective, everyone knows about your mother.
My mother? Youre blaming my mother?
And then theres your new girlfriendHuckleberry Hound!
Watch it, Sissy sneered, or its time for a declawing.
Shes got an uncle in prison, the female damn near snarled.
