The Mane Attraction
Page 95
Smitty sized him up again, and Mitch could see him trying not to laugh. You better keep her happy, feline, or Im gonna let Sabina use her knives to cut your balls off. The males winced. Mostly because they all knew it wouldnt take much to talk Sabina into using her knives on anyone. Of Jessies wild dog Pack, she was the mostrabid.
I wont be here after the trial. And suddenly, he again had the attention of the entire New York Pack.
Come again?
He cleared his throat, and Bren stared at him like hed lost his mind. But he didnt want Smitty thinking hed lied to him. I go into Witness Protection after the trial. I wont be back for Sissy. I wont be back here. And it was killing him.
But before Smitty could say anything, Travis burst back out onto the porch. What the hell are you talking about?
I thought you guys knew this.
What about my sister? Smitty growled.
What about next years game? Travis snarled.
Smitty looked at his brother. Game? Youre talking about your goddamn game when this is about Sissys future?
Lets be realistic, Bobby Ray. It aint like Sissy wont jump on the next steed that comes along. This boys just a way station.
Hey! the Shaw brothers said in unison.
No offense, hoss, but you cant really think my sister has serious feelings for you, or any man.
You got something to say to me, Travis?
Theyd been so wrapped up in their own bullshit, none of them had realized the New York Smith Pack She-wolves stood in front of the house. The men looked down at them from the porch. Jessie Ann, the cute little one in the middle, waved her hand at Smitty. She looked lost in the mass of all those much taller and bigger angry She-wolves.
Well? Sissy demanded, walking up the stairs with Ronnie right behind her. Say whatever youre gonna say, Travis. To my face.
Travis glanced at Mitch and shook his head. No. Thats okay. Maybe another time.
Dont worry. Mitch will play. And hell play well. Ill make sure of it. So just say it.
You dont want me to do this here, Sissy Mae.
No, Sammy cut in. I dont want you doing this here.
Its all right, Sammy. Really. Id like to hear what he has to say. Go on, Travis. Say it.
Fine. We all know that you could care less about this boy other than the fuck he can give you at the moment. When hes gone, therell be another and another and another. Just like always. Aint nothin changed. Although I was praying youd keep this one for afew years since he does play some mean ball. But youre the same whore
It was the word whore that seemed to tip him over the edge, his fist slamming into Traviss face, knocking the bigger man to the ground. And as they stood around, stunned, Sammy grabbed his older brother by the T-shirt, lifted him up, and slammed his fist into Traviss face againand againand a few more times for good measure.
Finally, Bobby Ray and Sissy had to grab him and pull him back. Sissy had her arm around his shoulders, and she kept telling him, Its okay. Its okay.
But good-natured Sammy apparently had his own boundaries, and Travis had just crossed them.
I warned you what Id do if you called her that again! I warned you!
Travis sat up, his back against the porch railing. Blood covered a good portion of his face from his shattered nose down.
You act like she hasnt been called that before, Travis snapped, trying to maintain some of his dignity.
Sammy went for him again, but Bobby Ray held him back, although Mitch had a feeling he wanted to beat the hell out of Travis himself.
Travis gave a small, taunting smile. And Lord knows, shell be called that again.
It was something in her eyes that Mitch caught. That split second of getting fully fed up. He reached for her, but she grabbed hold of the football helmet that one of the players had dumped by the front door. She brought it up over her head, and then as she went down on one knee, Sissy brought it back down.
The helmet connected with Traviss knee, and they all jumped and winced at the same time as they heard that bone shatter. Then that wolf howled in pure agony.
Panting, anger coming off her in waves, Sissy stood back up. I promised Mitch would play for you tomorrow. Never said nothing about you getting to play. Good thing Bobby Ray is here to help out. She tossed the helmet to Donnie, who grabbed it but smartly kept his distance.
Sissy brushed her hand across Mitchs arm before she walked off, her She-wolves following behind her.
Brendon stared down at the crying, screaming wolf at his feet. We better get him to the hospital. Theyre gonna have to set that. He looked at Smitty. But we better get your wife out of the tree first.
Out of the Smitty looked at the big tree closest to the railing. Jessica Ann!
Dont yell at me, she snapped. It was instinctual! She leaned down a bit so they could see just her head, the rest of her still buried in that tree. Angry-Sissy means I run for the hills, but I wasnt in the mood to run. Did the next best thing.
Mitch smiled. Im impressed a dog can climb trees.
I wont be here after the trial. And suddenly, he again had the attention of the entire New York Pack.
Come again?
He cleared his throat, and Bren stared at him like hed lost his mind. But he didnt want Smitty thinking hed lied to him. I go into Witness Protection after the trial. I wont be back for Sissy. I wont be back here. And it was killing him.
But before Smitty could say anything, Travis burst back out onto the porch. What the hell are you talking about?
I thought you guys knew this.
What about my sister? Smitty growled.
What about next years game? Travis snarled.
Smitty looked at his brother. Game? Youre talking about your goddamn game when this is about Sissys future?
Lets be realistic, Bobby Ray. It aint like Sissy wont jump on the next steed that comes along. This boys just a way station.
Hey! the Shaw brothers said in unison.
No offense, hoss, but you cant really think my sister has serious feelings for you, or any man.
You got something to say to me, Travis?
Theyd been so wrapped up in their own bullshit, none of them had realized the New York Smith Pack She-wolves stood in front of the house. The men looked down at them from the porch. Jessie Ann, the cute little one in the middle, waved her hand at Smitty. She looked lost in the mass of all those much taller and bigger angry She-wolves.
Well? Sissy demanded, walking up the stairs with Ronnie right behind her. Say whatever youre gonna say, Travis. To my face.
Travis glanced at Mitch and shook his head. No. Thats okay. Maybe another time.
Dont worry. Mitch will play. And hell play well. Ill make sure of it. So just say it.
You dont want me to do this here, Sissy Mae.
No, Sammy cut in. I dont want you doing this here.
Its all right, Sammy. Really. Id like to hear what he has to say. Go on, Travis. Say it.
Fine. We all know that you could care less about this boy other than the fuck he can give you at the moment. When hes gone, therell be another and another and another. Just like always. Aint nothin changed. Although I was praying youd keep this one for afew years since he does play some mean ball. But youre the same whore
It was the word whore that seemed to tip him over the edge, his fist slamming into Traviss face, knocking the bigger man to the ground. And as they stood around, stunned, Sammy grabbed his older brother by the T-shirt, lifted him up, and slammed his fist into Traviss face againand againand a few more times for good measure.
Finally, Bobby Ray and Sissy had to grab him and pull him back. Sissy had her arm around his shoulders, and she kept telling him, Its okay. Its okay.
But good-natured Sammy apparently had his own boundaries, and Travis had just crossed them.
I warned you what Id do if you called her that again! I warned you!
Travis sat up, his back against the porch railing. Blood covered a good portion of his face from his shattered nose down.
You act like she hasnt been called that before, Travis snapped, trying to maintain some of his dignity.
Sammy went for him again, but Bobby Ray held him back, although Mitch had a feeling he wanted to beat the hell out of Travis himself.
Travis gave a small, taunting smile. And Lord knows, shell be called that again.
It was something in her eyes that Mitch caught. That split second of getting fully fed up. He reached for her, but she grabbed hold of the football helmet that one of the players had dumped by the front door. She brought it up over her head, and then as she went down on one knee, Sissy brought it back down.
The helmet connected with Traviss knee, and they all jumped and winced at the same time as they heard that bone shatter. Then that wolf howled in pure agony.
Panting, anger coming off her in waves, Sissy stood back up. I promised Mitch would play for you tomorrow. Never said nothing about you getting to play. Good thing Bobby Ray is here to help out. She tossed the helmet to Donnie, who grabbed it but smartly kept his distance.
Sissy brushed her hand across Mitchs arm before she walked off, her She-wolves following behind her.
Brendon stared down at the crying, screaming wolf at his feet. We better get him to the hospital. Theyre gonna have to set that. He looked at Smitty. But we better get your wife out of the tree first.
Out of the Smitty looked at the big tree closest to the railing. Jessica Ann!
Dont yell at me, she snapped. It was instinctual! She leaned down a bit so they could see just her head, the rest of her still buried in that tree. Angry-Sissy means I run for the hills, but I wasnt in the mood to run. Did the next best thing.
Mitch smiled. Im impressed a dog can climb trees.
