AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you. We’re so happy to have you in our home.” Arnie put a hand under my elbow, and without thinking, I gave him a hug, relishing the warmth of holding another human being.He raised his arms, and I was worried I’d committed a big boo-boo, but he wrapped them around me and said I needed to eat, as I looked pale.
I collapsed onto the chair Ranger pulled out, the events of the past two days weighing on me. And now I was eating a meal surrounded by members of a powerful… the most powerful mafia clan.
Ranger’s brother sat at the head of the table, Ranger at the other end, while Arnie and Rudy were opposite me. I kept my hands in my lap and bowed my head, avoiding everyone’s gaze. It was intimidating sitting around a table and sharing a meal with mafia. I’d never eaten a meal with Dane. Never seen him eat. Maybe he didn’t.
Arnie dished up eggs and bacon, and I welcomed the distraction from my muddled thoughts.
Ranger’s dad passed me the rolls. Not wanting to get everyone’s attention by asking Flint to pass the butter, I thanked him and took one. Pulling it apart, I nibbled, savoring the crispy outside and the chewy center while almost swooning at the salty bacon aroma hovering over the table and the inviting smell of fresh coffee.
Why was I so nervous around this family? I’d been with Dane in and out of the car. He was an asshat, and he always had a gun on his hip. He was a mean so-and-so, and the people around the table had shown me nothing but kindness. Or Ranger and Arnie had. The jury was still out on his dad and brother.
“Dig in, Matt,” Ranger urged. His foot brushed over mine, and I rewarded him with a grateful smile. Layersof confusion mingled with contradictory emotions regarding Ranger. Wanting him close wasn’t because I liked him liked him. Any living breathing human being would have filled my need for human contactwhen I was scared about losing my life.
And while I’d fibbed about sensing a connection with the man, therewassomething between us. I pictured it as a thread, as fine as the ones in a spider’s web but also with the same strength and flexibility.
Without thinking, I put a hand under the table, and Ranger squeezed it. Always with the hands, that man. But I took it back and concentrated on the food.
I had a vague memory of eating chips and sugary snacks and was grateful for what Arnie had provided. No one spoke, the sharp knocking of metal hitting the porcelain plates, while the crackling of the flames in the fireplace formed a backdrop to the meal.
“What do you do, Matt?” Flint’s authoritative tone indicated he wouldn’t accept silence or a shrug for an answer. Gods, was this meal a prelude to something bad?
Despite the warmth from the fire, my knees trembled, and whatever I’d eaten earlier threatened to reappear. “I work for a newspaper. The Daily Star.”
Flint shared a glance with his brother, and Ranger gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
But I had nothing to be ashamed of. I’d never broken the law. Rather than allow Flint to pummel me with questions, I flipped the conversation, putting the burden on him. “What do you do, Flint?”
Rudy pressed his lips together. I couldn’t decide if he was suppressing a laugh or a growl. Arnie didn’t react, and Ranger’s satisfied grin at the spotlight shining on his brother provided a possible hint about their relationship growing up.
“I head a successful business empire.” His mouth was set in a straight line, and unless I peppered him with more questions, he was done talking about his work. “But Ranger tells me you were involved with Dane, the head of The Obsidian Circle.”
“Flint, not now.” Ranger’s voice was more of a growl.
“I was moonlighting.”
I didn’t buckle under Flint’s stern gaze, and I stabbed a piece of bacon, only to have it fly across the table to Rudy. He caught it in a napkin, an almost impossible task. Like his middle son, he had super-speedy reflexes.
“Can I have it back? I was enjoying that.”
Ranger sniggered, and Rudy joined in. Arnie covered his mouth with the apron he still wore. Only Flint remained unmoved, slowly chewing a mouthful of food.
He dabbed his mouth with a napkin before saying, “You remind me of my Tony. Strong, feisty, and fearless, even when you might be cowering inside.”
“Who said anything about cowering?” I shot back. I was, but I wasn’t going to admit it.
Flint’s expression didn’t change. “As I said, feisty.”
Now that I’d asserted myself, the silence around the table was broken and everyone started talking. Rudy thanked Arnie for the meal, and I echoed his sentiment. Flint mentioned needing to call Tony, while Arnie yawned, saying he needed a nap after racing through the flooded woods.
I couldn’t figure out why the family made an elderly man take such a dangerous journey, and if they got through the flood waters to the cabin, what about Dane?
“You must be exhausted,” I said.
He nodded. “My wolf is too.”
My cutlery clattered onto the plate, and Ranger scraped his chair across the floor to sit beside me, making the hairs on my neck stand up. The atmosphere around the table changed.It might have been my imagination, but everyone’s eyes were darker and sort of glowing.
“You remember what I showed you outside?”
