Page 19 of Relentless Touch

“Got it, Amy,” Rio said smoothly, stepping casually to block her from the parasite’s gaze.

Amy looked at him, gave a slight nod, then walked to the bar and started arranging glasses. Good girl.

The tension humming between them was thick, yet the humans didn’t seem to notice. Glass Oak felt safe, warm, the kind of place you’d bring your mom after church, not the kind to kick off a war.

Ameer seemed unfazed, standing casually by the door like he expected to be seated.

Rio stepped into his space. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.” He didn’t whisper, but his voice dropped enough to keep things private.

“Food smells good. Got my stomach rumbling.” His tone was good-natured, but those eyes promised destruction.

Ameer flicked his gaze over Rio’s shoulder, toward the booths. He didn’t bother to hide where he was looking. “Smelled something interesting on my way through town. Figured I’d stop in and see for myself. Place looks nice. Real cozy.”

Rio’s muscles coiled.

Eyes like Ameer’s never missed a thing. “Food looks delicious,” he said quietly, tone shifting into something cool and taunting. “Bet all kinds of people come through here.”

“This a shakedown? You working for the mob?” Rio chuckled. “Boss send you to fetch his food, errand boy?”

Ameer’s mouth tightened into a hard line. His hands dropped loosely to his sides. “Coffee’s fine. Cream and sugar. Place with an atmosphere like this, you’d expect to see better company.” His gaze drifted pointedly toward Kevin then back to Rio. “You running a petting zoo or just collecting strays?”

Rio didn’t take the bait. If Ameer wanted to measure dicks, he’d have to work harder. “We’re out of coffee.”

Kenai passed Rio’s left, two steaming mugs in his hand.

Ameer leaned in, barely noticeable unless you were looking. “That any way to talk to a paying customer?” he said in a low tone.

“You’re scum. Good enough reason for me,” Rio replied in the same hushed tone. “You’re only here to intimidate. If you want lunch, try the gas station. Or a kennel.”

For a heartbeat, neither man moved. The clang of a pan from the kitchen broke the silence. Somewhere in the back a server laughed too loud, muffled by a swinging door.

A sound filtered in over the din of the restaurant. Deep and guttural, with a great sense of timing. A cluster of motorcycles pulled to a stop out front, engines rumbling.

Zeppelin, Vaughn, and Quinn dismounted in perfect sync, moving like a pack should. Zeppelin led, too tall and broad to be mistaken for anyone else. Next to him, Vaughn paced a step behind, eyes already scanning the front of the restaurant. Quinn broke off, peeling away from the other two and sliding into the front seat of Ameer’s parked SUV.

Ameer’s expression didn’t change. If anything, his posture relaxed. “Your security system’s cute,” he said, just loud enough for Rio to hear. “But muscle won’t always be around to save you.”

Rio twirled his finger. “Turn around and keep it moving or I’ll be cleaning your blood out of the grout.”

The guy was getting on Rio’s last nerve. This was nothing more than posturing, and he was tired of playing Ameer’s petty game.

The front of the restaurant went dead quiet. Voices lowered as forks froze mid-bite. It wasn’t the tension between him and Ameer. It was Zeppelin stepping into the sunlight from shade, making every everyone in the restaurant pause.

Vaughn entered at Zeppelin’s right, not as tall as his alpha, but no less intimidating.

Ameer straightened, stance still relaxed, his thumb hooked in the pocket of his pants. “Your backup has arrived.”

“Don’t need backup. They’re family, and family’s got your back.” Rio glanced behind Ameer. “Your back’s looking pretty empty.”

Zeppelin paused three strides in, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Ameer. He didn’t raise his voice. Didn’t have to. “You’re done here,” he said.

Ameer shrugged, appearing unbothered. He glanced at Rio and gave a flicker of a grin. “They always have to send an alpha.”

Zeppelin smirked. “I’m not here to save him. I’m just making sure my boy’s not outnumbered. Move along, unless you want to take the express exit.”

“Alpha like you…” Ameer mused, looking past Zeppelin. “You don’t get tired of playing nursemaid to so many losers?”

Zeppelin’s eyes narrowed. Ameer was a goddamn idiot. “Watch who you’re tone, pup.”