Chapter 4
Brandt tapped on the back door at Kaid’s house and waited until someone opened it, rather than just walking in as he usually would.
Tessa finally answered his knock and scowled up at him. “I was doing homework.”
“Good. Homework needs to be done,” Brandt answered, trying to hide his amusement.
“No. I was doing homework and you interrupted me.”
“I needed to come in.”
“You’re still not in.”
“I could be, if you’d invite me in.”
“You always just knock then walk in.”
“I wanted to be invited in this time.”
Tessa took a moment to size him up. “You’re kinda needy tonight.”
“I am not needy. I am following protocol.”
“There’s a protocol to interrupt my homework?”
Brandt’s brows bunched together before slamming down over his eyes. “Can you just tell your daddy I need to talk to him, please?”
Tessa shrugged. “I guess. Wait here.” She closed the door and complete with dramatic eye rolls went off to locate her father on the other side of the house. “Dad!”
“Your daughter is looking for you,” Delilah said, as she reclined beside Kaid on the sofa, her head resting on his thigh as they watched television.
“I’m not here.”
“You’re right here.”
“She’s mean.”
“She’s not mean. And she’s calling you.”
“Yes, she is. And I’m afraid of her,” Kaid said, grinning.
“You are not.”
“I might be. You don’t know.”
Delilah giggled. “You are not afraid of your 13 year old daughter!”
“She’s not nice anymore. She’s full of attitude. And I can’t intimidate her like I do all the rest. It’s kinda scary. I don’t like the teen years.”
Delilah sat up, full on laughing. “She’s no more intimidating than I am.”
“I’m sure you were just as mean at that age, too.”
“Perhaps. I don’t remember.”
“Dad! Are you even in the house?!” Tessa shouted irritatedly.
“See? She’s mean,” Kaid said again, nodding for emphasis.
Still laughing, Delilah reached out and turned on the lamp, then called out. “We’re in the living room, Tessa!”
Tessa came to the door of the living room and looked at them with her hands on her hips. “I looked in here. I didn’t see you.”
“I just turned the light on. We’ve been sitting here watching television.”
“In the dark?”
“Except for the T.V., yes. Is there some rule that says we can’t sit alone in the dark?” Delilah asked.
“Eww. No. But, just no.”
“You see?” Kaid asked.
Delilah shrugged slightly. “Eh, I suppose.” She turned her attention back to their daughter. “Why are you interrupting our show?”
“Brandt’s here.”
“Well, tell him to come in here,” Kaid said.
“He’s not inside. He’s just here. Waiting outside.”
“Let him come in,” Delilah said.
“He said he wanted to be invited in this time. I told him he’s needy.”
“Why would he need to be invited in when he usually just knocks and then walks in?” Delilah asked.
Kaid was already standing from the sofa and began moving toward the kitchen. “Protocol,” he said at the same time Tessa said it.
“Tessa, you come sit in here with me, or go to your room so your father can have the kitchen,” Delilah said.
“But I’m in the middle of my homework! Brandt already interrupted me, and now I can’t go finish?!” she asked incredulously.
Delilah stared at her daughter as she slowly turned her body and set her feet on the floor. “First, you will remember who you are speaking to. We are your parents, and Brandt is your Alpha.”
“Daddy’s my Alpha.”
“No, Daddy was your Alpha. He’s handed over that responsibility to Brandt. But Daddy is still your daddy and can treat you like the insolent toddler you seem to want to act like, any time he chooses. Am I clear?” Delilah demanded, her eyes flashing.
“Yes, but…”
“No! There will be no buts. Anyone comes to this house and asks to see your father or me, you will be respectful, you will be congenial, or I will spank your butt like you’re still three years old, do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Tessa said insolently.
“And you will adjust your attitude when speaking to any adult in this clan. Won’t you?” Delilah asked angrily.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And if your Alpha requests an audience with your father, you will make it your business to behave accordingly whether you’re 13 years old, or 33 years old. Because if you don’t, Brandt will have to get in line to discipline your insolent self.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I will not have this conversation again. If you are less than respectful to anyone who deserves your respect, I will yank you up without warning!” Delilah finished as she stood and slowly approached Tessa. “Your Dragon is not even an afterthought for my Dragon. You’d be rather foolish to make me have to prove it. But we can go that route if you wish.”
“No, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“Learn your place, or you will be sorrier.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Go to your room and wait until someone decides it’s acceptable for you to leave it.”
Tessa nodded, and immediately went to her room, even softly closing the door behind herself instead of slamming it.
Delilah sat down on the sofa again and started flipping through channels since she’d now lost interest in the program they’d been watching. “That girl, that girl. I don’t know where she gets that haughtiness from!” she grumbled under her breath. “She is mean. Kaid’s right.”
~~~
Kaid opened the back door to find Brandt leaning against the banister looking out at the stars in the sky.
Brandt turned quickly and smiled at Kaid. “Hey, Uncle Kaid. You busy?”
“’Course not. Why didn’t you just come on in the front door like usual?”
“Wanted to be invited this time.”
“Protocol,” Kaid said.
“Something like that.”
“Come on in, Brandt. What’s going on?” Kaid asked.
“It’s private, and if at all possible, I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Alright. Have a seat. I can hear Delilah chewing out Tessa in the other room. They won’t be coming in here.”
Brandt sat down and waited while Kaid sat across from him.
Kaid sat quietly across from Brandt, giving him a chance to gather his thoughts. “First, I want to be honest, I wasn’t going to come here. I planned to handle this all by myself, but Barron has made it clear that it would be a stupid decision to do that. So, here I am.”
Kaid chuckled. “There ain’t no shame in asking for help, Brandt.”
“I’m not sure I need help. In fact, I don’t think I do. But this could spread beyond the areas I think it might affect, and if you don’t know to be watching, it could get bad. So, I’m here.”
“Okay,” Kaid said, encouraging Brandt to go on.
“I do know that the one thing I don’t need is Uncle Bam, or Maverik, or even my father or Daniel going off all half-cocked and screwing everything up.”
Kaid canted his head just a bit. “So, basically, you’re telling me that you’re going to let me know what it is, but you don’t want me to tell my clan.”
“Exactly. And not the women, either. Because they’ll start behaving differently, and then he’ll know we know about him. He could leave, and that’s not the best scenario.”
“Who could leave?” Kaid asked.
“The human stalking Emmalyn.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Kaid asked, his features sharpening as he leaned forward, focusing on Brandt.
“Okay, hear me out. We don’t know that someone is stalking her, but a comment has been made, and her boss sent her home to lie low and stay away from work for a while, and Aunt Everly is feeling like she’s being watched off and on. So, we’re thinking there’s more going on than Emmalyn has told any of us. If we’re wrong, we’re erring on the side of caution and overreacting. But if we’re right, we don’t want the guy to know that we know he’s here. We want him to stay here until we can find him so we can take his ass out. We do not want him to slip away and be able to slip back in at any time in the future. If Bam and Maverik, or even my dad hear about this, they’re going to converge on the woods, and every bit of undeveloped land around us, bellowing and threatening, or at the very least, hunting whoever it is, and if they don’t find him, they’re going to flush him out and he’ll run for now.”
“That’s unacceptable.”
“Yes, sir, it is.”
“Has she not come to you with this?” Kaid asked.
“No, Aunt Everly did. And Havoc let us know that her boss sent her home to lie low. I also told Aunt Everly that if some deranged human is watching her, the best way to hurt her if he can’t get to her, is to get to someone she loves. And he’ll be able to see who that is easily enough.”
“All of us. And the women will make easy targets. Some of them anyway. The kids, too.”
“Yeah, so I’m here to update you so you can keep everybody safe over here, in whatever way you think is best. And to keep everybody from rushing into the woods after this guy until we have a chance to grab him.”
“I understand. I will take care of things over here.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Not a problem. You handle things over there and I’ll back you up from here. If you need us, you call. Or you could just call for me here,” he said, tapping his temple. “I don’t reach out to y’all that way often, because I know you have your own bonds set up. But the links are still there. Access them if you need to.”
“I appreciate it, Uncle Kaid,” Brandt said as he stood and reached out a hand to shake Kaid’s.
Kaid shook Brandt’s hand, then embraced him. “You’re doing a hell of a job, son.”
“Thank you. I wonder sometimes.”
“Don’t. You and your woman, are stronger than me and Delilah as far as Alpha. And as far as your woman, no offense, but that’s a female I don’t want to link minds with.”
Brandt grinned. “Yeah, there’s a lot of spooky shit there, but so much good, and so much light, that it almost eclipses the darkness.”
Kaid raised his eyebrows.
Brandt winked at him. “Really glad she loves me.”
“Then so am I. I’ll be in touch soon after I think on this and decide how I’m going to keep the kids and women safe and accompanied without letting them know they’re being accompanied.”
“I’ll be doing the same thing across the road.”
“We’ll talk soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kaid walked Brandt to the door and patted him on the back as he walked out, then closed and locked the door behind him. As he did so, he sent a quick thought to Bane, Bam, Daniel, Maverik, and Goldie. Make it a habit, effective immediately, lock all your doors and windows at night. No female or child goes outside alone, but don’t let them know that. Keep an eye on them without them realizing they’re being watched. Do not alter your behavior obviously, but stay alert. Goldie, make sure Jobe knows.
Almost immediately he got back five ‘ done ’. And five ‘ what the hell is going on? ’.
Just do what I ask for now. When I’m able to say more, I will.
~~~
Christian walked back over to his house, crossing the front yard of Addie’s house. Before he’d even reached his driveway, the front door eased open and Addie peeked out. Christian stopped and glanced toward the door.
“How was the game?” she asked.
“Dallas won. Pissed off Remi, but that’s half the fun,” Christian said.
Addie chuckled softly.
“I ate at Remi’s, but I’m thinking I need something sweet. You want to join me?”
Addie’s gaze sparkled as she slipped out of the front door and quietly closed it behind her. She quickly ran on her bare tip-toes across the yard to where he stood waiting.
When she reached him, he wrapped an arm around the small of her back and pulled her closer for a kiss. ““How’s the baby?” he asked.
Addie looked at him for a few seconds, knowing the question was out of character for him. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, he was just usually focused on other things than her newborn niece. “She’s fine. Sweet baby. Hardly ever cries. Why?”
Christian shook his head slowly. “I just heard something tonight that made me think about people being lucky enough to have babies. Made me realize I’d never asked about your sister’s new one. Or her son for that matter.”
“They’re both good. Really good.”
“I’m glad to hear that. If they ever need anything, let me know, yeah?”
“Yeah. I will.”
He started walking the rest of the way to his home on the other side of Addie’s house, leading her by their joined hands. “You ever want kids?” he asked, not looking back at her, but waiting for her answer nonetheless.
“Yes. One day.”
Christian nodded. “Yeah, same.”
Addie laughed as she allowed Christian to lead her into his home.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Can you imagine our kids if we are still together when that time comes?”
“Why is that funny?”
“Foxes with a Lion’s mane, or Lions with a Fox’s tail — red with a tip of white swishing behind it,” she said, still grinning.
“They’d be beautiful regardless,” he said, as he reached past her to lock his door securely once they were inside. “Hey, can you let your family know to make sure their doors and windows are all locked up secure all the time for a while?”
“We already do.”
“Okay, good. And I’d feel better if you don’t go out anywhere alone, or let your sister and the kids be out alone either. Just be a little more cautious than usual for a while, if you don’t mind doing that for me,” Christian said, as he pulled her into his arms and held her there, looking down into her eyes.
“What’s going on?” Addie asked.
“Nothing in particular. Just tightening up security. We’ve gotten lax in the last few months.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep. If there was something I was allowed to tell you, I would. Sounds like y’all already keep things more secure than we do anyway, just keep doing what you’re doing and everything will be fine.”
“Okay,” she said, gently pulling free of his hold, disappointed that he was obviously keeping something from her.
“There is one more thing you should know,” he said, pulling her back in and tightening his hold.
“What’s that?”
“I’m not going anywhere. So, one day you’re going to have to learn not to laugh at our foxy lion cubs.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.
Christian took advantage of that to kiss her passionately before lifting her into his arms. “Is that okay with you?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s more than okay.”