Quinlan: Foster’s Pride – Lion Shapeshifter Romance (Foster's Pride Book 3)

by Kathi S. Barton

  “They’re replacement rules for some of the more archaic ones that were in place, like women being able to drive a car. I know it’s not been enforced for a long time, but I took it out so I could put in one about women being able to have a full-time job. Also, the byline that I put on it says that if the mate isn’t working, and it isn’t due to any good medical reason, such as he’s ill or incapacitated in some way medically, he can’t just assume the money his wife earns is for him. Also, it doesn’t count if one of them is going to college for the betterment of the family, so long as they both agree to it. However, he isn’t entitled to have access to the funds before bills and family needs are met. I’m betting that is the one people don’t care for.”

  “I love that one. Can you imagine how much better Mom’s life would have been had Dad not been able to just take out money when it was there?” Ronan said that was the main reason for the new rule. “Good for you. The one I’ve been hearing the most buzz about is the banking rules. The one where it says all pride members must go through the local banks when they are in need of funding. That’ll help the entire town out.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t know how much of that one I’m going to be able to enforce. There was a rule in there that said the pride leader—that would be me—would loan money to any pride member that couldn’t secure a loan. Also, that I would never be able to ask that they repay it if times were hard. That one had to go. I can imagine having people lined up out the door for that one had it still been in there. Lucky for me, we found it before I had every pride member sign off that they’d read all the rules.” Quin laughed and asked him if he was sure he’d gotten it out in time. “I’m sure. I had Brook go over it three times, and then Mom before I had copies of it made. There are still some in there that might have to be taken out sooner or later, but for now, I can live with the ones we have.”

  “I’ll get on to reading my copy as soon as I can.” Ronan thanked him. “Roger and Lexi are going to stick around. I’m still wondering what Lily is going to do. She’s so stressed out about having all this money it’s hard for her to focus on much of anything else. But I did go over it with her, and I’m thinking Rogue will as well. She’ll slap her around a little and get her to make a decision. The house is the most important thing. It can’t sit empty for too long. I’d hate to think someone like Missy would move in.”

  “She’s left for the big house, I heard.” Quin said he’d heard that as well. “Then there is Robin. I never liked that man even as a kid. He was forever having something or someone doing shit for him. Lucky for us, we were always bigger than him. And us being cats kept him away from us. Mom told me she’d babysat him once and never again. He was a terror even back then.”

  Quin wasn’t looking forward to going with Robby tomorrow, but he’d told him he’d be there for him. Robin was going to have a long trial, and it was going to be an eye-opener for a lot of people. He’d been dealing in death for a long time. Lucky for everyone involved, Billy had been able to talk to the animals involved and had found a lot of evidence that would be used against the man. Good. The streets would be so much better without him walking around free.

  ~*~

  Rogue was sitting in for Quin today as he’d been called away for an emergency. She’d been happy to be there for Robby. She also wanted to hear firsthand what the hell the man, Robin, had to say for himself. She also knew that Robby had a few things to say to his son, one of them being that he was washing his hands of him forever. Rogue didn’t think Robin would say much to that, but it was going to be put out there so Robby wouldn’t be saddled with Robin’s shit.

  When he joined them in the large conference room, Robin was sporting not just a black eye but what appeared to be about ten stitches in his lower lip. Instead of commenting on it, Cass told Robin they were recording this conversation. Robin was also informed he would be given a copy of it once it was transcribed.

  “Why would I need that? You think I might come back on you, Dad? I don’t care what you have to say to me today. I know what I know.” Robby asked him what he thought he knew. “That you’re going to get up off your high horse and get me the hell out of here. Whatever burr you have up your ass about things is going to get you into a serious lot of trouble.”

  “Really? From where I’m sitting, Robin, I’d say it’s a safe bet that you can’t do anything to me. Not unless you break out of jail and come after me. But that’s not going to happen either. Not where they’re sending you. You’ve hit the big time, Robin. They’re sending you to the worst prison in the world. And no one ever comes out of there unless it’s in a body bag.” Robin snorted, and Rogue decided right then and there she was finished with that sound. “I’ve come here today to inform you of a few changes I’ve made. All of them are concerning you and your being my only son.”

  “You might want to keep reminding yourself of that, Father dearest. I’m the only person you have left in the world right now.” Robby smiled, and Rogue thought it was a very good smile. “What? Are you going to tell me you’re taking me out of the will? You can’t do that either. It’s my right as your son to inherit your stuff.”

  “No, it’s my right to refuse you anything. As of yesterday morning, a new will was written up and filed, so there are no more issues with what I have and what I leave to whoever I wish. You are no longer mentioned in it, other than to say that you are entitled to nothing.” Robin said he was a liar. “If you say so.”

  Robin looked at Rogue. “I suppose you have a lot to do with this. Some dyke that orders my father around—”

  The chair Robin was sitting in just fell back. If not for the fact that Robin was chained to the table, he might well have tipped all the way back. Rogue looked at Cass when he sat back down after hitting Robin.

  “There will be no more talk like that. Now, here is a copy of the will for your reading pleasure. You’ll note that, as you were told, you are not mentioned in the will as anyone that would need to be showing up for things given over to you. You are getting nothing.”

  Cass went on to talk about who was mentioned in the will, and it occurred to her that Billy had been mentioned. Before she could ask what that meant, Robin asked.

  “Billy has been a better friend and daughter to me than you ever were a son. So, as for her name being mentioned, you’ll see right there that I’m leaving a little something for her to live on should she want it. The horses, the estate, and any money in the bank when I kick the bucket, she’ll get a part of. Which I’m thinking will be long after you’re dust in the ground. By the way, you’re not going to be buried on my land either. You’ve done enough to it to last several lifetimes.” Robin said he wasn’t being fair. “Fair or not, that’s the way I’ve decided to do it.”

  When Robby stood up, she did as well. Cass told them he had some things he needed to go over with Robin before he left, and they were to meet him in the cafeteria. She and Robby were about halfway there when the older man broke down. She knew he was having a hard time with this, and she was hurting for him.

  “He actually said it wasn’t fair. Like him killing off people was fair to them.” She stood there while he blew his nose and sniffled. “I should be used to his crap by now, but I tell you, it just makes me happy his mother isn’t here to see him like this. She’d be more hurt than I am.”

  “He’s lucky Cass hit him before I did.” Robby laughed and hugged her. “How about we go and have us some pie? I think pie cures everything going wrong. If they were to have a meeting between two opposing countries, serving them pie would be just the ticket.”

  “I think you might be right on that one.” He moved along the hallway with her and stopped when he laughed. “Perhaps that’s what happened to Robin. He told me when he was little that he just couldn’t stand pie. I guess I know why now. Damned kid. Who doesn’t like pie?”

  They were still laughing when they picked out their dessert. They each had four pieces, and th
e plan was to taste them all. Just a taste. But in the end, they ate each slice and enjoyed every sinful bite. When Cass joined them, he didn’t have much to say that was good, she supposed, but he did look upset for a while. Then Robby bought him some pie, and he looked better.

  Perhaps she was right. Pie did make things better.

  Chapter 8

  Cass sat down next to the man he’d come to respect a great deal over the last few days. Robby Quarter was not only a good man, but he was very troubled. The word had come to him that there was a child out there that belonged to Robin, and Robby had jumped at the chance to go see the child and mother. Not that they had DNA proof it was his child, they did have a whereabouts for it that the two of them had followed to where they were now.

  “I’ve spoken to the principal of the school the child might be attending, and she told me if it’s who she thinks it is, they’re in financial trouble. Also, if this is Robin’s, there are twin boys, not a single child as we were looking for.” Robby looked at him with so much hope in his eyes that it hurt Cass to have to tell him the next part. “The woman, their mother, is working several jobs and sleeps while they’re at school. I have, with my own money, deposited two hundred dollars. Even if she’s not who we think she might be, I have to help her out. She really is in trouble.”

  “I’ll pay you for that. Yes, you’re right. Even if it’s not Robin’s children, they shouldn’t have to go without. What do we do now? I mean, I’m guessing we don’t just go up to her and tell her who we are.” Cass said that was exactly what they were going to do. “Oh. I guess I figured you’d be a bit on the squeamish side. That’s not true. I’m a lot on the squeamish side of doing this. I don’t know what I’d even say to her about all this.”

  “You tell her the truth. That you have only just found out about her. However, I’d start by telling her that Robin is in prison and that he won’t be getting out. From the stories I’ve heard about Robin, it might well be the reason she’s living here and not closer to anyone she knows.” Robby also knew the sadistic things Robin had done to women. Things he’d also done to men that, in Robby’s mind, had been horrendous. “Robby, we don’t have to do anything but make sure this woman has money to feed her children and pay her bills.”

  “Where do we go from here, Cass? I’m not going to have done all this only to sit by and wonder if they might need me. As I said before, this is the only hope I have right now that makes me feel as if I’ve not been a complete failure as a father and a man.” Cass told him he wasn’t even close to being a failure at anything. “Perhaps not now, but I worry. Robin might well have had something wrong with him all along. I don’t know. But I do know this family might need me, and I want to help them.”

  “I understand.” He handed him the paperwork he’d gotten at the school board. “This isn’t much, but it’s the best I could do until we get the rest of the information back. And talk to the mother. She’ll be able to give us everything you want if she wishes. Otherwise, I’d advise you to help from a distance. We don’t want to piss her off and have her bring charges against you for being a stalker or something along those lines.”

  The pictures he’d been able to collect showed two little boys, aged nine, playing in the yard. There were also infant pictures of them, as well as a couple of school pictures Cass had been able to unearth. Robby was staring at the two little boys lying in a crib at what he assumed was a hospital.

  “I don’t remember Robin being this tiny. I’m sure he was at some point, but all my head can think about is that he’s an adult. I bet your momma can remember how much each of you weighed when you were born and the exact time.” Cass didn’t answer him. Not that he required an answer, but he just kept to himself that she most assuredly did know those facts. “Let’s go and see this young woman, Cass. Make an appointment or whatever we need to do. I’ll abide by what she tells me. Even if my heart tells me something different.”

  It took him over three hours to get a phone number for Sarah Linton. She did indeed sleep during the day, according to one of the places that came up on her information. It was, he said, “damned difficult” to call her in early when they needed her.

  She worked nearly thirty hours a week at two different restaurants as a waitress and another twenty-five at a place where she sold timeshares. According to that boss, she was a good person to work with, but she was exhausted all the time. He said it made her less friendly to the people there wanting to date her. Neither place seemed to know she had children. Nor did they know where she lived. A post office box number was all they had.

  The lady that lived in the apartment below her had two children as well. They would, when necessary, trade-off sitting each other’s kids, so they didn’t have to pay a sitter. The third job was for her kids to go to a private school. Sarah graded papers for the local teachers at the school where her boys went to pay for extras. Like their lunches. Tuition was paid by her cleaning the place on weekends, with her boys helping. Cass hurt for the way she was struggling to make ends meet.

  Once he had the phone number, he was able to leave a message for her. All he said was his name and that he had some information she needed concerning Robin Quarter. Also, he made sure he told her Robin was in prison. Either she’d call him back or she’d not—it was up to her now. Almost as soon as he closed the connection to his phone, his cell rang back that it was her.

  “What do you mean calling me at my home about Robin Quarter? What business is it of yours that—? You said he was in prison. You’re sure about that? Last time I heard, he was above such laws and did whatever the fuck he pleased.” He heard one of the boys telling her to put a penny in the jar. Cass listened as she told the child she was sorry, then he heard a door closing, shutting off the sounds of the household. “Why are you calling me? Has he told you what he did to me? Do you think to get something from me? I’ll tell you right now, I don’t have anything, thanks to him. I don’t get to see my parents. My sisters and brothers. I lost my job.” She sobbed, and he wanted to go there now and take her into his arms. “What is it you want, Mr. Foster? The only thing in the world I have is my sons, and I’d rather die than to let that bastard near them.”

  “Are they Robin’s children?” She said they were. “What do you know of Robin’s father? Mr. Robby Quarter.”

  “I thought he was dead. That’s what that prick told me. That he owned his family ranch and that I should feel privileged that— Why is it I’m telling you this? Do you have some kind of mystical powers? Are you a shifter? That’s it, you’re making me tell you this personal stuff.”

  “I am a shifter, Miss Linton. A lion, as a matter of fact. However, I’m not making you tell me. I think you’ve been through enough without having someone make you relive it. No, I’m not making you. But I will tell you that I have the same strange feelings toward you. That I need to protect and take care of you. I’m sorry about all this, all the things that have happened to you, but Mr. Quarter, Robby, would like to meet you. And the boys. He’s only just found out about you three.” She asked him why she should believe him. “You shouldn’t, I suppose, believe me or him. But what harm can it do for you to meet with us? If you need proof that Robin is in prison, pull up the paper in his hometown. Read how he was arrested for the murder of several people. That rather than stand trial and more than likely get the death penalty, he decided to tell the state where the bodies were and spend the rest of his life in prison, without the chance of parole.”

  “I don’t have a computer. I don’t have enough money to pay the electric bill that is overdue at the moment. I’m sure if you’ve been looking into our lives, you know a good deal more about me than I do you.” He told her he was sorry. Then he told her about the money in the bank. “I’m not even going to tell you that you shouldn’t have done that. Bouncing a single check could be a trickle-down disaster for us right now. Look, let me talk to my sons. Tell them what’s going on and who it is that wants
to meet them. I’m not making any promises. They’re leerier of people than I am.”

  “Thank you for this.” She said she’d not done anything as yet. “No, but you’ve given Mr. Quarter a chance, and that’s much more than he had before. You call us back at this number and tell us where we can meet you if you decide you will, and we’ll be there.”

  After hanging up, Cass had to calm himself before he spoke to Robby. He didn’t want to sound hopeful and then for her call and tell them she’d decided not to see them. But he had enough information now to do some of the things he and Robby had spoken about before. Putting those things into action took a great deal less time than he thought it would have.

  Reaching for the phone to call Robby, it rang. Letting out a long breath, he tried his best to sound upbeat while answering. But as soon as he heard the voice on the other end, his lion nearly took him.

  “Are you the attorney that talked to our mom? The one that is a lion?” He told the young man he was. “You’d better get over here right now. The man that comes by to get the rent money is going to hurt her again.”

  “Call the police.” He told him he’d done that. “Good. I’m on my way. You and your brother, hide. Someplace where the man can’t get to you.”

  “Good idea.”

  The phone was dropped, and he could still hear screaming in the background. Going out the door, he held the phone tightly against his ear as he drove like a madman to the address he’d found while doing some work. He was pulling in just as the police were.

  When he heard a gunshot sounding, his lion simply took him. As he was racing to the door, it came open, and the children were there. Pushing them out of the way as gently as he could, he moved into the house, smelling blood as he moved. The man in the kitchen was standing over a woman, and rage rolled over him in a way that made Cass sick to his stomach.