by Jane Jamison
“Did she tell you the bastard was up for parole?” Micah grew angrier by the minute after hearing about Julie’s ex-boyfriend getting paroled. He often wondered if the justice system was broken. Even Ryan, a staunch justice system supporter, admitted he’d had similar thoughts.
“Not a damn word until the call. She didn’t say anything while you two prissy-men were busy posing?”
Prissy-men, my ass. “Hey, I’m secure enough in my manhood to have my portrait done. Real men are, you know.”
“That goes double for me.” Dane turned the steaks on top of the stove.
“I should’ve seen something about the parole hearing online, but I didn’t.” Micah had done as much searching as he could. Since Hank Arlan’s trial hadn’t been a major news story, it had taken him several hours to dig up as much info as he had. Ryan had done some searching of his own, digging up Hank Arlan’s criminal history as well as very disturbing images—photos of a very badly beaten Julie—that had left Micah sick to his stomach. What kind of a man could do that to anyone, much less his woman?
People would call us animals if they knew what we are. And yet, beasts like Arlan walk among them. What a load of crap.
“We tighten our security. We’ll hire more after-hour cops if we need to.” Ryan paced the living room as he’d done from the first moment he’d come back to the ranch. “I’ll ask around and find out when he’s getting out.”
“We should meet him right outside the gate.” Dane growled then smiled an evil smile. “One of you could give him a lift home. From two thousand feet in the air.” He held up a hand, fingers touching, then opened his hand, pretending to drop an imaginary Hank.
Micah understood how his friend felt. If Dane had wings as a dragon, he’d actually do what he was suggesting. He doubted anyone would blame him for it. “All we can do for now is to keep protecting her.”
“And Brenna and Molly, too.” Ryan plopped down on the couch. “It’ll spread us thin, but I promised we’d watch over them. No way would Julie want us to leave her friend and child in danger to protect her.”
“Yeah, she’s too kindhearted for her own good.” Dane put a steak on each plate. “Grub’s ready.”
The men settled around the table, forgetting manners as they added piles of mashed potatoes and carrots to their plates. Like his friends, Micah became lost in thoughts of Julie.
“You guys think she’s the one, right? Either of you question that?” asked Ryan.
“No doubt about it. I’ve never been so attracted to a woman. And not just her body.” Dane sawed on his tough steak.
“Damn straight.” Micah started hacking at his. They’d agreed long ago to share in the cooking, but at times he suspected Dane of overcooking a meal to try and get out of ever cooking again. Fortunately for them, dragons liked their meat well done. Flame-broiled, if possible.
“And we’re going to share her? I mean that’s what we’ve talked about from the beginning.” Ryan plopped another spoonful of potatoes onto his plate. “I never believed it would happen, but now that we’ve found her, I’m ready.”
Ryan wasn’t the type to beat around the bush, but Micah had a definite feeling Ryan was leading up to telling them some big news. “What’s going on?”
Ryan glanced at him then focused on his food. That alone was a major sign that he was trying to ease his way into a conversation.
“He’s right. You’re acting weird. What’s up?” Dane put down his knife and fork.
Micah leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “Spit it out, man.”
Ryan started to speak then sat back. Anyone could’ve seen how hard it was for him to find the right words.
“You were with her for a while. Maybe too long.”
“Yeah. After she sprayed me with pepper spray—”
“Damn, I would’ve given my tail to see that,” joked Dane.
Ryan wasn’t amused. “After my eyes stopped burning, we sat down and talked a while. Then her attorney called and gave her the bad news. What was I supposed to do? Just get up and leave? She needed comforting.”
Micah gave Dane a telling look. “Right. She needed comforting.”
“Sure. She’d just gotten shitty news. Hell, man, she was afraid. She needed me to stick around. I’d still be there if I hadn’t already called Doug to take the first watch.”
“Strange how you didn’t call either one of us. I thought that was the plan.”
Ryan shrugged and shoveled a big piece of steak into his mouth. He chewed slowly.
“What kind of comfort did you give her, anyway?” If Ryan wasn’t going to tell them outright, then he’d get it out of him, come hell or high water. He waited, not so patiently, as Ryan chewed even slower.
Before his friend attempted to stab another piece of steak, Micah reached across the table and stuck his fork in Ryan’s steak. He held it up like bait to a wolf. “Not another bite, man. Not until you tell us what you did.”
“Like I said, we’ve already agreed that we all want her as our mate.”
“Shit.” Dane slammed his hands on top of the table, rattling the plates and glasses. “You fucked her, didn’t you?”
Micah wasn’t surprised. If he’d been given the chance to “comfort” Julie, he would’ve done the same thing. But he wasn’t about to tell Ryan. Why make it easy for him? “Is that it? Did you take her?”
Ryan glared at him, daring him to challenge him. “I didn’t plan it, if that’s what you’re getting at. It just happened.”
“Bullshit.” Dane was on his feet, storming into the kitchen to grab another bottle of wine. “That ‘it just happened’ excuse is bullshit.”
The deed was done, and there was nothing left to do about it except accept it.
“How’d she react? She wanted to do it, right?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ryan was on his feet now, too. “You really think I’d force her?”
Micah remained seated, doing his best to stay calm. One of them had to. “No, I don’t. But I’m not sure you didn’t use the situation to your advantage.” Again, he couldn’t really blame Ryan. “And once it was over, was she all right?”
“That was when she got the call.”
“Hold up. So you fucked her before she got the call? How was that comforting her?”
Dane had summed it up nicely. Micah didn’t add anything.
Ryan ran a hand over his face. “She got upset after she shot me with the pepper spray. We were sitting on the couch talking and— Damn it. You know how it feels to be around her. You know how sexy she is. What was I supposed to do? Leave her alone? Tell her I couldn’t until I got permission from my friends?”
“You could’ve waited. Told her about us sharing her, wanting her to be all of ours. You should’ve waited until we could share her.”
“She’s not ready to hear about being our mate. Once she does, we’re going to have to tell her everything. Do you think she’s ready for that conversation? Because I don’t.” Ryan gritted his teeth even as a small line of smoke slipped out of the side of his mouth. “We are going to share her, Dane.” His anger cooled but didn’t leave. “What’s it matter which of us got her first?”
“It matters,” Dane grumbled, banging the pots and pans around the kitchen. “It just fucking matters.”
“Julie and I had sex, and I’m fucking glad we did. Grow up and get over it.” Ryan strode toward the door. “Next time you can have her. Then Micah until you two catch up with me.” He gave them a shit-eating grin. “Until then, I’m going for a flight.”
Micah waited until Ryan was out the front door. As soon as he was, he leapt out of the chair and rushed toward the back of the house. Once outside, he started running, shifting as he did.
His body lifted into the air, the breeze whipping under his wings as they spread to their greatest width. As it always did, changing into his dragon body and soaring into the sky gave him a rush like no other. The cloaking skill shimmered over his body just as the sun set beyond
the horizon. Shifting in daytime was tricky, even dangerous, but nighttime flight wasn’t without its problems. If a human studied the sky hard enough, they could make out his vague outline, a ripple against the blackness.
Micah searched around him and soon saw Ryan flying several yards ahead of him. As he’d suspected, his friend wasn’t out for a simple flight. He was flying toward San Antonio and, no doubt, toward Julie’s condo.
Not that Ryan would land and try to visit her again. Taking advantage of their friendship one time was bad enough. Twice and he’d have hell to pay. Micah picked up speed but kept far enough behind Ryan that he doubted his friend would know he was there.
Until it was too late.
Ryan pointed his head upward and went higher. Micah’s wings battered the wind driving him upward. His tail acted as a rudder, moving back and forth to keep his flight steady, his course straight. His tongue lolled out, and he yearned to come to a stalled stop in mid-air, his flame bursting out from between his jaws.
It didn’t take long before they were almost directly over a large group of condominiums. Ryan plunged into a swift descent, catching Micah off guard. Micah swooped lower, putting his body just under his friend’s.
With a low growl, he reversed direction, shooting upward and straight into Ryan’s belly. Micah twisted then swept out with his tail, slamming into Ryan. He twisted his body around again, throwing all his weight against the surprised dragon.
Ryan tumbled from the sky, his body hurtling toward the ground. For a moment that might have been a moment too long, his invisible cloak shielding his body wavered, letting anyone looking into the sky see the blue-colored dragon.
Straighten up before you hit the ground. Micah did a fast drop, ready to break his friend’s descent if he had to.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Ryan’s startled voice reverberated in Micah’s mind. Ryan tilted his head up, righted his body, and soared toward the sky, away from the approaching earth.
Telepathy was the only way they could talk while in their dragon bodies. Where the hell are you going? Let me guess. To Julie’s?
“Damn you.” Ryan flapped his wings, speeding away from town. “You almost got me killed.”
I knew you’d pull out of it. Besides, you deserved a little payback.
“I told you. It wasn’t planned.”
I get it. Doesn’t make it any better, but I get it.
“Then back the hell off.” A long, deep red flame burst from Ryan’s mouth.
Micah easily dodged the fireballs whizzing past him. If Ryan had really wanted to singe him, he wouldn’t have missed. Micah, on the other hand, didn’t plan on missing. Flattening his wings to his sides, he pushed upward and let his fire flame outward.
“Fuck!”
Fuckin’ right. You deserved it.
Micah chuckled as he flew past, catching a whiff of scorched scales. He was off and flying as fast as he could with Ryan on his tail.
* * * *
“This is so nice of you.”
Julie braced herself for another of Brenna’s bear hugs. “I’m not the one you should be thanking. Although the owner wouldn’t want you to thank him, either. He’s a great supporter of the shelter, but he doesn’t like anyone to make a big deal out of what he does. It was his idea to sponsor a lunch for a few of the women and children.” She didn’t add that the owner, Giorgio Romano, had once had a sister who’d died by her husband’s hands. If Giorgio helped one woman escape a horrible situation, then he was more than happy to do whatever he could.
Café Romano was a small, cozy Italian restaurant only a mile from the shelter. Because it was nearby, it was easy to load a group of the women and children into the van and bring them over for a much-needed treat. Julie would thank Giorgio again once everyone was safely on the bus.
She waited until the four women and their children were seated at the table in the private room of the restaurant. She stood and pinged her fork against her water glass. “Everyone, thanks for coming today. We’re going to be served Café Romano’s award-winning spaghetti and meatballs.”
The children, of course, were excited, their faces lit with joy, their eyes wide. Although the moms might have wanted a different meal, they were thrilled that their children were happy. The shelter’s food was all right, but nothing close to the scrumptious food at Giorgio’s. One woman, however, wasn’t as happy.
“Julie, are you sure it’s safe?”
She didn’t blame Mona Willers for being nervous. After spending ten years with a violent husband, Mona had finally made the brave move to flee just the past week. Her child, six-year-old Gilly, leaned against her mother, her big eyes darting to the door every other minute. Julie’s heart hurt for them.
“I’m sure. No one knew about our trip at the shelter until the last minute. No one at the restaurant even knew except the owner. Even the van driver didn’t know who he was driving or where we were going until he arrived at the shelter. We only have one waitress, and the other diners won’t even know we’re here.”
“If you’re sure…”
“I’m positive.”
Mona eased Gilly away from her, assuring her that everything was fine. Still, as she’d already done a hundred times since coming up with the idea, Julie ran through all the details. Just as they’d entered, they’d leave through a back exit. The parking lot and the van would be checked before the women and their children left the restaurant. The wait staff wouldn’t know they were there until they were leaving. Only Giorgio and a female waitress would know the women from the shelter were there.
Everything was perfect. All she had to do now was watch the moms and kids enjoy a great lunch then get them back onto the bus headed for the shelter.
Julie never felt better than when she was watching everyone else have a good time. The ladies and their families had seen enough hardships and cruelty in their lives. They were overdue for a little of life’s pleasures, even if it was only a hot meal and easy conversation. If she could’ve figured out how to give them a year of happiness, she would’ve worked tirelessly to do so. As it was, she did all she could think to do, along with the help of social workers, volunteers, and generous people like Giorgio Romano.
Sitting back, she watched as the waitress and Giorgio brought the food to the table. She wasn’t hungry, so, instead, she spent the next half-hour relaxing and talking.
And trying to forget that Hank would be free soon.
She laughed at Molly who sucked in a long strand of noodle and flicked spaghetti sauce onto the tip of her nose. The lunch was winding down, and she needed to get her head back on business and check in with the shelter. She searched her purse and came up empty.
“I can’t find my phone. Joe, could I have the key to the van, please?” It wouldn’t be the first time she’d misplaced her phone. Her friends often joked that she needed to tie it to her wrist.
Joe Panland was a retired military man who helped out at the shelter by doing odd jobs like mowing the yard and driving the van. “Is there something I could fetch for you?”
“No, don’t bother. I can get it.” She didn’t want to take him away from his lunch, especially when he seemed to be hitting it off with Clara Montgomery. From the minute they’d sat down, the two of them had started flirting like teenagers.
“Okay. If you’re sure.” He searched in his pocket and, hardly taking his eyes off Clara, held out the keys to the van.
“I’m sure.”
“What’s the matter?” asked Brenna.
“Nothing’s wrong. I must’ve left my phone in the van. At least, I hope so.” She pushed her chair away from the table. “I’ll get it and be right back.”
“Okay, but I’m not promising your dessert will still be here. Not with my daughter sitting so close to your plate.”
“I guess I’ll just have to risk it.” When was the last time she’d ever heard Brenna joke? She pointed an accusing finger at Molly, pretending to threaten her. “Don’t you dare touch my cannoli.”
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Molly grinned and shook her head. “I won’t.” Her grin spread out. “Maybe.”
“Uh-uh.” She pointed her fingers at her eyes then at Molly and back to her own. “I’m watching you, you little cannoli thief.”
Molly giggled and slurped in another piece of spaghetti. She leaned against her mother and whispered. No doubt telling her mom she’d pretend to steal Julie’s dessert just for a prank.
Pleased that Molly was having fun, Julie hurried through the restaurant. As she went, she scanned the other guests in the main dining area. She wouldn’t know most of the women’s abusive partners, but if she noticed anyone suspicious, she’d tell Giorgio. He could watch the suspicious person while she got the others out of the building.
Thankfully, everything seemed perfectly normal. She eased out the back door and headed to the van, glancing around the parking lot as she did. Her volunteering work at the shelter had taught her to be careful, even when danger didn’t appear to be present.
After finding her phone on the seat of the van, she gave the shelter a call. “Hi, Sheryl, how are things back there?”
Sheryl Rosin was the manager of the shelter. She did a fantastic job and didn’t make half the salary Julie thought she deserved. Although Julie had tried to pay her more out of her own pocket, Sheryl had refused, saying she’d rather the money go to the shelter.
“Fine. The rest of the women are making their own lunch.”
Julie couldn’t take all the women every time, but she’d arrange more lunches so that everyone got a chance. “Really? Any cannoli?”
“What?”
“Never mind. We’re almost finished. Just dessert and then we’re back on the van. I may stop by the little market on the way and let everyone grab a few things they need.”
Most of the women wouldn’t ask for extra items, knowing the shelter made their money stretch as far as it could. Although they were doing better than most shelters—due largely to Julie giving money as well as other generous donors—the women didn’t expect anything more than the essentials. If they could get a little makeup and toiletries, they’d be more than grateful.
