He didn’t move in the right direction to go with Dante or even to run.Instead, he jumped toward Alan, and the only thing Alan could do was brace himself for whatever was about to happen.
Chapter Six
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MATTHEW WASN’T CLOSEenough.He’d known he wouldn’t be, but he trusted his friends to protect his mate.Hell, he even trusted the enforcers to protect Alan.It was their job and the reason they were here.It was the only reason Matthew had agreed to wait outside the coffee shop.
Still, when Victor rushed toward Alan, almost climbing onto the table as he did so, Matthew’s first instinct was to launch himself forward to try and reach his mate as quickly as he could to ensure that Victor wouldn’t do anything to him.
He was too late.Victor was much closer to Alan than Matthew was, so before Matthew could reach them, he’d already grabbed Alan.Matthew ran into the coffee shop just in time to hear Alan make a squeaky sound as if he hadn’t expected it—and he probably hadn’t.He’d been told repeatedly that he’d be safe and that everyone was there to protect him, but Victor had still managed to get the upper hand.He was still a threat.
A threat that was now much closer to Alan than anyone was comfortable with.
Matthew stumbled to a halt.He wanted to throw himself at Victor, but Victor was dangerous.He might retaliate against Alan, which was the opposite of what Matthew was trying to do.
He felt someone behind him and slightly turned to see that Teddy had followed him.More people were arriving, too.Matthew recognized the enforcers, and of course, his family was there.Moore looked like he wanted to punch both Victor and Dante, but he was a good leader.He knew when the time for action was and when the time to wait was.
Unfortunately for Alan, now was the time to wait and see what Victor would do.
Matthew hadn’t heard the conversation Victor had with Alan, but he hoped that Dante had gotten everything he’d been trying to get from the man.There was no way Alan would do something like this ever again.As much as Matthew wanted to stop Victor and cared about Victor’s victims, he cared about Alan more.He’d kill Victor if things came down to that.
“What are you doing?”Alan asked.
Most of the people in the coffee shop had already been looking at them, but now, even more people turned.Victor glanced around, looking a bit like a cornered animal.In a way, he was.He was a shifter, and he was definitely cornered.
Dante was good at his job.With a few gestures, he had the enforcers get everyone to leave the coffee shop.A few of the customers argued, but there was nothing they could do against a team of enforcers.They all had to leave, including the owner and the workers behind the counter.
The silence was heavy once they were gone.Matthew swallowed, wondering where Hansen was.Why hadn’t he intervened already?What was he waiting for?
“Why don’t you let go of Alan?”Dante suggested.
“Why would I do that?”Victor asked.
“Because you know that you’re not getting out of here, with or without him.”
Victor hesitated, but only for one second.“You won’t hurt him.”
“Not if we can avoid it.Taking you in is our priority, though.Unfortunately for Alan, that means he comes second.”Dante’s gaze flickered to Alan.“Something that he knew and agreed with.”
Matthew wasn’t sure if that was true or if Dante was trying to trick Victor.Either way, he didn’t like it.He’d promised Alan that he would be safe, and look what had happened.
Matthew tried to focus on the present situation rather than on the feelings he could feel coming from Alan.He already knew that his mate was terrified.He’d wanted to bond to be able to feel him, but he hadn’t realized how much it would impact him.It was as if he was the one feeling the fear, and it didn’t help him stay rational.The only thing he wanted to do was jump ahead and pull Alan away from Victor, but he couldn’t.He couldn’t pull his mate to safety, even though there was nothing he wanted more.
That didn’t mean there wasn’t anything he could do.He didn’t have to be close to Victor to use his ability on him.The problem was that Alan was plastered against Victor’s front.Victor had hooked an arm around Alan’s throat, and he was holding him in place and using him as a shield.
Matthew would give Dante a few more minutes, but if negotiating with Victor didn’t work, he’d take things into his own hands.He knew how to be careful with his ability.He wouldn’t hurt his mate.
“Do you know who I am?”Victor asked.
Matthew almost snorted.Was that really the best Victor could do?
“He knows exactly who you are,” Alan said.“I told him everything I heard.He needed proof, and you just confessed to what you’ve done.This is it, Victor.You’re finally going to pay for what you did to so many people.”
For a moment, Victor’s expression changed.He was furious, and it made Matthew uneasy.
He’d had enough when Victor let go of Alan’s arm to reach into his pocket.Alan was still too close for Matthew to be comfortable with, but it didn’t matter.
Matthew’s palms sparked with lightning.He raised one of them, grinning when it got Victor’s attention.The man turned toward him, and Matthew stared into his wide eyes as he sent electricity running out of his fingertips.
