He shook his head. “I think someone might be a little bit drunk.”
“Really?” she said, turning to look over her shoulder. “Who?”
All three women and Ramon shared a laugh, Ramon laughing a little bit too hard.
“And on that note,” he said. “Maya, thank you for your hospitality, but I think I should get this one home.”
“My pleasure,” she said. “And thank you for the card and the gift certificate. Little one will appreciate them.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ramon tried to lead her to the door, but Saffy insisted on personally saying goodbye to everyone in the room. By the end of it, Ramon had to practically drag her away from the party.
“Saffy!” Aria shouted after them. “Don’t forget, you’re not an angry drunk.”
“What was that all about?” Ramon asked as they were walking back to the car.
“I can’t imagine,” she said, but then she burst out laughing and nearly toppled over on her heels.
If Ramon hadn’t been supporting her weight, she would have face planted on the sidewalk.
He shook his head and let out a throaty sounding chuckle. “Can’t imagine my ass,” he said under his breath. “You are so full of shit.”
For some reason, this made her laugh even harder. But hey, at least she wasn’t an angry drunk. And her mate was very,veryhandsome.
Chapter Nine
Ramon
Ramon tried to focus and prepare himself mentally for what they were about to face as they rode in the vehicle on the way to their latest assignment—an active shooter who had barricaded himself in a classroom at an elementary school. They didn’t know if the shooter had any ammunition left and so far, there were no reports that he’d shot any of the pupils or teachers, but they couldn’t afford to take any chances. They had to assume he was still armed and very, very dangerous. It was a situation that, despite all of their training, every one of them dreaded.
Ramon tugged at the neck of his shirt. It was sweltering hot in the back of the vehicle. It didn’t help that he was sitting next to Flint. The man was like his own personal furnace. Ramon wouldn’t have been surprised if he walked away with a suntan.
“How are things going with Saffy?” Nash asked
“Good,” Ramon replied. “Great, actually. The past couple of days have been amazing, but I know she misses her family. She tried calling her mom last night, but she hung up on her. I mean, what kind of woman does that to her own daughter?”
“Perhaps it was her father’s influence?” Nash suggested.
“Yeah, that’s what Saffy seems to think, but even so. It’s her mom. I know it’s got to be difficult to go against your mate’s wishes, but, what, she couldn’t even stand up to him for her own child who hasn’t done anything wrong? It sucks. I feel for her, I really do.”
“You don’t think there’s any reasoning with her father?”
“I doubt it. On the few occasions that I had dealings with him, he seemed stubborn and unwilling to listen to anyone else’s point of view.”
“He thinks he knows it all then, eh?”
Ramon snorted. “Pretty much, yeah. Cat shifters, right?”
“Hey!” Kit objected. “I heard that.”
Nash snorted and Ramon grinned, but when his cellphone started ringing, it changed to a frown. Only a handful of people had the number. It was for emergencies only. His team were allowed to take their cellphones out into the field, but they were only supposed to use them for work-related issues or emergencies. He pulled the phone out of his pocket then glanced at the display.
“It’s my mate,” he said to the car at large.
He pressed a button then lifted the cell to his ear. “Hey babe, everything okay?”
“Ramon?” Saffy said, her voice tight and breathless.
