Jason had a face like thunder, but Leon merely grinned at her.
“Mason!” she shouted. “Mason!”
He ignored her, slamming the front door closed behind him.
“You’ve only got yourself to blame,” Leon said.
She threw up her hands in disbelief. “For what, meeting my mate?”
“You could have had any man you wanted,” he carried on as if he hadn’t heard her. “And you chosehim.”
“Jealous?” she taunted.
“Jealous?” he repeated. “Why the fuck would I be jealous of a fucking hawk shifter? Heard they got dicks the size of maggots.”
He roared with laughter at his joke and Jason chuckled along with him.
“And I heard you’ve got a vagina,” she snapped back.
“Shut the fuck up!” he roared. “Or I’ll show you exactly what I got, and you’d probably beg me for it, too.”
Saffy shook her head. “You’re deluded. Now Iknowyou’re jealous because you’ve been trying to get in my pants for months, but you’re too stupid to realize I find you repulsive!”
His face turned an angry shade of red, and before she even had time to question her sanity for insulting him when she was alone with him and his best friend, he drew his hand back and slammed it into her face. Hard. She staggered back into the wall, blood leaking from her re-opened lip.
“I wouldn’t touch your slut, hawk-loving ass with a bargepole. You’re damaged goods.” He looked at the clock. “Anyway, Mason will be home any moment and he and your father are gonna kick the shit out of that fucking Miguel asshole. If we’re lucky, they might even kill him.”
Saffy’s eyes widened and she tried to duck around Leon to get to the door. He grabbed her upper arms, his fingers biting into the flesh as he swung her round and laughed in her face. She struggled to break free from his grip, but he only laughed harder at her futile attempts.
“Go on,” he said. “I like a woman who fights.”
Oh, he wanted a fight, did he? Fine. She’d give him one. Saffy spat in his face. He touched a finger to the glob of saliva and curled his lip in disgust. She knew right then she was in deep, deep trouble.
Chapter Eleven
Ramon
Was Ramon mistaken, or was there a brief hint of respect on Owen’s face?
“I’ve got to hand it to you,” the dominant male said. “Not many men would be stupid enough to come to my home and threaten me. Or brave enough.”
“She’s my mate,” Ramon said simply. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
When Owen frowned, Ramon feared he was about to lose whatever ground he had just gained.
“She was afraid,” he said quickly. “And I’m willing to bet your daughter doesn’t scare easily. Please, if you have any idea where Mason would have taken her, tell me. I just want to make sure she’s all right.”
The man’s expression softened ever so slightly around his eyes, and Ramon was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard someone behind him, walking up the pathway towards the house. He turned and found himself face to face with Mason, who, judging by the dopey, self-satisfied grin on his face, was inebriated. He grabbed the collar of Mason’s shirt and shook him.
“Where is she?” he demanded.
“None of your goddamn business,” Mason spat.
“If you want to live to see tomorrow, you’d better tell me where she is.”
Anger flashed in Mason’s eyes and he gripped Ramon’s wrists and tried to pry them loose from his shirt, but Ramon brought all his strength to bear. He wasn’t about to let Mason get away until he’d answered him.
“Where is she?” Ramon shouted again, louder this time and with real menace in his voice.
