"Sampson and Stone stopped to grab something to eat, and your mate and his son were sitting right there in the diner. After Shade joined them, and they explained who they were to Joseph, he agreed to come back here with them."
I sagged when my knees started to shake, leaning back against the door frame. "He's safe?"
Sinclair's eyes narrowed. "I don't think he'll be totally safe until he gets back here and you claim him. We have to make sure there is no way for his father to take him back."
My gums ached as my canines shot out. I growled low in my throat.
Sinclair quickly held up a hand. "You know what I'm saying, Stalk. You have to claim him."
I wanted nothing more. I just had to make sure that was what my mate wanted, as well. I refused to force him into anything. I was starting to get the idea that he'd been forced into enough already in his life.
"They are coming here?"
Sinclair nodded. "They should be here in a couple of hours."
"I need to get things ready." I thrust a hand through my hair, unaware it was shaking until Sinclair gave me a pointed look. "They need things. Food and a place to sleep and—" I frowned as fear I'd never felt before took a hold of me. "What do kids need?"
"How the hell should I know?" Sinclair snapped. "Do you see me with a kid on my lap?"
"I don't…"
"I might not know what to do with a kid, but I bet I know someone who does." Sinclair picked up his phone and dialed. "Bob, can you join me in my office? I need your help with a special project."
Once he hung up, I stared at him. "Bob?"
"He takes pretty good care of his cat. I figure that can't be too different from taking care of a kid. Can it?"
Hell if I knew.
"You need to learn how to do this stuff if you plan to have a kid in your life."
"Yeah." I guess I'd just never given it much thought beyond having my mate. "He's a cute kid," I told Sinclair. "I've watched them play in the yard every day. He really likes to play outside."
Sinclair's eyes narrowed. "We don't have to get him a leash and walk him, do we?"
"Uh…" I squinted for a moment then shook my head. "While I'm pretty sure he'd love going to the park, you don't leash kids."
I think.
Maybe?
Wow, I was so out of my depths, it wasn't even funny. I was going to be a dismal failure as a parent. I could see that now. My mate was going to kick me to the curb because I was a total fuck up when it came to his son.
Someone knocked on the door. When it opened, Bob walked in. He shot me a quick smile before looking at Sinclair. "You needed me for a special project?"
"Stalker's mate is on his way here and—"
"Really?" Bob was all grins. "I'm so excited for you. Congratulations."
"I haven't mated him yet, Bob."
"But you will."
That was the plan.
"Do you need pointers on claiming your mate or something?" Bob glanced at Sinclair again. "Is that why you called me?"
I coughed as Sinclair burst out laughing. "No, Bob, I don't need pointers." I didn't even want to think what Bob would tell me about sex. There were just some things I didn't need to know.
