Holding up a finger, Hunter finished entering the data into his computer before swiveling his chair to face his youngest brother. “Yeah, about what?” he said.
“Are you kidding me? Mac just told me about the road trip you planned without speaking to any of us,” Quin replied, irritation evident in his voice.
“Not true. I announced the trip several months ago at the dinner table. If I recall, you didn’t have any problem then so why now?” asked Hunter.
“Really? You got to be kidding me! That trip…the one you announced at dinner…called for multiple hotel stops where I would have my own room and bath instead of three days driving locked up with my brothers…who are not all known for their cleanliness…in a used damned motorhome.”
Shrugging in response to Quin’s diva attitude, Hunter said, “Yeah, well, I’m not happy about sharing quarters with five dudes either, but that option was taken from me when Mac said it wouldn’t work and recommended the RV.”
“But why?”
“You know why, Quin,” Hunter said, running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t…we don’t have a choice. It’s what Mom wanted and I intend to go before it’s too late.”
Slumping back in his chair, Quin said, “I know. It’s just there won’t be enough room for me to bring everything I need. By the way, how long are we staying?”
“Not sure. I requested a short visit. I don’t expect it to be long since our cousins don’t seem very interested in seeing us.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with us? I mean after everything our parents…not to mention you…did, they should be kissing the ground we walk on.”
“Don’t look at it that way, Quin. Our parents wanted to do it and I, for one, respect them for making the hard choice,” answered Hunter.
“I know, but still, Hunt…how am I going to fit everything I absolutely must have in an RV with space issues,” Quin asked, sure the whole trip was just a disaster waiting to happen.
Looking at his youngest brother, Hunter wondered what their cousins would think of Quin’s use of make-up, conspicuous amounts of jewelry he wore constantly, and the high heels he’d finally mastered.They better not tease him or there will be hell to pay.When his mother first insisted they go to see their cousins, Hunter suggested leaving Quin home for that very reason. The teasing happened too often when his brother was growing up for Hunter to discard the possibility. Especially, after knowing what an asshole Jackson’s father had been. But his mother had been adamant, dismissing his concerns, assuring him Jackson and his cousins were perfectly nice shifters. “Look, there’ll be plenty of room cause I’m onlytaking a duffle bag and you know Sawyer won’t pack a lot, so right there, you have space for two more bags,” Hunter said.
“But how am I going to get ready to meet our cousins…the ones I never knew about until three months ago? Hunt, are you sure we can’t stay at hotels?” asked Quin.
Sighing inwardly, Hunter rubbed his face with his hands. Then dropping them on the desk, he said, “Quin, I promise we’ll stop some place just before we get there so you can get ready. And if you want to take more bags, let me know and I’ll see if I can find space for them. But, honey, I need your support for this trip. Can I count on you?”
Chapter 18
After following the map to Reif’s house, Dakota began to sift through thoughts, searching for those of Brian’s mate. It took him a while because he had to discard a multitude of thoughts belonging to others, but he finally latched on to Reif’s and, after a moment, realized the man was sleeping and Dakota had homed in on his dreams.
“Babe, is he in there?” whispered Slate.
“Uh-huh, he’s sleeping,” Dakota murmured, concentrating on keeping connected to Reif.
“Let me know if he wakes,” Slate whispered, and then texted Logan. After receiving a reply, he gestured to Dakota and Theo and led them to the back door of the house.
Receiving a copy of the message, Zane read Logan’s instructions, after which he took David by the hand and whispered, “Ghost Walker,” after which they walked through the locked front door. Once inside, Zane unlocked it and, carefully opening it, moved aside so everyone could enter.
Holding his finger to his lips, Logan walked quietly over to the back door, opening it for Slate. Returning to the group in the living room, he said, “Reif’s sleeping in the bedroom, so be fucking quiet when we go in there. I want to slip these cuffs on him so he can’t disappear. Understand?”
Everyone nodded, and Logan headed for the bedroom, noticing stacks of yellowed parchments on the small kitchen table on his way to the bedroom door. Glancing behind him to make sure everyone was there, Logan slowly turned the doorknob, then, pushing open the door,walked over to the prone figure spread out on the bed. Taking the cuffs Mystia had given him, he bent over, locking one onto Reif’s wrist and the other to the headboard before straightening up. “Dakota, is he still asleep?”
“Ahh, that would be a big yes. Right now, he’s dreaming about Brian,” Dakota smirked.
“Is Brian going to kiss him now?” asked Theo.
“I think we should wake him up first,” Colton said.
“Why? He didn’t wake up Brian?” said Fionn.
“Oh, yes!” Theo exclaimed. “Brian should kiss Reif when he’s asleep. It’ll be just like Sleeping Beauty.”
“Naw, I canna do that to him,” said Brian.
“Quite right,” Kieran said, “Reif owes his mate an explanation as to why he left.”
