“It’s a pleasure, Florence.”
“Likewise, Mr. Lazlo.” Her smile was genuine, and Major liked her already.
The camera alert sounded again, and Major pulled up the app to see what caused it. Two figures were walking through the woods down by the lake. He headed to the back door and told Perry, “Someone’s by the lake. Keep everyone inside until I get back. Lock the doors and turn on the alarm.” When he exited the back door, he woke Daniel and informed him of the situation. “Please go inside and stay there.”
Daniel picked up the glass on the small table and downed the contents before doing as Major instructed. Major internally cursed him as he stumbled to the back door. When he was inside, Major ran down the steps and toward the woods in the direction the strangers had passed by the camera. When he grew close, he paused and listened.
“My mom will kill me if she figures out who took the vodka.”
“Nah. We’ll fill the bottle with water and put it back where we found it.”
Fucking kids. Major quietly stalked toward the conversation and found two teenagers passing a bottle back and forth, taking swigs of the clear liquor.
“You’re trespassing on private property,” he said, adding some bass to his voice. Both kids squeaked, and the one holding the bottle dropped it.
“Damn, dude. Where did you come from?” the instigator asked.
“Doesn’t fucking matter. What matters is you’re trespassing. You have two options. One, you get the hell out of here and don’t come back. Two, you come back, and I’ll drag you by the ear to your house and tell your mother about your underage drinking habits.”
“Option one.” The non-instigating boy leaned over to pick up the bottle.
“Leave it.” When he opened his mouth to argue, Major took a menacing step forward. “That’s the price you pay for stealing something that doesn’t belong to you. Now, get out of here.”
The two teens scrambled away and took off in the direction they’d come from. Major waited until he could no longer see them to grab the vodka. It wasn’t even the good kind, but to kids, that didn’t matter. Major grimaced as he poured the rest out. If it had been top shelf, he would have kept it. When he got back to the house, Tabitha was waiting. She unarmed the alarm and opened the door.
“Everything okay?”
Major held up the empty bottle. “Yep. Two teenagers stole a bottle of their mom’s vodka and were hiding in our woods to drink it. At least we know the cameras are working.” Major walked to the pantry and tossed the bottle in the recycling bin.
“Is it safe?” Florence asked from the hallway off the kitchen where her bedroom was.
“Yep. It was a couple of kids.”
“Good. I’m making pork roast for supper, and I’d like to get started.”
Tabitha grabbed Major’s hand. “We’ll leave you toit.” She led him downstairs to the game room.
“Where is everyone?”
Tabitha faced Major, still clutching his hand. “They retreated to their rooms until we give the all-clear. While we have a minute, did you read the email from Nikita?”
Major rubbed his thumb across the back of Tabitha’s hand. “I did. What was your take on the Kilbrooks’ missing information?”
“Hold that thought.” Tabitha reached behind his head with her free hand and tugged him down for a kiss. When her tongue brushed his lips, he opened for her. Fuck, his girl’s mouth was made for all kinds of sin. Major snaked one arm around her waist, pulling her braid with the other. With her head angled back, Major released his fangs and scraped them against the pale flesh of her neck. Tabby moaned, the vibration a direct line to his dick.
Major released her, taking a step back. “What was that for? Not that I’m complaining.”
“Leftover adrenaline from sparring.”
“How’d that go? I overheard Craig saying he was going to watch.”
“Trista is a quick learner, so my time with her was well-spent. Craig couldn’t keep his mouth shut about her form, so I told him if he thought he could do better to meet me on the mat.”
“And did he?”
“Yep. He found himself on his back more than once.”
Major barked out a laugh. “You are too sexy, Tabitha Stone.”
