“Mmmm,” she answered. Her eyes were closed, Harley had started sucking his thumb, and everything was quiet outside.
He didn’t think he’d fall asleep. And frankly, he worried that if he did, he’d have a nightmare and wake everyone up. But he didn’t want to leave, and so he resolved to stay awake and just bask in the feel of warm, innocent bodies sleeping next to him.
He basked. And soon, he slept.
***
Ryan woke with a jolt at the sound of keys turning in the front door lock. He was out of bed and heading to face the intruder before he fully cracked his eyes. Unfortunately, his movement woke the boys who leapt up and started calling out.
“Mommy?”
“Is it Mommy?”
He held out his hands to block them from coming out of the bedroom, but by that point the door pushed open. It was Noelle looking happy, but with dark sunglasses covering her eyes.
“Mommy!” both boys cried in unison. He could see her wince, even behind the dark glasses, but her smile was genuine as she squatted down.
“Shhh, boys,” she said as they rushed into her arms. “Geez, you’d think I’d been gone for a month.”
“Nah. More like a week,” Frankie said as she stepped out from behind Ryan. She was fully dressed, though her hair was an adorable mess. She waved as another man stepped into the doorway behind Noelle. He was large, the muscles in his forearms bulged, and Ryan recognized him immediately.
It was the man who had shot him in the sewers.
“Hey, Brady,” Frankie said.
“Hey,” the man’s rumbling voice answered. And though he seemed casual enough, his gaze was trained on Ryan and his stance was that of a man who was ready for a fight.
“Did you two have any breakfast?” Frankie asked. If she were aware of the tension mounting between the two men, she gave no indication of it.
Neither did Noelle as she groaned, “Not after what I drank last night.”
Frankie chuckled, a warm, happy sound. “I’ll bet.” Then she crossed into the kitchen. “Ryan, be a doll and start making the coffee. I need some caffeine.”
Ryan turned toward her without taking his eyes off Brady. Meanwhile, Frankie kept talking.
“And while he’s doing that, Brady, would you please tell Ryan that you’re sorry you shot him? That you were under orders then, but it isn’t going to happen again.”
Brady shifted uncomfortably where he stood. “Still under orders,” he muttered.
Frankie stepped out from behind the counter.
“Really?” she challenged, as she got straight in Brady’s face. “Since when do you take Raoul’s orders?”
His gaze dropped hard and heavy onto Frankie, and Ryan had to stop himself from moving to protect her. This was a dominance fight right in front of children. If Frankie couldn’t win this, then she wasn’t going to win over any of the wolves. Fortunately, Noelle wasn’t stupid and immediately ushered her kids to their bedroom.
“Time to get dressed,” she said firmly, as she shot Frankie and Brady a worried look.
Meanwhile, Brady was squaring off with Frankie. “It wasn’t Raoul’s order,” he said.
Frankie cocked her head. “You sure about that?”
Brady frowned, and his expression tightened. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I’m sure.” He ducked his head as he looked her in the eye. “You’re asking a lot here,” he said.
“Really?” she challenged again. “I’m asking you to think for yourself. Hopping up the pack on serum is insane. It isn’t ‘vitamin water’ and you know it. You also know going to war against the bears is stupid. Hell, everything about that serum in wrong. So, you tell me, is it asking a lot for you to stand up for what’s right? To stop poisoning a city in trouble? To not risk your life on—”
“Okay, okay,” Brady said, holding up his hand. “I already said I’d show you where the shit is.” He glanced uneasily over her shoulder at where Ryan stood ready to fight if Frankie needed him. “Just don’t ask me to be friends with him.”
Not a problem. At least it wasn’t for Ryan, but apparently it was for Frankie who exploded into motion. While Brady had been looking at Ryan, she slammed a hand hard into the middle of his chest. His breath exploded out of him as he fell backward against the wall. His eyes widened, and his mouth curved into a snarl.
