Page 98 of Shark’s Pride

“I need to get back to the house,” he explained. “Pack her clothes and personal items.”

I shook my head. Only once. But that was enough. “I’ll do that. I don’t want you nosing around in her stuff.” My gut was already twisting, and not from mowing down too many appetizers at once. The thought of the man packing my woman’s lingerie was an unsettling stab.

“Jesus, man. I packed a bunch of it when she moved from the condo into your place.”

“That was before you wanted to fuck her.”

“I can keep it professional. You know that.”

“I said I’ll do it.”

“Fine.” He raised his hands in surrender. “Suit yourself.” The words, usually so casual, ushered his mien back into steady seriousness. “But none of this is the actual reason I wanted to talk to you alone.”

“All right.” I rocked on my heels, feigning that he and I were having a simple shoot-the-shit exchange—though unsure why my instincts screamed for that necessity. “What’s going on, then? I could tell something was on your mind from the minute I saw you from up on stage.”

Elijah opened his mouth, but I backhanded him into silence—the second I observed the dramatic shift on Abbi’s features.

Pia and Vela had joined her and Grant, and she was engaging with the three of them with happy excitement. Her smile was radiant as she listened to my niece convey an animated story—

Until all the color drained from her face.

She stood taller. Stiffer. I immediately recognized her body language as defensive, even offended.

I knew exactly how she felt.

Because once I followed her line of sight, my own gaze landed on a very unwelcome guest.

“Mother. Fucker.”

“Bas.” Elijah wrapped an iron grip around my bicep. “Breathe, goddammit.”

“What the fuck is Viktor Blake doing here?”

“That’s what I was just about to tell you. I saw him when I arrived, and—”

“Well, consider me told.” At once, I set a stomping course back toward Abbigail.

“Shit,” my friend spat, rushing to keep up next to me. “So, listen. He’s on just as much of a tear as you, okay? I tried to have him thrown out on his ass, but he waved around an invitation like ‘entitlement’ was his new middle name. The rent-a-cops put up a fuss, and I didn’t want to make a scene.”

“Well, I can’t guarantee the same thing right now.”

I came to a halt beside Abbi, who immediately relaxed into my side as I wrapped a protective arm around her waist.

Protective. And possessive. Yep. definitely that.

Take a good long look at this, asshole. Because I’m not going anywhere when mongrels sniff around my woman.

Somehow, I pushed all of it into the realm of thought alone. Aloud, I decided to go for glib.

“Well, look what the wind blew in.”

My bitter tone alerted Pia to the negative grownup vibes. She turned and said brightly, “Vela, did you see the beautiful cupcakes Abbigail made?”

“Cupcakes?” Vela squealed. “But wait, Mommy. I already had one of those pretty chocolate buildings too.”

“Well…this is a special occasion. Maybe we can splurge.”

“Ohhh, yay! Are they as delicious as your brownies, Miss Gibson?”