Page 22 of Property of Mongrel

The laughter that bursts out of my lips feels a bit foreign, but in a way, that’s what it seems like happens each time one of my brothers falls for a woman. We’ve had our fair share of drama, but each brother who now has an ol’ lady has a solid partnership. As a club brother, one of my personal jobs is to make sure they’re always safe, plain and simple.

“Wish it was that easy,” I grouse. “But Addy doesn’t date her existing patients, so I have to wait until I’m released from her care. Already planning our first date, actually.”

“Care to share?” Gretchen teases. “I mean, as a woman I can give you suggestions.”

“I kind of started courting her,” I admit, “when I gave her the box of goodies I bought from you. So today, I figured I’d search out some things from a few of the vendors, wherever you stop, of course, and bring her another bag at my next appointment.”

“Mr. Mongrel!” a little boy yells. I turn and grin when I see JB walking toward me, his foster mom behind him. She’s using his wheelchair as a cart, I guess, since it’s full of bags.

“Is that the little guy I made the Avengers for?” Gretchen asks as he reaches our side.

“Hey, JB, you’re looking good, little man,” I say. “This is Gretchen, she’s the one who made you those cake pops.”

He grins up at Gretchen and says, “They were so good! I shared them with a friend I met in school. His name is Liam and he and his dad just moved here.”

“I’m so glad you liked them,” Gretchen replies. “Mongrel says that Miss Addy brings you surprises when you do good at therapy.”

“She does!” he exclaims. “Mr. Mongrel, guess what?”

“What, buddy?” I question. He leans in close, so I crouch down, knowing he wants to share something private with me.

“My friend Liam? His dad met Mama Rossi and he’s going to see about becoming a foster parent so that I can come and live with him and Liam!”

Considering how cruel his stepfather was to him, which required him to have to have physical therapy to begin with, this is huge for him. I glance up at his foster mom and see her smiling despite the sheen of tears she’s holding back.

“That… that’s wonderful, JB,” I manage to choke out. “Can I introduce you to my little brother?” At his nod, I motion for Jonah to move closer. “JB, this is my brother, Jonah. Jonah, this little guy is JB, and we have our physical therapy sessions at the same time.”

“Wow, you two look like each other,” JB murmurs as he stares between me and Jonah.

Jonah chuckles and nods. “Yeah, but I’m the better looking one, of course,” he teases.

We all start laughing because JB is slowly shaking his head. “I don’t know you,” he says, “but I know Miss Addy likes him, and I think she wouldn’t feel the same way about you.”

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Gretchen mumbles, snickering. “No offense, Jonah, but I think he just put you in your place.”

Jonah shrugs then asks, “So, what kind of things do you and Liam like doing?”

“We both like superheroes, and I’ve taught him how to do puzzles, since I couldn’t do a lot of things before. But now that I can again, we’re both running!” JB replies.

“Oh yeah? Our uncle taught Mongrel how to run when he was younger,” Jonah says.

JB turns wide eyes to me. “Do you still run?”

“Up until my surgery, I ran five to ten miles every day. Right now, though, while it’s healing, I’m using the treadmill in the clubhouse gym. Not as much fun, of course, but I don’t want Miss Addy upset with me,” I reply.

A movement just behind Gretchen has my eyes widening in shock. I’ve got two women, a vulnerable little boy, and my brother around me and that fucker, Devin Donnelly, is sneaking up behind my brother’s ol’ lady.

Not on my fucking watch. As he snatches her, I toss my phone to Jonah, yell out, “Mom’s birthday, call Doc and Rio, and protect JB and his foster mom,” before I give chase. Pain radiates through my shoulder, but I compartmentalize it so I can keep him in sight.

Gretchen isn’t going to be snatched again as long as I can prevent it.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Addy

“He canceled his appointment?” I murmur as I look over my schedule for the week. “He’s been diligent in coming, so why would he do something like that?”