Page 23 of The Enforcers: NOAH

Chapter 8

Noah watched Mina dash across the street to her truck, his eyes narrowed. He hated the way the Asshole thought he could just pull her strings and make her do whatever he wanted, holding her time with her son over her head.

What the hell was wrong with that guy?

She jumped in the truck, tossed her stuff in the passenger seat and turned the key. Even through the glass window and the coffee shop noise, Noah’s shifter hearing picked up the sound of her engine trying—and failing—to turn over.

In a split second he was on his feet, dashing across the street regardless of traffic. Mina was frantically twisting the key and pumping the gas pedal in a way guaranteed to flood the engine, even if it wasn’t already messed up.

“Freaking freaktards!” she yelled.

He had to grin at that. It was cute the way she cursed without cursing. He pulled open the driver’s door and said, “Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”

He could tell how desperate she was because she didn’t even put up a token protest. She just grabbed her bag and followed him a few spaces down to the Trans Am.

“Holy crumbs,” she said. “Can you say muscle car?”

“I can and I do,” he said, ushering her into the passenger side and shutting the door. He sprinted around to his side and slid in. “How much time do we have?”

She glanced at her watch. “Negative five minutes?”

“Buckle up, then,” he said. “It’s gonna be a wild ride.”

The tires shrieked as he peeled out of the parking space. Mina didn’t even flinch—just fastened her seatbelt and started giving him directions.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Her hands were tight on her laptop case, knuckles white, and he didn’t think it was because of his driving.

“This might be none of my business,” he said, “but you look more than anxious about missing time with your son. You look fucking scared. What is that guy threatening you with?”

She pressed her lips tight together, and he could tell she wasn’t used to letting anyone in. Finally, though, she said, “I told you he took my son away. We’re still in the middle of the custody battle. He’s claiming I’m unfit and unstable. If I’m not there when he drops Brock off, he’ll tell the social worker and the judge I’m erratic, missing our visitation days, and that I obviously don’t care if I see Brock.”

Noah frowned. “But he’s randomly bringing him over at the wrong time. Does he expect you to just sit home all day in case he changes his plans?”

“Pretty much,” she said. “Robbie liked me a lot better when I was a depressed zombie without a mind of my own.”

Noah couldn’t help it. His wolf gave a low growl.

Mina’s eyebrows went up.

“Sorry,” he said. “Guys like him just make me want to beat the crap out of them.”

“Please don’t,” she said. “That’s all I need.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t do anything he could use against you.”

They rode in silence for a minute, until she said, “My street’s coming up. Turn at the next corner.”

Noah slowed down to a sedate, law-abiding pace. “I don’t want him saying you’re hanging around with an unsafe driver.”

She looked startled, like she wouldn’t have expected him to think of that, and then her shoulders relaxed a fraction. “Thanks,” she said.

They pulled up in front of Mina’s house just as the Asshole was arriving from the other direction. Noah almost laughed at the comical look of surprise on his face when he realized Mina was in the Trans Am—with another guy.

Noah parked at the edge of the tiny lawn, and Mina jumped out. Noah followed more slowly, wolf senses alert, sizing Robbie up.

Brock had unfastened the safety belt of his child seat and was wrestling with the door of Robbie’s truck. Robbie was ignoring him, standing at the open driver’s door and glaring at Noah. Mina looked like she was scared to even touch Robbie’s truck, so Noah strolled over and opened the back passenger door.

Brock spilled out, and Noah caught him before he hit the ground. “Thanks, Mister,” Brock said. “Mommy, Mommy, I get to be here all day! Can we see a woof? Can we play games? Can we have pizza for dinner?”