Page 13 (2/2)

Archer palmed the pulse lock and all four snapped open

"Finally!" Jonesy yelled He narrowed his eyes on Archer, then swung his face to the group

"Who wants to ride with me?" he asked proudly He was so thrilled to have his license, even if he did have to drive a car with a baby seat in it

The group was quiet

"We’re gonna go with Bry," Tiff said by way of answering

"But it’ll be cra at each of us

We weren’t getting caught dead in that thing I s later with Micah and they can drive their own " she looked hesitatingly at the car

"Baby a massive bubble

Mom jumped after she snapped it

"I’ fora load of Moht it was peaceful," Mia said and Tiff threw her a look while Moo," I said as I saw Buddy pull up in his car

I looked at Sophie "What?" she asked innocently

I could see Jonesy pull it together with an effort

Buddy’s car was kind of cool It was soht take a second look at It was a vintage Corvette Buddy was one of those guys that dug working on engines Looks like he’d done a bit of work on this one It flowed low to the ground in a cherry red that sparkled in the sunlight, looking edible John and Alex dropped their loyalty to Jonesy like a hot rock and walked over to the car oohing and aahing

Jonesy wanted to deck theht fists by his side

Sophie didn’t look at Jonesy but walked over to Buddy, giving him a squeeze on his muscular forearm and a soft kiss on his cheek He looked down at her and drew her in against hi her

Mom’s eyes met mine and she cocked a brow I shook ling to unclench his hands and not pound Buddy, I could see it riding him monkey-style on his back Yeah that

I went over there and clapped a hand on his shoulder He whirled on me, ready for whatever and I said with ventriloquist lips, "Cool it Don’t let hiether as Buddy did a casual stroll over to Jade’s aunt’s truck He rapped his knuckles on the hood "Whose beater is this?"

Maybe I’d been preet pissed off

Jade looked at him and answered for me "It’s my aunt’s And, it’s what she can afford, Buddy"

Sophie looked at Buddy, who shrugged "Didn’tby it"

He turned to Jonesy "What about you, Jones? You got wheels?"

John paled It was a little like being in the bull ring with a raging bull

Horns caressing the earth

Moood about being old Soht a whiff of the flavor of the atmosphere

This one screaht their car here He’s going to catch a ride with Bry"

Buddy eyed Jonesy, then looked over at the Parental Wheels "Good thing you didn’t have to be seen too long in that thing Talk about a de- with in your ave hiuess he’d passed Jonesy-uess he didn’t uys that held him while his buddies beat hied that

He was a classier dude than me

Buddy was smarter than Carson and Brett He looked over atthere was an adult present

He blew out a huge breath and said, "Thanks for your thoughts, Archer"

There was a tenseof Lewis, his association with Carson and the up short in my tally

He looked at Sophie and o to?"

Mo and Sophie looked relieved

Jonesy looked disgruntled

I was pretty sure the other guys’ faces looked likeJade’s, Mia’s and Bry’s cars to Graracefully fold herself into the ’vette, only the clenching flutter pulsing in his jaw letting me kno he hated it, hoanted to fix it

But it was onna have to deal

I didn’t like that because if he’d just caved with Sophie originally ouldn’t have to put up with a Carson Associate Made the group weak

I gave a last wave to Mom as we drove off to Gramps

A final ooh-rah to the year, to ht be filled with treats

As it turned out, there was nothing but tricks

Figures

CHAPTER 10

Grainoralvanized tubs He and Jade worked together, Onyx co in the way of Graer Quit that now," Gra behind Onyx’s ear for the millionth ti thought, pushing his nose against the old Alpha’s calloused hand The Dog could smell that the Alpha was very hard, predatory on the outside, but was soft and tender in his deep core The Dog kne Alpha he would need to be to cae this weakness, it was an enorht him an excellent Alpha Superior to all

Best of all, the old Alpha was not nose blind He kneho the Feral were

All of thenized the Feral that roae this threat

Mac

Mac gave Black Dog another pat and wondered how he’d be able to get everything he needed to get done with that dog’s nose in all of it

He loved Caleb’s dog Always had There was soer on it, but he’d bet his bottom dollar on it