Page 94 of Black Willow Witch
Ripper took a turn that led to the town’s neutral territory and drove straight to the diner. He whipped his truck into a parkingspace, his alert gaze taking a moment to scan the many other vehicles and the people loitering outside.
As Emberlyn unclicked her seatbelt, he cast her a quick frown. She squinted. ‘You’re not going to ask me to wait here, are you?’
‘I could, but something tells me it’d get me nowhere,’ he muttered, exiting the truck.
The man was not wrong. She collected her purse, swung open the door and allowed him to help her slide out of the vehicle.
He curled his fingers around her wrist in a move that felt protective . . . like he didn’t want to have to wonder where exactly she physically was at any point.
Planting a hand on the door, he effortlessly shoved it open and tugged her into the diner. Aside from the banging, cursing, yelling and crashing coming from the restrooms, it was relatively quiet – every patron and worker was silent, on their feet and nosily straining to hear what was going on.
The crowd parted to allow them through, nodding at them in respect.
In the men’s bathroom, they found one of Carver’s sons exchanging blows with a member of Shane’s clan. And they’d made amess.
A stall door was hanging on one hinge. The hand towel dispenser was on the floor. The trash can had been knocked over, and litter was strewn across the tiled floor.
Ripper released her wrist, his hard gaze fixed on the wolves. ‘Enough.’ The word was a harsh, growl-edged whip that sliced through the air, heavy with a pure Alpha power that stirred up her magick.
The brawling males paused, their shoulders drooping . . . as if the power in Ripper’s voice had crashed down on their shoulders like a heavy and encumbering weight.
‘Both of you back up,’ he ordered.
They did, panting and a little unsteady. Both sported cuts, swellings and the beginnings of bruises.
‘The fuck is going on here?’ Ripper demanded, looking from one male to the other.
They glared at the floor, silent.
‘I asked a question. Someone had better fucking answer it.’
Carver’s son, TJ, raised adrenaline-glazed eyes to Ripper. ‘I was about to leave the bathroom when Benny accused my dad of being in on what happened to Lincoln. I told him that was bullshit. He laughed, called my dad the coven’s pet dog and said a whole bunch of other crap. I threw the first punch, I’ll admit it. But he started in on me for no damn good reason.’
‘Oh, come on,’ Benny appealed, turning to Ripper, ‘we all know that Carver’s in league with Reena.’
Ripper glared at him. ‘We don’t know shit.Youdon’t know shit.’
‘Shedoes,’ said Benny, pointing at Emberlyn. ‘She’ll tell ya I’m right. Carver’s part of it, ain’t he?’
Emberlyn lifted her shoulders. ‘I can’t say for sure, so I’m not going to. I don’t lay accusations at people’s feet unless I have proof of guilt. Do you have proof? I’d love to see it.’
Benny’s jaw hardened. ‘I don’t need evidence—’
‘Sure you do,’ she contradicted. ‘Otherwise, it’s just speculation.’
TJ nodded curtly in agreement while Benny flushed.
Ripper advanced on the latter male. ‘I don’t care what you choose to believe – that’s between you and you. And if you want to voice it to Carver or one of his wolves, that’s your prerogative.’ He lowered his face toward Benny’s, his eyes boring into his. ‘But you don’t air that outhere, in my aunt’s diner.’
‘I-Iamsorry about that p-part,’ stammered Benny. ‘But I’m not sorry about what I said.’
‘Which is why I ain’t sorry I punched you,’ TJ told him. He refocused on Ripper. ‘It wasn’t cool of us to throw down here, though – I’m sorry for that. I’ll clean up and pay for the damage.’
‘You both will,’ said Ripper. ‘I don’t care that he threw the first punch, Benny. You tossed the first verbal hit, and you had to know it would result in a fight.’
The restroom door creaked open, and Shane breezed inside. ‘One of my wolves called.’ He took in the entire scene. ‘Give me a rundown, would you, Rip?’
Ripper relayed everything to the other Alpha, who was quite clearly peeved at his wolf for starting shit here of all places.
