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Nick left his mate sleeping with Simon and Dex. As much as he hated to leave her, the meeting with her dad was necessary to protect her. He couldn’t ignore this big of an obligation.
“At this early hour, I’m assuming this isn’t a social call?” Daniel Tannehill sipped his coffee, while eying Nick over the rim of the beverage. His demeanor haughty, and his scent making it crystal clear he believed he was better than the bear-shifters.
The fucker’s attitude grated on Nick’s nerves, but he decided not to mince words. “Your daughter is safe with me as my mate. I’ve alerted the authorities to her whereabouts.”
“I thought you were gay and you and Dex were an item?”
“She’s Dex and Simon’s mate too.” Not that her father deserved the information, but Nick figured she was safer if Daniel understood she enjoyed the protection of not just three bear-mates, or the Blackclaw Matos werebears, but the entire Blackclaw clan. Hopefully their numbers alone would be enough to deter any further involvement from Daniel.
“She belongs to Carl Stewart, a man more suited to her class.”
“She belongs to us. Her mates.” Matings were recognized in a court of law, and were just as binding as a human marriage.
“Contracts between Celia and Carl are signed and notarized. She’s his property.”
“Can’t uphold a contract like that.”
A slight tightening about Daniel’s eyes delighted Nick. “She’ll cease this bear disgrace”—his upper lip curled in disgust—“immediately and return home to fulfill her duties to Carl.”
Good luck enforcing that.
“Daniel, you seem to be missing the intent of this meeting. Celia’s status in our lives isn’t up for debate.” Irritated by her dad’s contempt, Nick let his bear burst forth a bit, mollified when the smell of Daniel’s alarm wafted to him. “I’m only here to let you know if anyone so much as looks at her funny, even if she twists an ankle crossing the street to avoid you, I’ll blame you, and wipe out your entire group.” Simon would probably suck his cock if he thought Nick would give him the chance to seek the vengeance he craved. If Daniel pushed Simon too hard, the ink master wouldn’t give a shit what Nick allowed, but would take matters into his own hands. That was the bitch of having an alpha-equal as part of his clan. Since they were twin flames, there wasn’t a choice if Simon joined them or not when they began the Blackclaw Matos line. “Fuck with our mate, and I will end you.” Everyone knew the law resided with shifters when it came to protecting a mate and offspring. “Make sure Carl receives the memo to stay away from Celia.”
“Hold up, Nick.” Daniel’s words halted Nick’s retreating stride. “No daughter of mine will ever be a bear-shifter’s whore. She’ll return at once or pay the consequences.”
“What consequences would those be, Daniel?” Nick strode back toward his enemy, reining in his temper at the last minute, but not enough it seemed. He gripped a chair and let his bear claws burst from his fingers, defacing the chair in the process. Celia’s father gaped at them, his hand shaking so hard he spilled some of his coffee. Good. He’d rattled the asshole. “Will you have Rico beat her? Or Carl? Or will you nut up for once and do your own dirty work for a change?”
“Is that what she told you? I assure you they’re nothing but stories she’s crafted in her head. She suffers from delusions.”
“Uh huh.”
Daniel slathered jelly on toast. “I had Dr. Billingsly do a work up on her years ago, and he diagnosed her with bipolar disorder. She’s not on her meds. It’s why I brought her home, so we could get her well again. Don’t believe me, check her medical records.”
Daniel had proven time and again paying someone to fabricate records was as easy as paying off a small-town judge. “Do you believe your own lies?”
“She’s a liar, a thief, and a whore. You should know that, Nick. She’ll make you a laughing stock of this town.” Like Daniel gave a damn about anyone’s reputation but his own. “She’s been nothing but a nuisance, causing one goddamn problem after another all her life. Her momma—God rest her soul—is probably turning over in her grave at all the shit she’s caused.” Nick wanted to punch the fucker for bringing God into this. “The girl—”
“The girl has a name. She’s your daughter for Christ’s sake.”
Daniel sniffed. “That’s right. She’s my daughter, and I don’t give my consent for her to mate you or your dirty animal friends.”
“Don’t require your consent.” Seriously, this wasn’t the eighteen hundreds, and they were all adults.
“Do what’s right for her and send her home.”
“She is home. With us.” Going in circles with this conversation, Nick grew irritated.
“I only want what’s best for her. I’ve never harmed her, not once, Nick.”
“Of course you haven’t harmed her. You have your men do it. Must make them feel good to hurt a defenseless woman.”
“Return her to me, and she won’t be harmed. You have my word.”
“Your word is shit, Daniel. Everyone in town knows it. After the stuff she’s told us, I’ve a mind to set Simon on your men and let him play with them until he’s decimated your entire crew.”
Daniel paled. If nothing else, Simon’s temper was useful for something. It was nothing but a bluff because that bloody outcome would harm their relationship with Celia. If Daniel suspected Nick bluffed, Nick couldn’t scent the knowledge on the other man. Neither did Daniel smirk or accuse him of deception. Instead he smelled genuine distress coming off his nemesis.
“Heed my warning, Daniel, or I give you my word”—Nick’s word was respected in this town and this state, with a handful of sitting supreme court judges, and a dozen or more senators—“you’ll regret messing with my woman. And there’ll be nothing left of you to bury.” Nick walked out of the home, placated by the terror rolling off the other man, and unworried if his threat was recorded.