Kissing Reno(Brac Village 3)(36)

“The what?” Somehow Baker had a feeling he really didn’t want to know.





Chapter Twelve




Reno didn’t want to let Baker out of his sight. When Maverick had gotten the call from the station, Reno’s knees nearly buckled with relief. Some detective was telling Maverick about a human being held without being processed and for a parking ticket. The alpha quickly put two and two together.

After that, the Ultionem had taken Johnson away. Reno wasn’t sure what they were going to do with the guy, especially after they found out the cop was working for someone named Kenyon. Reno had a pretty damn good idea what Johnson’s fate was, but he hadn’t stopped to ask.

He wasn’t suicidal enough to question the new governing body of their species. They were the seven deadliest men Reno had ever seen in his life. He knew the rules were still being put on paper, and Reno didn’t want to be the first person they were applied to. Whatever those rules were.

Baker gripped his waist tighter, and Reno welcomed the feel of his mate holding him. For a moment he had feared never seeing the man again. The time Reno had spent unknowing of where Baker was and what was happening to him had been heart stopping. He never wanted to know what that felt like again.

His mate’s fingers gripped him tighter when they pulled into his dad’s driveway. There was a car already parked there, telling Reno the man had made it home. Reno wasn’t sure if he was looking forward to this meeting. The last time he met Baker’s father…well. It hadn’t gone well. He had murdered his first impression and was hoping to make a better second.

Parking his motorcycle next to the car, Reno could feel the tension coming from his mate. Baker really hadn’t talked about his father, but Reno had a feeling their relationship was strained. If Reno hadn’t seen their interaction by the gazebo, Baker’s hunched posture and slumping shoulders gave away the shaky foundation.

Reno looped his arm over Baker’s shoulder, giving him a light kiss on the temple. “It’ll be fine.”

Baker shuffled his feet, looking down toward the ground. “Ever since my mom died, my dad hasn’t been the same. We no longer do things together and I never see him laugh anymore. He’s become harder to deal with, always on me about doing so much better in life and not wasting it.” Baker shoved his hands into his pockets. “Lately all we do is argue.”

“Still sounds like he cares,” Reno said. “He came down to the jail as soon as he found out you’d been arrested. He asked you to come by to talk. My guess”—Reno pulled him closer—“is that he is just lost without your mom. Guys usually aren’t that good at expressing themselves, but if you think about it, I’m pretty sure you can tell me the different ways that he does show he cares.”

“I guess,” Baker finally replied. “We better get this over with.”

Reno chuckled, keeping his arm around Baker as they walked to the door. “Stop sounding like you’re going to stand in front of a firing squad.”

Baker let them in, meeting his dad in the living room. Reno felt like he was under the microscope as Baker’s father scrutinized him. “You’re the one who was having his way with my son out in public.”

The guy didn’t mince words. He shot from the hip and got straight to what was on his mind. What could Reno say? It was true. And he wasn’t about to apologize for having fun with Baker. He would never apologize for loving his mate.

Baker’s father took a seat in what looked to be a well-loved recliner. The green was faded with patches so thin that Reno could see the cushion underneath. There was a large blanket thrown over most of the chair. He grinned. The guy loved his chair.

Baker took a seat on the couch, Reno sitting next to him.

“Now tell me what’s going on,” his father said. “What do you mean there are more than humans in Brac Village?”

Reno snapped his head around to Baker. His mate dipped his head, giving his shoulders a shrug. Reno couldn’t find it in himself to become angry at his mate for telling their secret. In a way, he understood the guy’s need to protect his father.

He just wished Baker had given him some warning. Now he understood what Maverick was saying in the interrogation room. “What he is telling you is true,” Reno answered. “There is more here than meets the eye.”

The man looked skeptical. “Are you trying to tell me aliens live among us?” The tone was condescending, making Reno bristle.

“No,” he said. “I’m trying to tell you that shape shifters live here.” To demonstrate what he was saying, Reno held his hand out, palm up, and allowed his nails to elongate into claws. “I’m a coyote shifter and your son is my mate.”