The last thing he wanted to do was rip into the man who not only was one of his mate’s closest friends, but his cousin’s savior. Besides, Bunny hated fighting, but he’d do it for Tabby. It was nice to know there wasn’t a need where Julian was concerned.
The sounds behind the door had stopped. “He thinks what again?”
“Face it, hon.” Julian struck a dramatic pose. “You want me even more than you want Legolas.”
The door opened. Tabby stepped out and Bunny’s tongue nearly hit the floor.
Those jeans looked painted on. “Of course. Legolas can’t do that thing you do with your tongue and a cherry stem.”
Bunny sighed. He’d explore those jeans later. He turned his attention back to Julian. “You need to die now.”
Julian laughed. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”
Bunny stepped forward and shook the hand Julian was holding out. He tried not to frown. The man looked like hammered shit despite the front he was putting on.
“Alexander Bunsun. Call me Bunny.”
The Bear blinked, but didn’t say a word. “Julian Ducharme. Tabby and I are good friends.”
“I owe you for what you did for my cousin.”
Julian grimaced. “I couldn’t leave her like that.” He shrugged. “Her pain pulled me from three blocks away.”
Tabby’s hand rested on his shoulder, calming him even further. “Are you the one who called it in to 9-1-1?”
Julian frowned and sat up straight. “No. They arrived just as I got there.”
Tabby and Julian exchanged a worried look. These two obviously had some history, and his mate trusted the other Bear. He decided that was good enough for him. He relaxed, settling into a chair next to Julian’s bed. “So who did call them?”
“That’s a good question.”
Tabby frowned. “I know just the man to answer that.” She pulled out her cell phone and touched a number, then put the phone to her ear. “Hi, it’s Tabby. Can you put me through to Gabe?”
“Good girl. I should have thought of that.”
Bunny frowned when Julian settled back against the head of the bed. “Thought of what?”
Tabby moved to the door and opened it, stepping out into the hallway. “Hey, Gabe. Any news on Chloe’s case?”
Julian folded his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. “She’s friends with the sheriff. She’ll get an answer out of him faster than anyone but his mate, especially where Chloe’s concerned.” Julian gave him a speculative look. “She may have lost her family in Georgia, but she found a new one here. You understand?”
Bunny studied Julian and slowly nodded. Yeah, he understood. “Thank you again.”
Julian shrugged. “I’m not the only one. There are a number of people who would go to bat for that girl without thinking twice about it. In fact, I think she’d be surprised at how many would.”
“Including the Alpha?”
“Not sure, but I think so. From what I’ve seen, Max is pretty confident and he trusts his hierarchy.”
“And if Gabe says she’s family, he’ll what? Accept that?”
Julian looked mysterious. A streak of palest white flashed through his hair, gone almost as quickly as it appeared. “I think when all is said and done, Tabby’s going to find that she’s got a lot more family than she ever dreamed of.”
Julian snorted. “Sure. Can you have it for me?”
Bunny rolled his eyes. “Remind me to introduce you to Ryan. You two should get along really well.” He held out the bear. “Here. From Tabby and me.”
Julian took the white bear and snorted. “Cute. But why the Superman costume?”
Tabby stepped back into the room before he could answer. She looked shaken, wild. Bunny stood, ready to comfort his shaken mate. “I just talked to Gabe.”
Julian sat up slowly, all of his attention suddenly focused on Tabby. Bunny tensed all over. The look on her face was horrible. “What, baby?”
“Chloe.” She gulped. “She wasn’t hit by a car. They’ve confirmed that the marks on her body are consistent with a beating.” She stepped forward and clasped her arms around Bunny, laying her head against his chest with a sigh. “Someone tried to kill your cousin.”
Bunny blinked in the late afternoon light filtering in through the hospital window.
He’d made sure Julian got home safely, following the cab to the small house on the outskirts of town Julian called home. He’d dropped Tabby off at work immediately afterwards and headed right back to the hospital. He’d been sitting there ever since.
“Go home.”
Bunny blinked up at his father. He couldn’t leave Chloe. What if something happened to her? He needed to be there to protect her. It was bad enough he hadn’t been there before.
His father’s hand landed on his shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking. We’re more alike than you know.” Will pulled Bunny out of the chair. “I promise nothing is going to happen to Chloe while I’m here.”
Bunny looked into his father’s shifted eyes and nodded. He and his father were a great deal alike. Will would protect Chloe against anything and everything that came at her. The only difference was William didn’t have the anger issues Bunny faced on a daily basis. The rage in him was much more focused and directed.
He’d taken that anger and turned it on the land itself, creating his business with his own two hands. Just as Bunny used yoga, his father used physical labor, and it worked. “Okay. I’ll go rest. Call me if she wakes up.” He winced. He’d meant to say
“Sleep, son. You’re exhausted. You helped heal Chloe. Now it’s time to heal yourself.”
Bunny nodded again and shuffled to the door.
“And leave the bike here. Take a cab.”
He froze. He
“Maybe you could call your mate and get a ride?”
Now there was a thought. Maybe he’d convince her to come back to the hotel room with him. “Good idea.” Maybe he’d do more than nap, too. He pulled out his cell phone and called Living Art.
“Living Art, Glory speaking.”
“Hey, Glory. Can you put Tabby on?”
“Sure thing.” She sounded so sweet and demure, right up until she screeched at the top of her lungs, “TA- BBY! PHO-ONE!” He pulled the phone away from his ear with a wince. Damn, that girl had a healthy set of lungs.
His father chuckled. “Isn’t that the girl Ryan showed some interest in?”
Bunny gaped. Ryan had shown interest in one of the girls?
“Tabby speaking. How can I help y’all?”
He shivered. That deep drawl washed over him again, his cock perking up with insistent interest. Damn, he’d left her only six hours ago and already he was jonesing for the sight of her. “Can you do me a favor, baby?”
“Sure, sugar. What do you need?”
“Can you come pick me up? I’m exhausted and I’ve been ordered to leave the bike here.”
There was a pause. “I can’t. I’m expecting a customer in about ten minutes.”
He hated to ask, but damn it he was starting to see double he was so exhausted.
He hadn’t slept a wink in that damn hotel room, pacing and worrying about Tabby and Chloe. His mother had taken one look at him and shaken her head, exasperated. “Can one of the other girls give me a lift?”
“I’ll do one better. Wait there, someone will pick you up shortly. And don’t even
