She was drunk.
That didn’t help her case at all.
“What’s going on?” I asked in my deepest cop voice with my hands on my hips.
Bethany swung around to face me with shock on her face. “What the hell are you doing here?”
With my eyes on the guy standing way too close to my mate, I tried to make Artemis calm down and moved closer. “Got a call about a disturbance. Everything okay?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. You can go.”
“Well, once a complaint is made, I can’t just go. What’s going on?” I moved in, crowding probably closer than I would with any other suspect.
“This gentleman,” Bethany said with steel in her voice, “is one of my tenants. I’ve notified him through certified mail that he was evicted and given him the ten days that are allowed by law. I actually extended it for a second ten days. He failed to pay his rent or remove his belongings, so I changed the locks. I will have someone come move his items to the front porch and lawn, as is outlined in the lease so that he can pick them up or they can be picked up by the city to take to the dump.”
As she spoke, the tenant’s face got redder and redder. If I didn’t give him an opportunity to speak, he’d end up blowing anyway. “Sir? I need your name and ID, please.”
He pulled out his wallet and handed me a driver’s license. Andrew Hamilton. Like the president. No, wait, that was Alexander. Okay, then.
I studied the license and then handed it back to him. “Is this what happened, Mr. Hamilton?”
“Excuse me,” Bethany said before he could speak. She held her hand up so he would wait. “I have no reason to lie.”
Ignoring Bethany, I looked at the tenant. I wasn’t asking him if he thought it was true because Bethany could’ve been lying. I asked him because that was protocol. Both parties had to be allowed to explain their side of the story.
“Sir,” I repeated. “Did you fail to pay your rent even after Ms. Leeds gave you notice?”
The man puffed out his chest, but unfortunately for him, all it managed to do was stick his rotund stomach out. “Well, I’ve been a bit behind, but there was no reason that she had to change the locks. I could’ve caught up.”
I nodded and refrained from exchanging a glance with Bethany. One sentence from the guy and I could tell he was a complete loser. Hell, I knew from the time I saw him, but whatever. I had to give him a chance to talk.
Just hit him with your fist.
Artemis knew I couldn’t do that, but his possessiveness for Bethany made him a little irrational.
“So, you knew you could be evicted,” I said.
“Well, I didn’t think she’d actually do it.” The pale man’s cheeks reddened, and he glared at Bethany. “I mean, who only gives a man ten days to move?”
“I gave you more than twenty, and you’re already two full months behind on your rent.” Bethany wasn’t taking a single ounce of his shit. “One more week and you’ll be three months behind. I’ve been more than lenient.”
“Yeah, right. A spoiled brat like you? You’ve got no idea what it’s like to get behind, do you? Probably a trust fund baby.”
“Enough.” I fixed him with a glare. “It sounds like she went through the proper channels. If you want to dispute it, you have to go through the courts.”
He opened his mouth to argue again, but I held up my hand. “I said enough. Showing up at someone’s house—”
“Office,” Bethany interrupted.
She stared me down when I shot her an exasperated look. “Showing up at someone’s office isn’t the way to solve any problems. Especially with an attitude like you’ve got.”
His next words made my blood boil. “This bitch doesn’t give a shit about life. Sometimes things get tough, but all she cares about is making her money.”
I had to remind myself of my position.
Show him the error of his ways.
Artemis’s idea was great, but I was the grandson of the sheriff. I was a deputized public servant of Black Claw. And I was one of the dragons that protected the town—even the less pleasant residents. “I suggest you rethink your choice of words,” I said, struggling to keep my voice out of a growl. “This is a bad path for you to go down.”
My chest burned as Artemis influenced me. The urge to shift was stronger than it had been the first few weeks after my transition. I wanted to wrap my arms around Bethany and tell her I’d never let anyone treat her like this again.
Instead, I sucked in a deep breath and watched the stupid man cower. Even though I hadn’t said another word and hadn’t been threatening, his instincts were to run screaming. He was pretty brave. He hadn’t taken off yet. At least he had one personality trait in his favor.
“Fine.” The sallow man looked about to stomp his foot. His nostrils flared and he looked back and forth between Bethany and me. “Can I ask, please, that you allow me to go get my stuff out?”
Bethany shook her head, but her face softened a little. “I promise, they will treat your items with the utmost respect.” She pulled out her phone and pressed a few buttons. “Is your number still this?” She showed him her phone.
He nodded with murder in his eyes. “Yes,” he said tightly.
“You have my word. The movers will pack and move your items with care. I’ll text you as soon as I know the day and time they’ll be available, but you can’t go back on the property without a police escort.”
“Officer,” Andrew said with his neck stretched and his nose in the air. “Will you be able
