“Do you believe me?”
Before his father could answer, the door to the interrogation room opened. Baker was amazed to see the mayor walk in. He was tall, intimidating, and looked pissed as hell. There were a few men with him who followed the mayor into the room. Baker wasn’t sure why the guy was here. It was a freaking unpaid ticket. What the hell was going on, and why did his ticket bring the mayor here?
Baker soon forgot about all his questions when Reno stepped into the room. He immediately jumped from his chair and launched himself at his coyote. Baker had never been happier to see anyone in his life. Reno wrapped his arms around him, and Baker felt as if the world was no longer a bad place. He felt safe and thankful.
“You’re free to go, Baker,” Maverick said. “Try to remember to pay your tickets.”
Baker pulled back slightly to blink up at Maverick. “I was really here for a ticket?”
“I’ll explain it to you,” Reno said as he began to pull Baker from the room.
“I want you at my house, Baker. We need to finish this conversation,” his dad said as he made his way to the door. “We’re not done talking.”
“I’ll be there,” he promised. His dad was willing to listen. It was more than Baker had from him in a very long time. He would ask Reno’s forgiveness and then explain to his father what he knew. It wasn’t much, but Baker felt his father should be armed with the information. It seemed danger was in Brac Village. If his father knew what to steer clear from, it just might keep him safe.
“You told him?”
Baker swallowed hard at Maverick’s question and then gave a small nod. Reno had told him that Maverick was a wolf. Looking into those light-grey eyes and seeing the menace on the man’s face, Baker believed him.
Maverick turned to Baker’s father. “Looks like you and I will be having a talk.”
His father looked confused as he walked out.
“Thanks,” Reno said to Maverick as he pulled Baker from the room.
“What is going on?” Baker asked. “I know that cop is off his freaking rocker, but I have a feeling I’m missing something here.”
“I’ll explain everything once we get to your dad’s. I don’t want to have to repeat myself.”
Baker trusted that Reno would fill him in on what was going on around this place. He saw Detective Bianchi watching him as he exited the station and wondered if he was a shifter as well.
As they approached Reno’s motorcycle, Baker pulled at his hand until his mate stopped. “Just tell me one thing, Reno. Will Johnson be bothering us again?” Because the thought scared Baker. Having someone come after him was frightening enough. Toss in the fact that he was a cop and it was downright terrifying.
Reno tugged on Baker’s hand to get him moving once more. “We don’t have to worry about him any longer. The Ultionem has taken care of that little problem.”
“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
