Quinlan: Foster’s Pride – Lion Shapeshifter Romance (Foster's Pride Book 3) by Kathi Barton (read a book TXT) 📕

they’d done, what they were having done to them was way out of line for anything other than murder. So, I stepped in and pulled out my gun. I was already carrying by then. It was a dangerous area I lived in at the time, and I wasn’t going to die because some punk was armed, and I wasn’t. So I shot one of the men.”

The more he knew about her, the more he admired her. Rogue wasn’t just a person out to make a living in the world, but she was trying her best to stay alive, make a difference, and make sure the underdog—his brothers, in this case—were safe, no matter how she felt about them.

“I thought they would scatter, but of course, you have stupid bravery when there is more than one dick in the bunch. So they fired back. I ended up killing two more of the men and injuring one, and then the one that was left tossed his guns down with the keys to the chains on your brothers and took off.” He knew she’d been hurt too, but she skipped over that. That would be like her, he thought. Making things seem a lot less terrible than they really were. “Once I made sure they were both alive, I called the police and an ambulance. I don’t think either of them had the strength to shift, but I wouldn’t have allowed them to do it anyway. I had three dead men around us, and I wanted to prove I had to in order to save the two idiots.”

They sat there for several minutes, neither of them saying anything as they watched the sun kiss the water on the other side of the ocean. The colors were such that he doubted even the best painter in the world would be able to capture them. They were there and gone so quickly. It was like a glimpse into something amazing. When it was just to the point where the darkness was about all they had, she spoke again.

“I don’t think to this day they know how close they were to being killed. Loman might have known, but Cass doesn’t. His head wound was deep enough that the doctor told me he could see his brain matter. Without him being able to shift for a few days, it was touch and go for him for a while.” He asked about Loman. “He’d lost a great deal of blood. I mean, like more than even a shifter could stand to lose. I called in some favors and had some shifter buddies of mine give him a little of themselves. I didn’t hate Loman. I want you to know that. He was a fuck off before this, and I didn’t care for his actions. But I did know he had a family and that his mother would have been heartbroken if anything happened to him. She was all he talked about when he was screwing around in the classes. How she was the best cook in the world, and how much he missed being with her.”

“Does Loman know about the other blood?” She said she’d told him while they were helping, but she wasn’t sure he was up to hearing it. “What sort of blood? I’m grateful you did it and would ask you again to do so, but just for my own sake, what does he have to deal with someday? Like when his mate comes around.”

“Vampire. Fae. I think Brook knows one of them. Jasper Shades.” He nodded and smiled. “You think he’ll be pissed off about that part? I don’t care. I can take him on if need be, but I really don’t want to lose a friend over saving his life.”

“He won’t be pissed off. And yes, Brook knows Jasper. We all do. Does Jasper know you’re here? That you’re my mate?” She asked him if he thought he’d care. “I don’t know. But he is mated to Parker’s sister. They have a set of twin boys. I think I’d mention it to him sometime to see what kind of things Loman might want to watch for. Anything else?”

“No. Mostly it was Jasper that helped. The vampire didn’t want to get involved with a lion, so he only gave him just a little. Things weren’t as soft and cuddly back then as they are now with vampires. They didn’t like being put into a position where they might be beholden to someone, or vice-versa. Even I was a little leery of other shifters.” He nodded and stood up. “Why did you ask about it? I don’t mind telling you, but why did you ask me and not your brother?”

“He would have done the same thing you did when you told the story. Glossed over the parts where he was in it. I’m sure you were hurt. I’m also sure you were in the hospital for some time afterwards.” She said it wasn’t that bad. “No. I think it was really bad, and that the men who came to help you were there for you, and you asked them to help Cass and Loman. Correct?”

“So?” He laughed and pulled her up off the chair she’d been sitting in. “You’re very handsome. And sexy. I don’t think I tell you that often enough. I love you. Very much so.”

“And I love you, my darling. Once we’re home, we’re going to figure out a schedule that allows us more time to do things like this. Getting away. Taking a break from stress.” She said she’d love that. “Good. We’ll make sure we do it then. Also, when the children come, I want to do this with them too. Not put off taking time for them because we have to work. I want them to enjoy being with us as much as we can.”

“I’d love that. Making sure they know they’re welcome on trips we take, even when business has to be a part of it. I don’t