I didn’t like her but I felt her pain. Her world had just collapsed around her.
“I surrender.” Mary’s rasped whisper echoed around the barn.
Evan released her and stepped back. He drew a deep breath and pulled back his claws. The blood had stopped and now there was a red line down the side of his face, the drying scarlet streak mixed in with his black fur.
“I am now the leader of the Chandler family. Does anyone challenge me?” He looked around the circle.
Dale shrank down, almost hiding behind McCallister. It was obvious Dale hadn’t the stones, despite being the older brother.
Mary’s sister clutched her son even tighter and shook her head. The boy looked up at his mother with a confused look, as if to ask why they were there.
McCallister looked like a lost kicked puppy. He stared at Mary, who was still on her knees, weeping, as if expecting her to tell him what to do.
“You.” Evan pointed at McCallister. “Come here, please.”
I smiled at the polite request. Given everything the enforcer had done it was a surprising courtesy.
McCallister approached Evan and stood at parade rest, hands tucked behind his back. He didn’t look directly at Evan but at Mary where she still sat on the ground.
“You’ve worked for our family for years. Drawn a check as an enforcer for the Chandlers.”
A respectful nod.
“You helped out when my father left. You stepped in and served my mother well for years, helped build the business.”
A slower, more hesitant nod.
“I appreciate your time spent working for my mother but you’re not what I need right now. I’m terminating your status with the family. You’re on your own.” Evan turned away from the unemployed enforcer and back to his mother, effectively dismissing the thin Felis.
McCallister stood there for a minute, looking confused. He watched Mary, who was getting to her feet with the slow, weary gait of an old woman.
Lisa moved into my field of vision, unChanged and taking slow steady steps. She approached Mary, who stood beside her son, both of them Changing back to human form.
The gash in Mary’s head still oozed blood, albeit at a slower pace. She didn’t move to wipe the fresh lines off her face.
Lisa stopped at a respectful distance and waited.
Mary looked up, her eyes red and ringed with tears.
“I know you don’t care much for me,” Lisa whispered, stretching out her hand. “But I think we can agree that we both love your son. I’d like to be at least friends, if that’s possible.”
Mary drew a staggered breath. “I think—” She swallowed hard and closed her eyes for a minute.
She lifted her right hand and waved Lisa away, staying silent.
Lisa pulled back. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at Evan.
Evan dropped his head with a weary sigh. The one sound carried so much emotion in it I almost broke into tears. Exhaustion, sadness, the pain of losing one’s childhood.
McCallister moved in, coming to Mary’s side. He touched her arm and whispered something low and soft. The slimy thug I’d seen up to this point changed in front of my eyes, evolving into a concerned friend and possible lover, his concern for her showing in every move.
Mary opened her eyes, staring at the ground before taking his hand and allowed herself to be led away back into the shadows.
Evan reached out to Lisa. She touched his fingers and moved into his embrace with a loud stuttering sigh. He curled around her, enveloping her with every bit of himself.
I felt like an extra on a movie set.
Red nudged me with his elbow. He beamed like a proud poppa, white teeth glistening in the dim sunlight. “He’s a good kid. Tough. Going to be a good leader.”
I looked at him. “How can you tell?”
He smiled. “’Cause if you love someone that much you’re willing to do anything to keep ‘em. And if you know that love you know how others feel, so you dunna want to hurt them too much.” He tapped his head. “Good leaders know when to move forward and when to back off.”
I rubbed my temples. “You need to write this down. The Felis Art of War.”
Red made a smacking sound with his lips. “A writer. Sounds right up my alley. I do like happy endings.” He nudged my ribs with a sharp elbow. “Love that Roberts woman. She writes some good stuff.”
I nodded, unsure what I was supposed to do. For once I wasn’t in the middle of things and either being threatened or beaten up or having Bran threatened or beaten up. In fact I was so off to the sidelines I could probably sneak out and wait for Bran to come get me without being noticed.
My heartbeat increased as I remembered him walking out with Angie. She’d grabbed onto him like a drowning woman and I wasn’t sure how he’d be able to get her to let go.
Angie had told me she’d given up on Bran but—
I looked over to where Evan was holding court, talking quietly with his aunt and cousin. His aunt wasn’t saying anything, her head bobbing up and down while her son stayed attached at the hip. I suspected Evan was reassuring her nothing bad was going to happen now that he was in charge. For all I knew it might be a blessing for the poor woman and her son, not having to worry about Mary Chandler’s obsession with the feud.
I needed a drink.
Evan motioned at Red, waving him over. His aunt was smiling, signaling a good start to Evan’s new role.
The older Felis glanced at me, unsure of whether to leave me or not.
I made the decision for him, jabbing my thumb toward the entrance. “I’m going outside for some fresh air. Call me if you need anything.” A wave of nausea washed over me, a mixture of exhaustion and a hangover from my recent concussion. I staggered through the door, ignoring the stares coming from the other Felis. I wasn’t in the mood for any questions or any opinions as to my status or what I was supposed to be doing there.
Chapter Fourteen
A cool breeze slapped my face as I rested my back against the wooden exterior wall. I closed my eyes and focused on the scents and smells, hoping to distract myself from the pain.
An old manure pile was nearby, acidic and still pretty potent. Faint gasoline fumes from the cars. A mixture of Felis scents, some unfamiliar and some—
I opened my eyes to see Jess standing a foot away, watching me with her one good eye. Behind her stood a small posse of Felis including Jake Middleston and Eddie Longstrand.
Jake wore jeans and a loose flannel shirt pulled over a black T-shirt. I wasn’t sure if that was his usual outfit for facing a challenge or not. He took measured breathes as if preparing for a speech.
Or a fight.
He glanced at Jess, waiting for permission. She nodded and he moved past us, the rest of the Felis trailing behind. Eddie caught my eye long enough to give me a playful wink before following his boss. The three other men didn’t look at me and kept their eyes on the ground in deference to Jess’s status. They might be Middleston supporters but they were first and foremost Pride members and Jess was still a Board member.
“You okay? You look pale.” She stepped to one side as Jake and his men went through the door. “Bran called me and said you were out here getting things done.”
I choked back a laugh. “You could say that.”
The parking lot was full with vehicles. I’d totally blanked out and missed their approach. At this rate the entire armed forces of any small country could have surrounded us and I wouldn’t have noticed.
Not my best hour.
“You look like you’re about to throw up,” Jess pressed the back of her hand to my forehead, pressing her lips into a tight line. “You’re not running a fever.”
“Just a headache.” I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. “What are you doing here?”