Christ, could the cat ever talk without sounding like he had a stick shoved up his ass?
“Most of you don’t know this, but we have—or I should say, had—a large pride down in Florida.”
“In the Everglades,” Stacey corrected.
“But our family kept apart, running a lucrative business in Miami.”
“Doing what?” Julia asked. The clever fox looked good sitting next to her husband. She glowed with her new pregnancy, and Grady had a sudden thought that Miles and his family being here might not be safe for the pride if their troubles followed them.
Stacey answered her. “Designer fashion. I design upscale clothing. Joy, Melissa and Amy sew. Miles is our financial whiz.”
Dean whistled. “Didn’t know you were into lady clothes, Miles. ’Course, as prissy as you are, it kinda makes sense.”
Rachel glared at him; Grady and Monty shared a grin.
Miles ignored Dean. “It’s a very successful venture, and not the only one I deal with. But that’s beside the point. To make a long story short, my pride leader mysteriously disappeared just after his two sons returned to town. In the span of a few months, they turned the pride inside-out. Lex is the oldest, with Ronnie a few years his junior. They’ve gone through money and resources like they’re water. Then they set their sights on us.”
Stacey scowled. “And not just for the money. We told them to forget it, but they don’t like to be told no.”
Monty’s smile faded. “How many cats are you talking about?”
Miles rubbed his jaw. “Maybe a little over a hundred?”
Burke whistled. “That’s a lot of cats. I didn’t know you’d reached those numbers. ’Course, it’s been a while since I talked to Michael.”
Grady stared at Burke. “I didn’t know you knew Michael Gates.”
“All the pride leaders keep in touch. Internet mostly. Michael was a good guy. Kept to himself. I never realized he’d had any kids.”
Stacey explained, “Neither did he. Apparently, the females he encountered were more like their animals than human.”
Gabby looked confused, and Burke explained, “Use ’em and lose ’em. Female cougars tend to spread themselves around. Once they get what they want out of their males, they leave.”
Rachel raised a brow. “Oh? Is that my cue to clear out?”
Burke had the grace to flush. “Hell no. I was talking about actual animals and you know it.”
“Many Ac-taw are like the ones in Miami,” Monty said quietly. “There are a lot of places with Shifters more animal than man.”
Grady considered his friend. Monty, Burke, Ty and Joel had been best friends growing up. But something had happened, and Monty had disappeared. He’d returned a year and a half ago, but he’d never told anyone where he’d been. Comments like these made Grady wonder just what the gray wolf had been through.
Miles continued, “Lex and Ronnie are Mike’s, but they come from different mothers. And they’re both very, very unstable. One of them attacked Stacey. I took care of him. Then Joy and Stacey stepped in and made a mess of things.” He frowned.
Joy piped up, “What Miles means is we tore the hides off a few of Ronnie and Lex’s thugs. After that, we kind of had to leave.”
Ty turned to Burke, sounding very much like the sheriff he was. “You need to report this to the town council.”
Burke nodded. “I know. But this can hold until tomorrow. We’ll settle all of you in the cabins. We also have a spare room or two in the house. Then tomorrow, Miles, you, me and Ty will head into town, okay?”
“Really?” Rachel had that look in her eyes. “And what if Stacey or Amy wants to go too? Why is it you assume the big, bad menfolk have to take care of this? Did you even ask them?”
Burke took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Grady knew that expression. He’d watched his older brother wear it throughout his and Dean’s high school years. “Honey, I’m just trying to make this as painless as possible.” He turned to the Bermin sisters. “If any of you would like to go into town and tell the council your version of events, I’d be happy to take you with us.”
Stacey tilted her chin as if considering it. The others said no, and she finally agreed to stay home.
Miles nodded. Conversation returned to who did what around town, who’d gotten married or moved away since the Bermins’ last visit four years ago, and who had odds to give birth first, Rachel or Julia.
“I’m betting on my sister.” Gabby smiled. “No offense, Rachel, but foxes can be sly when there’s money involved. No doubt that kit in there is already planning on beating your kitten to the punch.”
The group laughed. Grady felt his insides twist when Gabby looked at her sister with such affection. Hell, everything the woman did made him want to touch her. Just watching her pick up a spoon made him hard. How the hell could he make her see him?
Trust Miles to ruin the mood. The pussy smiled at her. “At least there are two good things to come out of this mess—the outstanding meal I just had, and all the pretty women at this fine table.”
“Here we go,” Dean muttered.
“I’m not exactly seeing anything good about your mess.” Grady emphasized the your. “The pride usually takes a vote on things. But I don’t recall anyone inviting you to stay.” The tension around the table thickened. “Not you ladies,” he hurried to ease the females. “You’re more than welcome. I’m talking about Miles.”
The Bermins smiled, familiar with Miles’ and Grady’s enmity. Monty sighed, Joel and Maggie shook their heads. Dean added a “hear, hear” while the foxes look confused. Gabby frowned at him, but too damn bad.
Miles raised a brow in that arrogant way that set Grady’s teeth on edge. “What’s wrong, Grady? Afraid of the competition?”
Gabby turned to him with narrowed eyes, the first negative response she’d shown the conceited cat all night.
Good. Show the woman how egotistical you really are, he silently encouraged.
“What, you’re the competition? Please.” He snorted. “Find a pair of big boy pants and we’ll talk.”
“I’ve been wearing big boy pants since you were still wetting yours.”
Grady laughed. “Right. I’m not the one who wet himself after a date gone sour the summer you visited after your grand graduation from reform school.”
“It was not a reformatory,” Miles said through gritted teeth. “It was Highlakes Academy Preparatory, and I was class valedictorian.”
“So you’d have been eighteen, then. Kind of old for accidents at that age. I’ll bet Renee Duquet could tell a few stories.”
Miles scowled. “There was nothing accidental about you punching me in the face and throwing me in the river. My pants were wet because you tried to drown me, asshole. But every time you tell that story, you make it sound worse.”
“Oh right. I remember that. Nice one.” Dean grinned and shoved a hunk of meat into his mouth.
Monty didn’t even try to hide a smile.
Burke chuckled. “I’d forgotten how much fun you can be, Miles. Imagine someone more annoying than Grady and Dean. Boggles the mind.” He glanced at Monty. “Make that, someone more annoying than my brothers and Monty.”
“Hey. Let’s not gang up on the wolf.” Monty shot a sly glance at Gabby. “Besides, it’s not Miles that Grady has a problem with, it’s—”
“One more word from you and you’re cat food, canine.” Grady ignored the others and refused to meet Gabby’s gaze. He hoped his ears weren’t turning as red as his face probably was. “Great meal, ladies. Thanks.”
He took his dish from the table before he said or did something foolish. He knew better than to react to Miles. God, it was like summer camp all over again. He could only hope the asshole did nothing to screw up his chances with Gabby. Because if he did… The need to mark something, preferably Miles’s forehead, surged hard, stirring his cat. He left the house in need of a good fight. And maybe a drink or two, since he wouldn’t be tasting Gabby any time soon.