Outfoxed Read Free Page B

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.”