Page 7 of Refuge

“True.” Lance sighed, then took his cowboy hat off. “And I’m going to make that up to her. To them.” He used his hat to indicate he was talking about the wolf-dogs.

“What can we do for you?” Cole asked, wanting him to leave. Something about the way the man looked at Leeza rubbed him the wrong way.

“I need to speak with Gemma and Eric,” Lance replied, not realizing how close he was to getting knocked the fuck out.

“I can give them any message you have,” Cole answered, knowing his tone was anything but pleasant.

“And who are you?” The man eyed Cole. “I don’t think you answered me.”

“I didn’t.” Cole waited a long second before answering, which wasn’t the response the man was looking for. Cole didn’t give a shit.

“Gemma’s in the trailer,” Leeza said, then picked up the bucket of meat, giving Cole a sideways glance. “I’m heading that way.”

“Thanks.” Lance followed Leeza, and Cole had a sudden urge to grab the man by the throat as he passed.

“Ah, son.” Larry’s voice penetrated the rage ringing in his ears. “You might want to stop standing there growling and go with them. Some may think Lance has turned the other cheek, but I have my doubts. I wouldn’t trust a turd with him, and that pretty girl is no turd.”

Cole’s eyes left the back of Lance’s head to look at Larry. “What?”

Larry stared at Cole for a long minute. “If you have any feelings for that girl, which I know you do, you best get your ass moving ’cause if Lance has his way, she will be one of ‘his’ girls, and let me tell you, that man has had many.” Larry picked up the bucket of meat. “He’s a charmer with the ladies, and he’s rich.”

Being a man, an alpha male, Cole’s first inclination was to play it cool like he couldn’t care less. That’s exactly what he tried to do. “And you’re telling me this because….”

Giving him a look as if he were a dumbass, Larry smirked. “Yeah, you go ahead and be a hardass, boy.” Larry snorted, then shook his head. “When that pretty lady gets taken from under your stubborn nose, don’t come crying to me.”

Cole watched as Larry headed away from him, his words fading. Obviously, the old man was trying to warn him about Lance Cutter. He already knew what a prize Leeza would be to any man, but that wasn’t going to happen. If it did, it would be over his dead body.

Shaking his head at the old man’s weird way of putting things, Cole headed toward Leeza, who just parted ways with Lance.

Seeing Eric, he waved him over. “That Cutter guy just went inside the trailer where Gemma is.”

Eric nodded, heading that way. He then waved Cole on. “Come on, I need to talk to you.”

“Shit,” Cole cursed, his eyes searching in the direction where Leeza disappeared. He couldn’t get a fucking break where she was concerned.

Following Eric inside the cramped trailer, Cole found a spot to lean against as he crossed his arms over his chest to keep from smacking Cutter in the back of the head. Man, he really didn’t like this guy and knew it showed, but he didn’t care.

“Everything is good with the police,” Lance was saying, as Cole stared a hole in the back of the man’s head. “Nothing will lead them here. I took care of everything.”

“So that’s it?” Gemma asked, suspicion thick in her voice. “After trying to shut me down for years, you took care of everything as well as watched my back?”

“Yes,” Lance said, with a nod.

“And knowing what they,” she nodded toward Eric and Cole, “are, what I’ve been doing here, you are going to just let all that go.”

“Yes,” Lance repeated his answer, his face showing no emotion and then his eyes opened a little wider as he smirked. “Not that I really understand what they are, but I do know that it is remarkable and something I want to learn more about.”

“You do know you could use this situation to close me down.” Gemma’s voice shook a little, but Cole was surprised by the strength of his brother’s mate. She was a good match for their alpha.

“You’re right, I could, but I won’t,” Lance replied with a sigh. “Listen, I know I was a total asshole to you, but after all of this, I know I was wrong.”

“Excuse me?” Gemma’s head snapped back. “Did you just say you were… wrong?”

“Yes,” Lance announced, then took out his wallet from his back pocket. “And to prove to you how wrong I’ve been, I want you to accept this as a token of my apology.”

Cole watched as Gemma took what looked like a check. She paled visibly as her eyes shot up to Lance. “What’s this?”

“A donation,” Lance replied, then looked around the small trailer. “I’ve also made a call, and your meat will continue as usual, before I pulled my asshole move.”