Page 54 of Flesh and Fury

“Thank you so much for your introduction to Rana and Andy,” Eoghan said to Alo and Joe. “I’m not sure they would have been all that cooperative had you not been here to ease the way.” They’d watched them drive out of the parking lot a few minutes before. “It would have been hard had you not mediated with Andy. I think Rana would have eventually whipped him into shape but still, having you here was a blessing.”

“What are friends for?” Alo asked. “We’re happy to help.”

“Do you really think Andy’s tribe will cooperate and go along with his wishes to help us?”

“I honestly can’t imagine they wouldn’t if he makes a case that sounds sincere. I think he wants to help.” Joe said. “He’s young and inexperienced, and I think he wants to show the tribal elders he knows how to lead. That’s a hard thing to do when you have to trust that what you’re doing is best but have no real experience leading a clan or tribe. Also, he’s a prideful,young man and leading a band of Indians takes more than a prideful or brave leader. It takes one who is willing to listen to those who are more experienced than you are and that’s not always easy.”

“And that’s the kind of thing that only happens with patience and willingness to learn,” Alo said. “Trust me, I know. Listening to everyone and taking a little advice from this one or that one is very difficult to do until you learn what everyone’s motivations are. And there are a lot of snakes in the grass. Take it from me.” He shook their hands.

“That’s true,” Eoghan said. “It really was nice seeing you again, though. We shouldn’t be strangers.”

“You’re right,” Joe said. “So, what time does your flight take off?”

“Seven,” Ari said. “We’ll be out of the hotel by five. How about you? When do you leave?”

“We’ve got a long drive,” Joe said. “I’d like to be on the road by six a.m.”

Alo groaned which made Ari and Eoghan chuckle. “Well, that means an early night for all of us then,” Eoghan said. “Thanks again, guys. I really mean it.”

“Sure, Eoghan,” Joe said, as they walked outside. “It sure was nice seeing you. I guess we’ll meet up again in a week or so.”

“Nice seeing you too.”

“Until then, guys,” Alo said, stepping out onto the circular drive.

“Yeah, hey, have a safe drive,” Ari said.

“Will do.” Joe headed out to the parking lot with his deputy by his side. “Night,” he said, turning back. He and Alo both smiled and waved.

They waved back. “Good night, guys.”

“That’s gotta get expensive,” Eoghan mused.

“What?” Ari asked.

“Replacing ripped clothing all the time,” Eoghan replied. “Do you suppose the tribal police pay for all that?”

Ari laughed. “Who the fuck knows,” he said, slinging an arm over his partner’s shoulder as they walked back into the hotel, ready for a good night’s sleep.

Chapter Seventeen

EOGHAN

Eoghan dropped his duffel the moment he walked into his place the following afternoon. Ari, looking just as worn out with traveling from Colorado on two connecting flights, set his bag down right beside his. Eoghan sighed and walked over to his inviting couch and sank onto it, looking around for Bear. When he heard the cat coming down the hallway, meowing like crazy, he knew he’d most likely roused him from a nap in his favorite place…his pillow.

Ari sat down on the couch and groaned like a man who was just as happy to be home as he was. Eoghan smiled and rolled his head on the back of the couch to look at his man’s profile. Seconds later, Bear appeared, ran across the living room floor silently on kitty feet, and jumped up, finding his second favorite spot in the apartment...sitting on Eoghan’s chest. He chuckled as the orange tabby shoved his purring head under his chin, begging for cuddles.

“How you doin’, buddy?” Eoghan asked, stroking the animal’s soft fur. “Were you good while we were away or am I going to get a report about kitty orgies from Ted and Al?”

Ari chuckled as Bear stopped his nuzzling, leaned back, and narrowed his golden eyes at him as if to say, “fuck off.” Eoghan couldn’t do anything but rub the tabby’s soft fur and laugh at him. He was so expressive and now knowing he was a shifter and understood everything Eoghan said, made his expressions even more amusing. As if to punctuate hisdispleasure, the cat lifted one leg high in the air and began grooming his butthole and empty, neutered ball sac only inches from Eoghan’s face.

Ari let out a loud guffaw as Eoghan groaned, picked up the feline, and transferred him to Ari’s chest. “Here, he clearly wants to put on a show and since you find him so amusing, you watch him tongue himself.” Ari laughed again as Eoghan abruptly stood up and walked across the room to adjust the thermostat, turning it to a livable, breathable level. It was August in Southern California, and the duplex was a sweltering seventy-nine, according to the temperature gauge, nearly hotter inside than outside, especially after being closed up for several days while they’d been gone. He turned and looked at Bear.

“Please feel free to shift and open a window at night when it’s this hot. It’s going to take hours for this hot box to cool off,” Eoghan grumbled.

Bear looked up from where he was biting the bottom of a paw as he perched on Ari. He stared at him with topaz eyes for several seconds, before returning to his grooming.

Ari laughed as Eoghan threw up both hands. “I’m trading you in for a dog.”