Page 332 of Nobody's Girl

“You should watch how you speak to me, young lady,” he tells her.

Ally looks him right in the eye and says, “You should watch who you mess with, sheriff. You’re in over your head. You just haven’t realized it yet. Let her go and you can avoid a lot of trouble.”

His demeanor changes some and he says, “You think you’re pretty tough. You might know how to get animals to do what you want them to, with that commanding attitude. Unfortunately for you, I am no animal. My brain works on its own.”

Eden tugs at her to leave. “Come on, Kat. Let’s go.”

Ally holds her ground and keeps her eyes on the sheriff’s. “It would seem you’re determined to underestimate us, sheriff. It’s a shame you want to do things this way.”

Eden manages to pull her away and I follow behind them. Looking back at the sheriff, I say, “You might think about letting my wife go. I hate to see what will happen to you if you don’t. You’ve made Kat mad and that never turns out well. The last guy who did ended up in a mental institution. Make wise choices, sheriff.”

The sun shines brightly as we walk out the doors. I blink and shield my eyes as Eden pulls Ally to Laura’s car. “I’m going to talk to the lawyer. Please just sit in the car and don’t talk to anyone. You’re going to get yourself locked up, Alyssa,” he tells her as he sits her down in the car and seat belts her in, then hands her the keys. “Start the car. I’ll be right back.”

I get in my truck and head back to the house. My mind is flying with what we need to do to get her out of there and to teach these idiots a lesson. They can’t be allowed to do this to people. I can’t wait for the legal system.

Eden and Ally are right behind me. I wait for Eden, then we walk up to the front door. “What did you think about what the lawyer said?” I ask.

“I think what he has planned will take a while,” Eden answers.

“I want these people to understand that messing around with things which are beyond their imagination is a dumb thing to do,” Ally says as she walks in and grabs a bottle of water out of the fridge.

I lean past her to grab a bottle of water myself and say, “Ally, you have to simmer down.”

Eden takes her hand in his. “Your temper is as bad as your jealous streak. You have to make decisions with a calm mind. Don’t let blind fury run you or you’ll make mistakes, and that could cost you and me both.”

“I hate it, but I think we have to wait for the lawyer to do this the legal way,” I say as I sit down on the sofa.

“We could do that, or we can give them what they want,” Eden says.

I look at Eden. “You can’t mean that.”

“They want the birds. They can have the birds,” Eden states flatly, then pulls out his cellphone and makes a call.

CHAPTER 68

EDEN

I hear the rattling sound of a truck coming up the driveway. I shout out to Kyle and Alyssa, “They’re here.”

I head out the door as my mate grabs a flashlight and shouts back at Kyle, “Come on, Kyle, hurry up! We have to get them into the barn!”

“I’m right behind you,” he tells her as he picks up his flashlight.

A member of our organization has brought us the much-needed diversion that will get Laura out of jail. I jump into the truck with the man and show him to the back of the property and the barn, where we get out of his truck.

Kyle jumps out of his truck and helps my wife down. “You’re a freakin’ genius!” he says.

“I have to agree with, Kyle. Your resources seem to be unlimited. Who else can make a phone call to the San Diego Zoo in California and get a pair of California Condors delivered to their door in a matter of hours?” Alyssa says.

“Um, you could,” I remind her.

She blinks at me a few times, then says, “Oh, yeah, but I didn’t even think of it. Being brought up normal has been a real drawback for me.”

“No, it hasn’t,” Kyle says as he jogs up to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. “You met me by being normal. I’m not a drawback. I’m an enhancement.”

She laughs at him as the truck backs up to the barn doors. “Time to see if these birds can get along with us,” I say.

“We need to keep it dark for them. They can get upset pretty easily,” Leo, the man from the zoo who is wearing khaki shorts and a shirt, tells us.