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“But…”
Rafe said, “Now, the guys don’t care for tea all that much, and your wife probably won’t enjoy their attentions any more than I enjoy you turning up here, so I’m hoping we can work out a deal.”
“A deal?”
Max didn’t sound like he liked the sound of that. “What deal?”
Rafe’s gaze didn’t waver from Dean. “One in which you get your ass home and go online and cover this profile you found with warnings. Tell your pals that this is a bogus profile and that anyone who even reads it all the way through is going to have his head kicked up his ass. Got that?”
“Yes.”
Simone could tell from the tone of his voice that it had finally dawned on the man that he had stepped in something very treacherous and probably stinky.
“Now before you leave, I expect you to apologize to the lady—through the door—for being such a jerk as well as your use of foul and crude language. Then go home,” said Rafe.
The man was sweating. “I really thought the lady was just playing a game.”
Max nudged him harder than necessary to face the door. “Bullshit.”
Rafe heaved a sigh. “Regardless of what you see on television, not many real people are as dumb as you, Dean. Now do what you’ve been told, or we can go to your house and continue this discussion.”
Dean paled. “I’m really sorry, ma’am. I was under the impression that I was doing something all right.” He glanced at Rafe. “It was really stupid of me to assume you’d wish any such thing, and I’m sorry for my offensive language.”
“Fine. Now fuck off.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He sounded so meek that it made Simone briefly smile in spite of the situation.
He looked to Rafe and Max for permission, and when they both nodded, the man fled, running in an odd waddle to a car parked at the curb. Rafe and Max waited until the car pulled away before Max knocked on the door.
Simone almost threw the door open. “Thank you,” she said as they came in.
They stood there looking at her. Rafe shifted slightly. “I had intended to come in and give you a hug.”
“And?”
Rafe nodded at the bat. “Is it safe to come in?”
She stared at it. “I’d forgotten I had it.” Opening her hand, she let it fall to the carpet and held out her arms. “I think it’s safe now, and I really need that hug.”
Max stepped closer to put his arm around her back as Rafe pulled her against his chest. They held her between them for a long moment, and she soaked up every second of the succor they provided.
After they held her for a moment, Rafe eased back first and looked into the house. “Is Gemma home?”
“No, thank god.”
“We need to get that profile down—maybe take down the whole damn site.” Max’s lips were tight, and it was clear he was barely keeping his anger in check.
“I thought you sent Dean off with the task to negate that profile. I think the man would do whatever you told him.”
“I’m sure he will, but it’s better to make certain it’s down.”
Rafe said, “Besides, I want him to think he had a chance at redemption. If I take it down, he’ll stay up nights wondering if he’s in trouble for not doing what he was told. There’s half a chance that it will make him see the error of his ways.”
“Really?”
Rafe laughed. “Probably not, but I didn’t think beating the crap out of him would do more than get me arrested. Putting the fear of a stereotypical biker gang into him, keeping him home nights shaking in his boots, was the closest joy I could get.”
Max cracked his knuckles. “Rafe’s a little more patient than me. I wanted to break him in half.”
