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“We’ll let you two catch up.” Elijah did the same with Gage, only he dragged Gage toward the exit instead of the counter.
“Seems you still know how to clear a room,” Reid said smugly.
“What do you want, Reid?” Mason asked through gritted teeth, though low enough that no one else heard him.
“Boss?” Kenny looked questioningly at him.
“Go ahead and serve them,” Mason said. There were other customers in the restaurant, most minding their own business, but a few looked their way.
Reid shrugged nonchalantly. “Can’t I just want to catch up with my big brother? I haven’t seen you since last year at Mom and Dad’s.”
Last Christmas when Mason had ended up leaving a day early because of Reid’s bullshit. His brother not only resented Mason’s existence but he was also a con artist. Last Mason had heard, he’d swindled some folks out of their money then run from Louisiana.
Mason snorted as he crossed his arms. “Since when do you ever want to catch up with me? Spit it out.”
“There’s nothing to spit out,” Reid argued. “Jeez, Mason. Get the stick out of your ass. People change, you know.”
“And most don’t,” Mason countered. “Grab a free meal on your way out of town.”
Mason walked to the back, refusing to feel guilty for the way he treated his brother. That was Reid’s game. Acting all charming and caring, and then, unable to help himself, his true colors eventually showed.
Too many times Mason had foolishly given Reid a second chance, despite the multitude of times Reid had let him down in the past. Their relationship was never easy, even when they were young, but Mason had hoped that they could put their differences aside and try to be brothers again. Reid had said that he’d changed, but Mason knew better than to blindly trust him.
* * * *
Kyle sat outside in his car, watching as Elijah talked to Gage. He’d seen his boyfriend walk into the restaurant with the owner. If Elijah thought he could just kick Kyle aside, he had another think coming.
No one quit Kyle Durman. Kyle’s family was the wealthiest in three counties, and for someone like Elijah to kick Kyle to the curb for some muscular asshole made Kyle grind his teeth.
It had been Kyle who’d helped Elijah financially.
It had been Kyle who’d listened to Elijah go on and on about his grandparents, while Kyle tried his best to act as if he cared.
It would be Elijah who paid for throwing all of that away.
“You’ll regret this, Elijah,” Kyle gritted out.
He waited until a semi was driving by, using the truck as cover as he drove away.
Chapter Four
Elijah looked around as he stepped outside. He could have sworn he felt someone watching him but drew his attention back to Gage when a large semi drove past the parking lot. It was already dark out, Elijah and Mason having spent a few hours at the hospital, and now Elijah felt exhaustion trying to settle in.
“Why’d you drag me out here?” Gage asked.
Elijah had always liked Gage’s long, flowing green hair. The man always wore a wool knit Rasta hat, no matter the weather, but that green hair complemented the man’s blue eyes. He wasn’t sure how to approach the subject, so he just blurted out, “What are you?”
Oh yeah. Gage was hiding something. His eyes widened for a second before he composed himself.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gage said. “What do you mean, what am I?”
Elijah narrowed his eyes. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Gage.”
He’d asked Mason if Gage was human, and the guy wouldn’t answer him. What if Gage was human and Mason had been cryptic for another reason? What if Gage knew nothing of the preternatural world?
That was bullshit.
“When all four of us were talking the other night, and I confessed that I’d seen two people turn into animals, you didn’t seem at all surprised.”
