Marc (Bowen Boys, #4)(40)
“Let Dylan see if what I’m thinking is going on.” She nodded to Jonny. “You’re not going to hurt him are you? Hurting me was okay, but this is—”
“You hurt her?” Jack stood in front of Dylan when he stood. He looked down at her, and she could see his cat. He was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. Kissing her mate quickly on the mouth, she told him to behave.
Dylan sat down and glared at Jonny, but Jack knew he’d not hurt her. She wasn’t so sure about Jonny, because, while she seemed to have some control over her power, it wasn’t a great deal of it. Dylan closed his eyes and sat very still for several minutes. When his nose began to bleed, she started to tell him to stop. He held out his hand in much the same way as she’d done to Caitlynne. She knew she’d been right when he opened his eyes and looked at her.
“Incredible. She can manipulate your mind so that you can’t see her even if you’re standing right on top of her. She’s able to make you think you can’t hear or see her at all.” He looked at her. “How do you do it?”
Jonny shrugged. “I just think that I’d be a lot safer if they didn’t see me, and they can’t. When Marc and I were playing in the woods, I could feel his frustration and…and I let him see me. I didn’t want him to leave me again.”
“I didn’t leave you. I thought you’d gone back into the house.” He kissed her. Jack felt her cat stir, and she turned to the woods. Someone was out there. Then she saw Dylan stand.
“Go in the house.” Caitlynne had her gun out, as did Jack. Marc shoved Jonny behind him and shifted. She did as well, and Jack heard the door behind her open again and knew that the rest of the Bowens were also coming out. George and Corrine were standing in the doorway.
“What is it?” Jack said she didn’t know, her voice as low as George’s was. “I’ve sent the nannies to the basement near the door with the babies. Corrine and I are going to go in the front to see if there is anything coming from there.”
She nodded and watched the tree line. A shadow of a person came into view, and Jonny growled low. Jack didn’t move but reached out to the cat and spoke to her.
Go out there and think whatever f*cking thought you have to so he can’t see you. She leapt off the deck to do as she asked. Jack grabbed a handful of fur before Marc could follow her. If she gets distracted because you’re with her, you could get her killed. Stay right here.
He growled, and she let him go. When he didn’t move, she knew that he would heed her wishes. She’d pay later, especially if something happened to Jonny, but for now she could live with it.
The person kept coming toward them, and Jack could see that Jonny was standing right beside the person as he walked. When Jonny touched her mind, Jack nearly burst with happiness.
He’s not armed that I can smell, and he does smell. Like a dog…no, a wolf and a… Is there such a thing as something that can be everything?” Jack told her it was a shifter. Well, he stinks. And he…can you see him?
Yes, and you as well. You’re selective about who sees you apparently. Jack put her gun away when the man was within the light. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Chris Reutter. He’s a shifter I know from way back.”
“Hey, kid. Wow, you sure hang with some impressive cats. I figured you’d be with a male, and here you are.” He grinned when Dylan growled. “Your mate, I presume?”
“Yeah. What the hell do you want, and more importantly, how the hell did you get in here?” She watched as the others went into the house, no doubt to dress. Dylan didn’t move from between her and Chris. Jack nodded her thanks to Jonny as she went by.
“I shifted to a hawk and flew over the fence. Nice system if you’re only able to be two or four legged. But anyway, I’m here because there’s this guy looking for you guys. A guy by the name of Kidd, know him?”
“Could. What’s he looking for us for?” Chris walked up on the deck and bowed before Dylan. The two of them stared at one another for several minutes, and Jack was ready to hit them both. Males and their testosterone. Dylan nodded and went to the door and slipped inside the house.
“Nice guy. He’s very much in love with you. He threatened me, did you know that?” She nodded. “Hum. He wants your family actually. He’s got someone he wants dead, and he wants a few cats to do it.”
“How did you find out?” Before he could answer, he was invited in the house by Corrine. Chris looked at her, then back at Jack. She nodded. She was too exposed out there, and turned to see Caitlynne still standing there.
“He’s not nervous, nor does he seem to be lying, does he?” Jack shook her head at Caitlynne. “I’m pretty sure he’s going to give us more than we have, and it’s going to piss off Jonny more.”
“Probably. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it?” Caitlynne shook her head. “I didn’t think so either. Let’s go see what he wants.”
~~~
Walker and she were sitting at the table when Marc came in the room. She had been talking about his dad and how he’d tricked her. Walker was a good guy, and he never seemed to talk down to her. She liked this brother best of all. Walker smiled at Marc, and Jonny wondered what he was going to do.
“Jonny was laying out her plan to get back at Dad. I told her I’m all in. What do you think of it?” Marc looked at her, then Walker. “She didn’t tell you, did she?”