There were a few faded red marks where the man had grabbed her. She let her arm slap against her side, still gripping Denver’s fur with her right hand.
The manager looked at the bleeding man. “Sir, if this is true, then I’ll take care of your bill this evening but rescind my invitation for a free meal. If you wish to pursue this further, you can go through the Council. I don’t allow shifting in my restaurant, but I also don’t allow anyone here to feel threatened, including children.” He looked at Austin and sensed the power behind the three Packmasters. “Please take your wolf out, and I’ll bring you the bill. Perhaps it would be best if we all parted ways and cooled off. Don’t you agree?”
Austin sighed dramatically. “Boys, let’s head out.”
Everyone rose from the table and gathered their things. The man stormed toward the bathroom, and the manager focused his attention on other customers who looked ready to walk out.
“Maizy, do you think you can get Denver outside and put him in the back of the truck?” Austin asked, eyeing the wolf skeptically.
“C’mon, Denny.” Maizy walked proudly through that room, ignoring those who looked upon her with disdain because she was a human.
Austin snapped his fingers. “Reno, I want you and April to give them a ride. Put Denver in the back of the truck, and I want you to sit with him.”
I tossed Denver’s clothes at Reno. “See if you can get him to shift. He might get spooked and run away. Then you’ll be chasing him all over the city.”
Reno snatched up the jeans from the table. “I’m going to make him shift in the back of the truck without his clothes and take the scenic route. How ’bout that?”
“We’re short a car because of Ben,” April said, nibbling on her lip. “Wheeler, you’ll have to ride in the back with Reno. Ivy, you’re up front with me.”
Jericho and Izzy left to ride in Austin’s car, so Lexi grabbed her purse and took off behind them. Austin lingered by Prince, speaking with him privately.
I hadn’t moved from my spot at the table. “I think I might stay here a while.”
A few heads turned.
“What’s wrong?” April slung her purse over her shoulder and looked at Reno. “Go start up the truck, sweetie. I’ll be right there.”
When April sat on my left, I turned to speak with her privately. “I’m not feeling well. The truck is so bumpy, and the food didn’t agree with me. I’m afraid I’ll get sick during the drive, so maybe I’ll just sit here until I feel better. Then I can call a cab, or maybe someone can come get me.”
“We can’t just leave you here,” she said in disbelief.
“Is there a problem?”
We both looked up at Lorenzo, who stood on the opposite side of the table, his strong arms folded. Everyone else had gone.
“She’s not feeling good.”
I wanted to die from embarrassment. In her defense, April was human, and humans didn’t come with filters. She hadn’t learned all the nuances between packs, and I didn’t like appearing weak around a Packmaster. Especially Lorenzo, and I wasn’t sure why. The last time I’d met him, he almost beat a man. I’ve always believed violence should be a last resort, not a first.
He laughed richly. “So the chicken-fried steak with a gravy boat didn’t settle well, I take it?”
I lifted my chin proudly. “You shouldn’t laugh at someone’s pain.”
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “I’ll drive her home,” he offered.
“She can’t ride in a bumpy car,” April said.
“I can promise my Ferrari Enzo is the smoothest ride in town. I’ll have her there before your truck of wolves ever makes it. I insist.”
April settled her hazel eyes on me. She often lined them with smoky eyeliner in varying colors, although she had rubbed some of it off during dinner. “Do you want to go with him?” she whispered. “He’s a Packmaster, but—”
“Everyone’s waiting for you. Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”
Packmasters knew the rules and were bound to the laws. If he did something to me without my consent or harmed me in any way, my pack would have full rights to go after him. They could also choose to take it to the Council and collect money or land as compensation. I didn’t know Lorenzo, but he would be a fool to do anything but what he promised.
I lifted my eyes to his, determined to ignore how attractive the man was. “I accept your offer.”
Chapter 3
After I sipped my water for another five minutes, Lorenzo escorted me to his black car, made sure I was comfortably seated, and buckled my seat belt. Everything about his Ferrari reminded me of a race car, or a spaceship. When he revved the engine in the parking lot, it gave off a ferocious growl.
“Please stop.” I cradled my stomach and dragged my gaze out the window. After he turned the heater on a low setting, I unzipped my black sweater jacket, exposing the turquoise blouse underneath.
“What do you think of my car?” he asked, easing onto the main road.