“Hold up,” Austin interjected, moving between them. “Reno, you’ve got an infatuation. I get it. But she’s a human. Think about it. No one here is saying you can’t have your fun, but at the end of the day, you can’t spend your life with one of them. Don’t claim something you can’t have.”
Long term wasn’t exactly how Reno had presented his intentions, but that’s how they’d taken it. Maybe it was the dead-serious look in his eyes. “Who do you think we’ve got living under our roof, baby brother? Humans. We care for two human women.”
“But not as mates,” Wheeler said, folding his arms and pushing out his tatted biceps. “Lexi’s mom and sister are a package deal, but that’s not what we’re talking about here, is it? You know public opinion about having pets.”
Reno tensed. “Did I say anything about her being a pet?” he ground out slowly.
All gazes darted between one another.
Austin took a deep breath and sighed. “You’ll be targeted by a lot of assholes who want to give you their two cents on the matter. Are you up for that?”
Reno lifted his chin and challenged him with silence.
Austin centered his eyes on Reno and his voice became grave. “That also means no kids. And you’re going to watch her grow old and die.”
“Only got a couple hundred years left on me if I’m lucky.”
Reno’s comment was met with derision as Denver tilted his head and leaned against the bar. “Reno wants to have a sexy grandma in his bed.”
He cut a sharp glare at Denver who immediately lowered his eyes. “I’m going to let that slide this once.” Reno lifted his index finger. “Once. If you ever disrespect her again, then you can tell my fist all about it.” He studied the stern faces in the room. “That goes for every one of you. A woman shouldn’t come between brothers. How I live my life is my choice, and I didn’t say anything here about mating, kids, or any of that. I’m simply laying down the fact that I’ve got claim on that woman and I want to know that you have my back. That means out of respect for the brotherhood, you don’t allow anyone to mess with her and you treat her with respect.”
Wheeler stepped forward and his face tightened. He was lean muscle and could hold his own in a fight. They’d all seen him go at it and Wheeler was a man who didn’t hold back on his swing. Austin used to say anytime Wheeler was the underdog, he’d bet on him. “You’re not getting my support on this, Reno. You’ll never be able to trust her—she stole from the family.”
Ben turned away with an apathetic expression and threw a dart at the board.
Meanwhile, Jericho lounged at the bar, half turned around, smoking a cigarette and watching the whole affair. Austin had finally buried the hatchet and let him back in the house, so Jericho chose to keep his mouth shut on controversial matters and fly under the radar.
“I already explained why she did it, and you’re forgetting she replaced the money so it’s more like an unauthorized loan. And you should be helping me find the sonofabitch who’s been threatening her,” Reno said in a gravelly voice.
“Not my problem,” Wheeler countered, tilting his head defiantly.
Reno stepped forward. “My problems should be your problems, brother.”
Wheeler slimmed down his eyes. “Why don’t you take your problem somewhere else? We have enough of our own. ’Preciate ya.”
A hard tap sounded to the right as Ben threw another dart at the board.
“Since when do you give a damn about the business, Wheeler? Austin had to force you to help out his woman and now all this sudden interest.”
“Lexi’s one of us,” he said. “Your bitch ain’t.”
A hard crack sounded when Reno’s fist struck Wheeler in the eye. He spun around and staggered before catching himself on the bar.
“How ’bout that?”
Austin pushed Reno back by his shoulders. “That’s enough! I can see you’re not backing down on this one, so on my order as Packmaster,” he said loudly, “every man in this room will treat April with respect. Reno’s made his claim, and we’ll stand by his decision. But as long as she’s on the outs with Lexi, she’s not welcome in this house. Sorry, but that’s the way it goes, Reno. Regardless of motive, she stole from my woman’s pocket, and I have to respect Lexi’s feelings. My pack always comes first. If Lexi forgives her, then April is welcome in this house. But if not, then you see her on the outside. That’s a compromise and I think it’s fair to all parties present and not present.”
Reno could agree to that. Austin had made the call and he had to abide by the rules. The second-in-command remained steadfast, supporting the decisions of the Packmaster. Friction between the two would inevitably break apart a loyal pack.
“Agreed,” Reno said tersely. “But just so we can make this fair, I want the women to talk to each other and settle it. Women go on too long holding grudges.”
“Amen,” Denver said as he plopped his ass in the beanbag chair.