Something threatened his family, and he had to protect them.
Funny how in less than one day, he’d gone from wondering if he’d ever fit in, from promising to stay away from Renny, to almost sleeping with her, instantly bonding with his son, and now pledging to take care of them both.
Guess I’m sticking around.
And he’d kill anyone who tried to make him leave again.
Bite them good.
Slam that door shut. He didn’t need help from that part of himself.
When it came time to leave the apartment, Caleb had to hand Luke to his mother since he wanted his hands free just in case whatever tried to come in had lingered. However, his son refused to be carried.
“I’m not a baby,” Luke announced with a jut of his lower lip.
“Of course you’re not,” Caleb said when he saw the hurt look on Renny’s face. “But do me a favor, would you, big guy? Can you hold onto your mother’s hand? She looks kind of scared. It’s your job to keep her safe until we get to the car.”
Slim chest swelling in pride, in pajamas sporting—groan—smiling alligators, Luke gripped his mother’s hand.
With Caleb leading the way, emerging on the outside landing and checking for signs of danger, they descended the steps to the sidewalk and quickly moved to the car.
Nothing marred the serenity of the evening. Not even a breeze. And forget the hum of crickets.
There was nothing but the noise they made as their feet hit the sidewalk.
Caleb didn’t trust the quiet one bit. “Get in the car,” he ordered.
As Renny opened the rear passenger door, Caleb scanned the shadows. There were too many, and forget sifting scents. Whatever tried to climb through the window had left a lingering stench that permeated the air in all directions.
What the fuck is it?
The answer tickled on the edge of his senses, a part of him taunting him with the feeling of familiarity, but at the same time, there was an alien quality to the scent, a sensation of wrongness that made his skin prickle and the croc in his head snap its teeth.
Bite the enemy.
Stop with all the biting. Behave.
The last thing Caleb needed was to lose control of his beast in front of Luke and Renny. He would frighten them for sure. But even worse, what if he couldn’t control the reptile he shared a body with? What if it happened again?
Once he’d seen Renny and Luke safely into their seats, Caleb made his way to the driver’s spot that Renny had left for him.
Sliding behind the wheel, he stared at the push button lock on the door. “You don’t even have automatic locks?”
With a spark in her eyes, Renny slammed her hand down on her lock and was immediately copied by Luke. “Is that auto enough for you?”
Yeah, things would have to change around here, starting with the standard of living. Damned if Caleb was going to have his child growing up wanting for shit like he had.
Don’t mistake him. His mom had done her best, but one working parent of two busy boys—who went through pants and shoes like no one’s business—meant her paychecks had to stretch, and they went without a lot.
But not my kid.
His kid would have the best of everything, even if he had to swallow his pride to get a job. A job, he’d worry about that in the morning. First, he had to get everyone to safety.
The drive to his mom’s place was done in silence, the radio in her car not managing more than the occasional spurts of music in between static. He didn’t have the breath to sigh anymore when she offered an apologetic, “Antenna snapped off.”
It didn’t take long to get to his place, but it was long enough for one tired little guy to almost fall asleep.
Renny didn’t protest when Caleb was the one to scoop their son from the backseat and carry him into the house.
Oddly, Princess, the rabid squirrel that seemed to think the house was her fortress, didn’t erupt into a cacophony of barking. First time since he’d arrived, and Caleb was thankful for it. He swore the dog took sadistic pleasure in lying in wait just out of sight so she could dart at him with sharp barks and a flash of teeth meant to suck a man’s balls into his stomach.
A quick glance to his left, across the kitchen, showed his mother’s bedroom door was closed and no light showed in the seams. Years of early work shifts meant Ma went to bed by nine p.m. However, Constantine was still up, his furry rat nestled in his lap, one beady eyed trained on Caleb. She didn’t bark, but Caleb saw the glint in her gaze and the lift of her lip that said, I’m watching you.
His brother raised a brow in his direction, probably wondering at the sleepy child Caleb held and the fact that Renny entered at his heels.