Page 72 of Ravenous

Joy didn’t know that, though, and she stepped forward, and held out her hand to halt them. “Sheriff, Deputy, I don’t know what this woman told you, but it’s all lies.”

Levi took off his hat and studied Joy. “I’m aware.”

Soraya’s jaw went slack at his words.

Kyle Abbott, the deputy sheriff, was a human, but his daughter, Riley, was mated to Cody, one of our packmates. He knew and kept our shifter secret.

Whatever tale Soraya had spun must’ve been to Kyle because she wouldn’t have known he was a wolf. She’d wanted to pit a human on this but chose the wrong one. Clearly, Kyle went to Clint with the complaint, and they put it together.

Because they hadn’t bought a word of it. Thank fuck.

Kyle looked at Soraya. “Ma’am, did you know it’s a crime to file a false police report?”

I smelled desperation on Soraya. She stabbed a finger in my direction. “He kidnapped my daughter from me when she was a baby. I just now found her, and I demand that you arrest him!” Her voice was shrill.

Kyle Abbott propped a shoulder against my door frame in a casual stance. “Remind me,” he drawled slowly, “What is the penalty for filing a false report with a peace officer in Montana again, Sheriff?”

“Up to six months in prison in the county jail,” Levi answered.

Soraya’s upper lip curled. “A prison wouldn’t hold me.”

“Nah, it probably wouldn’t,” Johnny interjected. “That’s where I come in.” He took a menacing step toward her. “Asenforcer.”

Shifter enforcers carried out the sentences of the council. Because human prisons couldn’t hold our kind, those sentences were usually capital punishment. Johnny may be young, but he’d seen more death than I had, even working the rodeo.

That threat did the trick. Soraya shot toward the door, bumping into Kyle.

“My suggestion to you,” I said, glancing at Remy’s sweet face. “Is that you stop traumatizing your daughter by threatening to take her from her loving family.” I glanced at Joy to make sure she was on board. That we were a family–the three of us.

As always, those perfect lips of hers tipped up in a smile.

“If you ever hope she’ll find it in her heart to give you a distribution from her inheritance,” I added.

A carrot and a stick.

Soraya’s nervous glance went from Remy’s face to mine then to Johnny’s. “Remy, Mommy loves you,” she said.

“Oh, please,” Joy muttered with an eye roll.

Remy reached for Joy, and I transferred her over to my mate. “This is my mommy.”

“I know.” Soraya had taken my suggestion. “But I’m your other mommy. And I love you very much.”

“Okay, byeeee,” Joy cut in.

Soraya flicked a glance at Kyle, and he took his time moving out of the threshold of the door, so she could get through.

“Mommy will come and visit you all the time, okay, baby?”

“Byeeeee,” Remy mimicked Joy’s dismissal.

Levi and Rob chuckled. It was probably not the best thing for her to have learned, but like most everything a four-year-old did, it was damn cute.

Soraya went out the door, and Kyle shut it behind her. “Byeeee,” he said. “I think that’s the last we’ll see of her.”

Rob nodded, offering a smile. “I agree.”

Remy giggled.

---