Page 20 of Ruffled Feathers

“That was just over a month ago, maybe? I followed it up, but I got the runaround. Anyway, I kind of forgot about it, until I got a report of a stray cat colony down beneath Wildcat CreekBridge, including a litter of kittens. But by the time I got there, the kittens and some of the other cats had been picked up by a group of teenagers, who were”—she cleared her throat, her wide eyes getting damp—“making a game out of disposing of them. I overheard them talking about maybe giving them to someone who did dogfighting, but I missed his name.

“Then one of the others talked about how his uncle went to cockfights at the autobody shop on Lafayette Street. That the fights happened every weekend, and that they should all go.” She cleared her throat again. “That’s when I approached them and told them to give me the kittens.”

Truett’s head whipped toward her. “You did fuckingwhat?” Ah, so he didn’t know this part of his client’s story. The way his eyes burned with disapproval, though, I got the feeling that Otillie-James was more than just another client.

She, to her credit, ignored his anger completely. “Obviously, they didn’t take kindly to being told what to do, and things got a little… hairy. Anyway, that’s beside the point.”

Truett gripped her arm and tugged her in his direction, and I narrowed my eyes. “Easy there,” I warned. I didn’t think he’d hurt her, but she seemed so delicate. I didn’t want him to bruise her without thought.

“Fuck off, Willmington. I would cut off my arms with a rusty saw before I’d hurt OJ.” He looked back down at her. “Why didn’t you tell me this?” he rumbled, his voice even lower, because he was clearly pissed. “Youcan’t do that,OJ. You could have been…” He trailed off, and he didn’t need to say what could have happened. We saw it all too much in our line of work.

Shaking loose his hand, she reached over and wrapped him in a quick side hug. “I know. I was fine, though—that’s when I met Lance. He rescued me, him and Akio.” She turned back to look at me. “I’m sorry, we’re getting off topic. Anyway, after I got home, the kids’ words played in my head. I reported it to thecops, because they had an open investigation on it, right? Then I went and staked the place out. I sat in my car with the doors locked; I didn’t do anything stupid.” She screwed up her nose. “That time, at least.”

The reason she was here sat heavily in the air between us. Shaking my head, I gave her an encouraging smile. “Obviously. Please, continue.”

“But the cops never showed. So I went back the next weekend, and again—no cops. Same the following weekend. I watched them throw the bodies of all those dead birds right in the dumpsters, like they didn’t even care about getting caught.” Her cheeks were now flushed with outrage. “So the weekend after that, I took matters into my own hands.”

Truett cleared his throat, and she looked away to the left. Classic sign she was about to lie.

“Uh, then the following weekend, on that particular day, I was walking down that street and found an escaped chicken, which I caught to return to its rightful owner. I definitely didn’t know that the junkyard belonged to that auto body shop.”

It was such an outrageously awful lie that I laughed. “Is that so?”

Before Truett could counsel her not to, she shook her head. “Obviously not. I broke in there with the idea that I could save a few of those birds, but then the cops decided tofinallypull their thumbs out of their asses and actually turn up. I made a run for it with one of the roosters, and got busted.” She licked her lips. “Does it say in your files what they did with the other animals they rescued?”

I flicked through my notes, and my heart sank. “They were euthanized.”

She hissed out a sigh between clenched teeth, her shoulders curling in. “So it was all for nothing. They all died anyway.” The hurt in her voice tugged at my chest.

Truett reached over and pulled her close. “They went to sleep, rather than brutally fighting to the death, OJ. That’s something. And Spartacus gets to live out his days on a giant estate, being coddled like a baby.”

Spartacus?

The way she molded into his body, allowed him to bring her comfort, told me these two were definitely more than casual acquaintances. Was he her Alpha? I couldn’t see any claiming marks on her, but that didn’t mean they weren’t hidden beneath her clothes.

I’d watched her pretty, heart-shaped ass as she walked through my office door. If I was her Alpha, that’s where I’d bite her. It seemed unlikely, though. Alphas didn’t claim Unshown, especially not ones with the pedigree of Truett Heathstone.

I tried to remember what else I knew about Otillie-James Baler. She’d definitely gone to that preppy school with my sister, but nothing else rang a bell. I’d have to call Elizabeth tonight and discover a little more. I wasn’t even going to lie to myself and pretend the interest was professional.

“I’m sorry, Otillie-James. If it appeases you even a small amount, I’m going to make sure that the people who profited from this blood sport get punished to the full extent of the law.” Leaning back, I look over at Truett. His eyes were full of fire, and he still didn’t release the girl. “It’s obvious to me that you really were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it would be a waste of this office’s resources to pursue a case against you. You’re free to leave and to go about your life, Miss Baler.”

I gave her a soft smile. “But for everyone’s peace of mind, I’d appreciate it if you took someone with you on your rescue missions from this point on. It’s always good to have a collaborative witness, if for no other reason.” Like ensuring she didn’t end up at the bottom of the river, or in a dumpster beside dead fucking chickens.

Nodding solemnly, she stood. “Thank you, Strat. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with us. Give my love to Elizabeth the next time you speak with her?”

I reached out to shake her hand. She placed her much smaller one in mine, and I marveled at how soft and delicate her skin felt. I didn’t have farmer’s hands by any means, but hers felt like silk beneath mine. I wondered if she was this soft everywhere.

Truett cleared his throat, and I realized I’d been holding on a little too long. Releasing her hand, I looked up at my surly counterpart. “It was good to see you again, Truett.”

He held my gaze, his own burning. “Likewise,” he muttered. “I owe you one.”

Well, that was unexpected, but I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “I’ll hold you to that,” I murmured back, as he ushered Otillie-James to the door.

He looked over his shoulder. “There was never any doubt about that.”

I watched them until they turned the corner and were out of sight. My office still smelled of Otillie-James’s soft, sweet perfume, and Truett’s Alpha scent. One should cancel out the other, but instead, they blended perfectly.

I was going to have some seriously inappropriate fantasies of fucking Otillie, while being topped by Truett. It was inevitable.

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