Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (34 page)

“Daddy, it’s as big as me!”

Hunter leaned forward and wrapped his arms around their son. “Yes, baby, it sure is.”

“Poppa, make it bigger!”

Clay laughed and leaned forward to kiss their son’s cheek. “You got it, cub.”

He set to work snapping pieces together furiously until the wall was indeed a few inches higher than their little boy. Their son’s squeals of excitement filled the living room, making Clay smile.

“I think we should go even higher, Brandon,” Hunter told him, leaning forward to bite at his son’s belly playfully.

Their son giggled and patted Hunter’s cheeks happily. “Yes, Daddy! Higher!”

“Down!” a little voice called out, drawing their attention to their tiny daughter as she struggled to get down from Abbey’s arms.

“Hang on, honey,” Abbey cautioned her, setting her down carefully and holding her lightly as she teetered toward Clay.

“Poppa!” she called out, losing her balance and dropping down onto her diaper-clad bottom.

Clay scooped her up and cuddled her into his arms, kissing her cheek repeatedly and making her giggle. “Do you want to play with us, sweetie?”

Their daughter laughed and leaned into Clay’s chest. “Play!” she called out. “Daddy!”

Hunter laughed and reached out to snag her little foot. He pulled it toward his mouth, kissing the soul of her foot before blowing a raspberry against it, making their daughter squeal with delight.

Abbey smiled tenderly, resting her hands on her swollen belly and rubbing it gently. Happy tears filled her eyes as she watched their children playing with their fathers.

Abbey gasped at the realness of what she had seen. Holding their daughter had been so real. She could almost feel the warmth and softness of their little girl. Their son was so happy playing with his fathers. Reaching down, she covered her belly, checking to make sure she wasn’t already swollen with their child. She laughed softly, happy for the first time in such a long time. She truly wished Hunter and Clay had already helped her to create a new life that was growing inside of her.

That was a beautiful vision, sweetheart. Our children are as gorgeous as you are.
Hunter’s voice was gentle as his emotions stroked across her heart through their bond.

Now we know we’ll have at least three children. Thank you, honey,
Clay’s whispered voice filled her mind.
By the Fates, you’re incredibly beautiful pregnant, Abbey. It’s a state we’re going to love seeing you in. Often.

Abbey was overwhelmed with the emotions that filled her. The children were beautiful, and they were happy. What filled her heart with more joy than she could process was the fact that both Hunter and Clay were such wonderful fathers. It was obvious in the vision that the way they interacted with their children was a natural occurrence. The love that they had for their son and daughter was the most beautiful thing Abbey had ever seen.

She had no words to express how much the vision meant to her, or how wonderful the thought of having those babies with her men filled her to overflowing with love for them. Instead of trying to express herself, she opened her heart and allowed her thoughts and feelings to rush through their mating bond so that it went directly into Hunter’s and Clay’s hearts. She felt their immediate joy as they wrapped her in the white ribbons of their love.

Clay, it looks like you and Hunter are going to love me into having those five children you want.

Honey, we’re going to love every minute of our lives with you and will be happy with as many children as the Fates bless us with.

Sweetheart, you have no idea how much having you in our lives has given us hope.

Hunter’s voice was soft as he spoke, but Abbey could hear the pain and sadness that edged its way into his words. She could feel the blinding emptiness that filled both men’s souls, but she could also feel the beginning wonder of their love for her sending warmth through them. She could feel their pain ebbing and was choked with emotion as she realized that it was because they had found her. Never in her life had she ever thought she would be the cause of such tenderness and love, but she could feel it in their hearts. The white ribbons of their bond surrounded her, bringing with it a warmth of acceptance, peace, and happiness.

Hunter, you may not think you have the gift of words like Clay has, but you have something just as good.

What’s that, sweetheart?

You have honest feelings that fill me with happiness.

There was a moment of silence and Abbey was afraid that she had spoken the wrong words. She almost apologized and closed in on herself, old insecurities working their way into her mind and filling her with the fear of rejection.

Thank you, Abbey,
Hunter finally whispered in her mind.

She smiled and took a breath, sighing in relief.
You’re very welcome, Daddy.

Hunter’s wolf pranced with happiness, the instant joy filling her head. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of it.

Now you’ve done it, Mate,
Clay told her, laughing.

What have I done, Poppa?

Abbey.

Clay’s single whispered word touched her and sent feelings of love deep into her heart.

I think you two will be the most wonderful fathers. The beautiful woman was right. You both are amazing men. I’m so glad you found me.

She could feel the happiness that filled both men and smiled.

I hope you’ll be coming home soon. I have plans for you both.

What plans, sweetheart?
Hunter asked her gently.

I’ll let you know when you come home. Just do me a favor.

What, honey?
Clay asked.

Bring your handcuffs.

The instant surge of desire that she felt filling them almost dropped her to her knees. Oh, yeah. She had some definite plans for her men when they got home.

Hunter walked toward the car that he and Clay had just pulled over for running a red light. Clay stayed inside the patrol car and called in the plates while Hunter walked over to the driver’s side door.

There are two men in the front seat, Clay, and there’s one man in the back.

Wait for me, Hunter. I’m calling in for backup.

I’ve got this. Don’t worry.

“Did I do something wrong, Officer?” the young man in the driver’s seat who was probably in his early twenties called up to him through his open window.

“License and registration, please,” Hunter told him firmly, anger lacing his words. This man’s recklessness could have injured someone. “Are you aware you ran that red light back there?”

“No,” the man answered quickly. “It was yellow when I went through it.”

Hunter growled softly. “No, it wasn’t yellow,” he corrected him. “The traffic camera will prove that. License and registration, sir.”

The man reached across the front seat of his car to open the glove compartment, looking at the man in the passenger seat briefly. Hunter watched him warily, realizing that the three men in the car posed a definite threat. He breathed in deeply, glad when their scents proved to him that they were human. At least he and Clay wouldn’t have to deal with another pack’s attack this time.

He saw the silver metal of the handgun as the glove compartment was pulled open. This was not good.

Gun being pulled, Clay.

Stepping back, Hunter drew his gun in one fluid motion and pointed it at the man.

“Hands on the steering wheel! Now!” he demanded, his aim true as he kept the young man in his sight. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, son.”

Clay tensed as he saw Hunter draw his gun and yell to the driver of the car. Without hesitation, he pushed open the passenger side door of the patrol car and stalked toward the stopped car, drawing his gun and aiming it at the man in the back seat.

Gun in the back seat, too, Hunter.

Clay’s voice was calm, and his stance was sure as he stepped up beside the rear passenger door and took careful aim. “Put the gun down!” he ordered firmly.

The young man turned toward Clay and raised his gun. Clay watched the man’s eyes, years of experience telling him that this man was desperate, and he was going to make a desperate decision. The sound of an oncoming siren and the brightness of the flashing lights let them know that their backup had arrived. Clay hoped this would not end badly.

“Put the guns down!” Hunter demanded once again.

The flurry of movement happened so quickly, if Hunter and Clay hadn’t been wolf shifters they would have never been able to move out of the line of direct fire of either one of the men in the car. Hunter aimed and shot, clipping the man in the driver’s seat in the shoulder at close range but not before the young man was able to squeeze off a round. Hunter was hit in his left upper arm, grunting in pain as the bullet tore through muscle, leaving a line of fire along the trajectory path.

Clay saw the man in the back seat squeeze the trigger of his gun, and he had no choice but to shoot in self defense. The shot that escaped the young man’s gun went wild, shattering the side window and propelling glass toward Clay. He threw himself down on the ground, keeping his gun aimed at the front passenger door, waiting for the final inhabitant of the car to make his decision to emerge peacefully or be taken down.

“Get out of the car with your hands over your head!” he yelled to the remaining man.

There was the sound of feet running toward the car. Clay didn’t take his eyes off the front door, his gun trained on it without wavering. He didn’t have to turn to see the officers who had his back. He knew they were there, and he trusted them with his life.

The responding backup police officers stood on either side of the car, their guns drawn and ready. There was a tense moment when every officer waited for the remaining man to make his decision.

“I don’t have a gun,” the man said with a shaky voice.

“Step out of the car with your hands up,” Clay repeated firmly, his aim of his gun steady as he waited.

The door opened slowly, and the man stepped out of the car, his hands held far above his head. As he stepped out, Clay jumped to his feet, holstered his gun, and reached out to grab him by his arms. Turning him around and pushing him against the side of the door, he twisted his arms behind his back and cuffed him in a practiced move that spoke of years of service and experience.

“I’ve got him, Clay,” another officer came up behind him and took over the control of the prisoner. “Go check on Hunter.”

Clay nodded and released his hold on the young man, quickly stepping around the front of the vehicle to stand beside his triad partner. He saw the grim expression on Hunter’s face and was immediately concerned. Looking over Hunter with a discerning eye, he noticed the blood seeping through the left sleeve of his uniform shirt.

“How bad?” he asked him quietly.

“Not too bad,” Hunter answered gruffly, careful to keep his voice low so that only Clay could hear him. “Nothing a shift won’t heal.”

He turned to face Clay and saw the multitude of cuts across his face and neck. Most of them were superficial but there was one on the right side of his neck that was bleeding profusely. Hunter looked closer and saw that there was a shard of glass imbedded pretty deeply into Clay’s skin.

“You need to have the EMTs look at that, Clay,” he told him gently.

“Says the man with a bullet in his arm,” Clay told him sarcastically.

Hunter smiled and nodded. “I think we’re both in worse trouble than our physical injuries, Clay.”

“What do you mean?”

“I made sure to close off my link to Abbey as soon as I got out of the patrol car. I didn’t take the time to let her know I had to deal with work stuff. It was kind of abrupt.”

“Then we’re both in trouble, because as soon as I saw you draw your weapon, I closed down my connection, too,” Clay told him, cringing slightly. “I don’t think I was able to prevent the flash of what was happening to transfer across the bond though.”

“Shit, Clay! Not only have we distanced ourselves from her, but we’ve probably scared the hell out of her.”

“Damn,” Clay whispered.

“Come on. Let’s report to medical and get the reports filed,” Hunter said firmly. “This is one hell of a clusterfuck we need to sift through before we can get home to Abbey.”

“We should probably open our link to let her know we’re okay,” Clay suggested, cringing at the way they had isolated their woman from their hearts.

Taking the small pieces of her T-shirt that they always carried with them tucked beneath their vests, they breathed in her scent. It calmed them somewhat, but they knew they would soon be facing their seriously pissed-off mate.

Both Hunter and Clay kept their attention on Abbey as she stood between them as they sat at the large, wooden table in the kitchen of their home. Despite the anger they could feel rolling off of her, they were relieved to also feel her deep concern and love for them.

Sorry, honey,
Clay apologized again.