Chapter Eleven
Trent passed Jamie and Zak bottles of beer before he slipped his arm around Melissa’s shoulder. She cuddled closer to him as if that was the most natural thing in the world. Trent loved the affection.
It’d only been two days since they’d taken down Bustillos, Grant and the other humans, but things couldn’t be better. Trent could peer around the yard and see that even though there would always be threats and people out to hurt shifters, they’d managed to keep everyone in Brookside safe. Mac’s group and the sheriff’s department were always going to be there. And they had friends. Powerful friends who came with one phone call.
Most of the Brookside residents were attending the large thank-you barbecue for the Lake Worth Coalition agents. Everyone was thankful for the securing of their town. Things could now go back to normal.
“This is quite the turnout,” Melissa stated.
“I noticed that several people have greeted you,” Trent said. “It appears you’ve become quite popular.”
She smiled. At first, Melissa had seemed shocked that anyone would talk to her. It had started with Mr. Pritcher, then more of the residents. Having Melissa help keep the town safe had allowed the townsfolk to see she’d go out of her way to protect them. Trent liked her being so happy. Bruises still covered her face and stomach, but she was moving around much better. Trent was still struggling with the nightmares from seeing her with Grant’s arm around her neck. With her being human, Melissa was more vulnerable than him and the shifters.
“I have to admit I prefer the smiles to the cold shoulder,” she confessed.
“I like it here,” Jamie said. “I promised Brandy I’d bring her as soon as we got some time away. She loves the idea of an entire town of shifters.”
“I’d like to meet her,” Melissa said.
“I think you all should bring your mates,” Trent offered. “A little break from the city when you need it.”
Zak lifted his beer. “I’m all for that. Abilene is going to love Annabelle.”
Trent glanced over to the tree Annabelle had escaped to. She still had a hard time around a lot of people. Logan was leaning back against the tree trunk laughing with Luca and Fredrick.
Their little family was growing and Trent was okay with that.
He kissed the side of Melissa’s head. If she hadn’t shown up in his town, he wouldn’t be thinking about the future like he was now. The program that Mac ran was important and they did good work, but they needed to do more to help shifters.
“Speaking of my mate,” Zak said as his phone rang. “That’s her.”
Jamie grinned. “Tell her I said hi.”
Zak nodded before strolling away with his phone in his hand.
“Abilene has been such a good influence on him,” Jamie said. “I was pretty sure we were going to lose him to the dark side before he met her.” He eyed Trent. “Sometimes what happens in the past can keep us from realizing what’s right in front of us.”
Trent nodded at the words directed to him. “Other times our past is what we need to face in order to move forward.”
“I’m glad you said that,” Jamie responded. “I asked Cody to look into your partner’s death when you were with the LAPD.”
“What?” Trent couldn’t help but tense.
Melissa grasped the back of his shirt. “Why would you do that?”
Jamie glanced from her to him. “The LAPD is not following the directions of federal agencies or laws in place. The top brass is being replaced even as we speak, but we need to take down the ones on the streets. The LAPD has the highest number of complaints and in-house death of shifters.”
“That’s a big order to fill,” Melissa stated.
“Which is why we need the two of you,” Jamie said.
“I won’t go back,” Trent declared. This was his home, his family now. As much as he wanted to make a difference, he needed to stay surrounded by his family.
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Jamie said. “But we need your help, anyway. We’re sending a team from the Coalition there.”
“What would we have to do?” Melissa asked.
Of course, she would want to help. She’d spent years trying to right every wrong the LAPD had done to shifters.
“Names, dates and cases that our agents need to be aware of,” Jamie answered. “There might be more that the field agents need, but that information would help get us started.”
Trent turned to Melissa.
“It’s up to you,” she said. “I’m here now and I’m not leaving.”
He nodded. “I can tell you about what I experienced before I left.”
“Great.” Jamie slapped him on the back. “I’m going to grab a burger.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” Trent told him.
As Jamie walked away, Melissa slipped in front of Trent, putting both arms around his waist. “You sure you want to get involved with the LAPD? I can give the Coalition the information they need and keep you out of everything.”
“No.” Trent shook his head. “I want to do it together. I already let you take the brunt of what should have been my fight. I won’t leave you like that again.”
She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
He carded his fingers through her hair. “I promised you that I’d always protect you. Especially against the assholes who I really want to track down and shove my boot up their ass.”
Melissa laughed. “I love you.”
Trent turned Melissa so she was facing their friends with her back to his chest. “Look at all these people who needed us to stop someone from taking everything from them. We did that. And it’s only the beginning. We’ll help.”
Her weight felt good against him. Trent rested his chin on the top of her head. Cody had shifted and was perched on a branch not too far from where Annabelle was sitting. She was swiping at him, but by the way her tail was wagging, she was enjoying Cody’s evasive moves. Jamie was indeed stuffing his face with food beside Mac, Zak, Luca and Magnus.
The sun shone above and it felt good to no longer be hiding away.
“Come on.” Melissa tugged him toward the bar.
“Where are we going?” Trent followed behind her, though. If Melissa wanted some time alone, he was more than willing. Hell, it was a better idea then hanging out with a bunch of men, even if they were his friends. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t tease her. “I haven’t eaten yet.”
“You’ll get fed,” she said. “I promise.”
Trent let Melissa lead them back to his room. They’d eventually need to decide if they’d stay at her house or in The Den. Trent wasn’t sure which he preferred. While he liked the privacy of her house, he also needed to be around the others. He’d bring it up later. At the moment, he was just happy to go to bed with her each night and wake up with her every morning.
She paused outside his door. “I thought that we could start dividing our time between your place and mine. You need to be here on the weekends, so maybe midweek we can go back to my house.”
Guess our thoughts were on the same lines. “That’s perfect.”
“Now,” she said, pushing the door open. “I want some time alone with you.”
Trent grinned. He’d spent all night loving her and she couldn’t get enough. That was a stroke to his ego. “We have a yard full of people.”
“I don’t care,” Melissa said. “I feel like I need to make up for lost time.”
“We have the rest of our lives, but I will never turn you down.” He picked her up to carry her to the bed.
He set her down and she knelt on the mattress before reaching for him. Melissa ran her palms along his stomach, tugging his T-shirt up.
Trent leaned down and kissed her. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, relishing her unique flavor. He was already moaning as he pushed her back and covered her body with his.
“So good,” she murmured against his lips. “Show me again how good we are together.”
“I will,” Trent promised. “This is only the beginning.”