Roni flinched as her father’s booming voice echoed up to her, coarse and blustering, causing her to come to an abrupt dead stop halfway down the stairs that led to the entrance hall. Taber stopped behind her, still and silent, watching her carefully.
She was too tense, almost frightened, wary. Like a deer sensing danger but not certain which direction it was coming from.
Reginald Andrews was one of the worst fathers Taber had ever known. His only saving grace, the only reason he still lived, was the fact that he had never laid a hand on Roni. Otherwise, Taber would have killed him years ago.
“Mr. Andrews, that doesn’t explain why you were trying to sneak into the grounds. Why not just press the call button on the gates?” Callan’s voice was as cold and crisp as a winter night. He was flat furious.
Reginald was, as always, making excuses. Loudly.
Taber watched as Roni drew in a deep hard breath. He could almost feel the distaste that filled her and the reluctance that held her still and silent. But he could sense more than that. The morass of emotions that seemed to rush from her overwhelmed him, made him move closer to her, determined to protect her.
He laid one hand at her waist, leaning close to her, his chin settling against her shoulder. “We could go back to the room. Ignore him. If you don’t go down there, Callan will take it as silent permission to have the bastard thrown out.”
He whispered the words so softly that only she heard him. He kept his body close enough to be certain his warmth and silent security enfolded her. He would protect her, no matter what it took.
She swallowed tightly and he could literally feel her fighting for the strength to face the man raging in the hallway.
“No.” She finally shook her head as she reached back, tucking the revolver he had given her into the waistband of her jeans. “I’ll deal with him.”
But she didn’t want to. Taber was getting the distinct impression that there was something about her father that literally terrified her now. Before he could question her about it, she was moving gracefully down the stairs, her hand retaining a light grip on the balustrade, her shoulders straight and erect. As regal as a princess and so determined to be strong it brought a lump to his throat, made him want to shelter her that much more.
“Why are you here,Reginald?” She had to raise her voice to be heard over his furious tirade concerning the welfare of his beloved only child. The sound of it made Taber sick.
Reginald had aged severely in the time since Taber had last seen him. His dark hair was almost fully gray and thinning. He tried to make up for that fact by growing one side longer than the other and combing it over the opposite side, giving him an off center, clownish appearance.
His brown eyes were dull, his cheeks ruddy from drink and overweight. He was barely six feet tall, and not nearly as muscular as he had been even five years before.
As Roni stepped into the entry hall, all eyes turned to her. The Feline Breeds filling the marbled entrance to the house were on alert, their hands on their weapons, their eyes sharp and missing not a move that the older man made.
“Roni.”Reginald’s smile was more calculating than loving.
Callan had noticed it as well, if the narrow-eyed look of dislike was anything to go by.
Taber watched him closely, seeing the flash of hatred the other man tried to hide as he glanced at his daughter. Taber moved quickly then to insinuate himself betweenReginald and Roni, every instinct inside him screaming out that he protect her from whatever threat her father represented.
Roni stopped as he stepped in front of her, confronting her father rather than allowing her to.
“Taber.” She laid her hand on his arm as he pressed it back, stilling her attempt to move in front of him.
At his movement, the others stepped into protective positions as well, their eyes narrowing onReginald, hands now gripping their weapons in preparation.
“Why are you here, Reggie?” Taber didn’t bother with the formalities. Roni was upset, his own instincts were kicking into overdrive, and he would be damned if he would allow it to continue.
“Well, she’s my daughter.”Reginald’s voice softened, but he couldn’t hide the stench of his own lies. He wasn’t there to assure himself of Roni’s safety, which made him an immediate threat to her.
“Fine time to remember that,” Taber growled, making certain to show the canines that he knew would gleam menacingly at the sides of his mouth. He was pleased to see a bit of the ruddy color dim in the other man’s face as he paled at the sight. “I don’t remember it bothering you overmuch before.”
“I can handleReginald, Taber.” Roni pushed at his heavy body, attempting to get him to move aside.
There was no going around him as the other Breeds had aligned themselves in a way that would keep her clearly out of the other man’s reach.
“Taber, you should at least let me see my little girl.”Reginald’s voice was too soft, too intentionally non-threatening for Taber’s peace of mind.
“Taber, dammit, I can handle this.” Roni kicked his shin. And it sure as hell wasn’t a love pat. The damned woman had dangerous feet.
He turned back to look at her warningly.
“Don’t you give me that look,” she snapped, frowning back at him in determination. “Get out of my way so I can deal with this, then you can send him packing.”