Page 22 of Expecting The Unexpected

Throg looked around once more, “Where? Where did you see them?”

Shaking his head, Spencer wrapped his arms around him, suddenly feeling cold. “I... I didn’t. The voice... it... he...”

Strong arms wrapped around Spencer, and between the warmth and scent of his mate, Spencer felt himself calming a bit, but not much. However, it was damn sure better than it had been. “Just take a few deep breaths and get some control.”

Spencer did as Throg directed and felt himself calming bit by bit. Once he was breathing normally again and the shakes had all but stopped, Throg asked, “Now tell me what happened.”

“You went to the back, and as soon as you were out of sight, I heard a voice coming from up there” Spencer said, pointing to the ceiling. “It was so deep... and scared the shit out of me.”

“What did they say?” Throg asked, his features darkening with anger the more he listened.

Spencer swallowed hard, even though spit wasn’t even forming in his mouth at that point, the fear still filling him. “Next time, shifter.”

The sounds of men running into the room made Spencer squeak, turning to see what was happening now.

“It’s okay. It’s just Groth and his men. I called them in to help check things out,” Throg said, stepping away from Spencer as Groth approached them.

“What’s going on?” Groth asked, in that no-nonsense way of his.

Throg pointed to the shattered light in the middle of the stage floor. “That fell, just barely missing Spencer. I checked out the back, but I didn’t see anything.”

“You called an emergency, because a light fell?” Groth asked in confusion, and sounding a bit peeved.

Spencer felt his hackles rise, “Look you overgrown behemoth. He called you because it damn near killed me. I don’t think it was an accident, and neither does Throg.”

Groth raised a brow. “Behemoth?”

“If the clodhopper fits, shove it up your ass,” Spencer snarled. “Yes, behemoth. Do you honestly think that Throg would call you for bullshit? Seriously? A guardian of the ancients is going to call your dumb ass, because I almost got killed by a ‘just so happened to fall’ light? He isn’t stupid, Groth. I heard noises coming from the back just before Throg got here. I was telling him that and had just moved from that very spot...” Spencer pointed once more where the broken lighting was, “...when it came crashing down.”

“It could have just been a coincidence. The lighting could have been loose or something,” Groth stated.

Spencer’s hands slapped onto his hips, as he sarcastically said, “Oh you’re right. A light that’s checked three times a day, every day, might have come loose. One that is not only bolted onto the railings, but is also tied to them... yep, it could have come loose. What you can’t explain is how it’s possible that Throg goes to check shit out, and in the exact spot that light was connected to, a deep, dark voice said, and I quote, ‘Next time, shifter.’ Does that sound like a coincidence to you all, great and knowing?”

Groth pursed his lips as his white-and-brown-tipped eagle wings began to flutter in annoyance. However, the man said nothing to Spencer. Instead, he turned to one of his men, “Donte, I want you and three others to get up on the scaffolding and see if you can find anything or anyone. Jerad, you and the rest of the men fan out. If there’s anyone within sight, I want them brought to me immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” Both men said, then left to do as Groth had ordered.

It didn’t take long before they heard a screeching sound and someone screaming, “Let us go! I swear if I get away from you I’m gonna kick your nuts so high you’re going to think they’re tonsils!”

“Is that Nug?” Spencer asked, with wide eyes.

Groth growled low, when he saw not only Nug being manhandled into the club with a teary-eyed Jory being led in as well. When they were placed in front of Groth, Jory cried, “We didn’t do anything Groth. We were only going back to the kitchen when this guy grabbed us.”

Groth brought Jory close to him whispering, “It’s okay, little bit.”

“Kick his ass, Groth. He hurt Jory and scared him. Kick his ass.” Nug said, as he wiggled in the guard’s arms.

“Donte said you wanted us to bring anyone that was close to the club. I found these two lurking just outside the club doors.” The guard holding onto Nug said, as another guard assisted Jory in by his arm.

“Let him go, Torro.” Garth practically growled.

The second the guard let go of Nug, the little shit turned, and with as much force as he could muster, kicked the guard right in the nuts, dropping the big man to his knees.

“Holy shit.” Spencer gasped.

Nug pointed his finger at the pain-stricken man, hissing, “I told you what I was going to do when you let me go. I’m sick of you big fuckers thinking you can just pick me and Jory up like we’re a sack of potatoes. I’m no veggie or starch, so fuck off.” He turned to Garth and waylaid into the man, “You said that you’d protect us from shit like this. You’re a big, shitty, fucking liar!”

Garth quickly tried to explain, “Nug, there’s been a—”