Page 7 of Midnight Whispers (Forbidden Entanglements #1)

Chapter Seven

E ven the coffee was better in Fortune Falls. Or maybe it was just at his dad’s house where the coffee was the best thing he’d ever put in his mouth. It was way better than the cheap stuff he bought and brewed in his drip coffeemaker.

Dad had one of those machines that made the coffee foamy on top, and he doubled down on it with cold foam coffee creamer. It tasted like one of those fancy coffees he got from the cafe down the road from his work. He’d only ever been able to buy them on his birthday because they were more expensive than he could afford.

Riley shut his eyes as he took a sip.

Dad chuckled. “It’s that good, huh?”

“Better. My moans don’t express the love I feel adequately enough.” Riley had been with his dad for a solid day, and it was the best time they’d ever had together.

He was in his uniform, minus the button-down shirt that hung off a kitchen chair across the room. He didn’t want grease to splash onto it, so he kept it off. Bacon could splatter sometimes.

His dad cooked a full breakfast every morning, which was something his mother never did. Riley didn’t remember the last time someone cooked for him. Probably the last time he’d come for a visit. He’d been a teenager.

His dad was taller than Riley and broader through the shoulders. Riley was a little leaner, too. But those were the only differences between them. Riley had his hair and eye color. They had the same facial structure, too. But what really sealed the deal was the way they had the same mannerisms. They also reached for things at the same time.

It was weird watching his dad and seeing himself in the simplest of behaviors, especially considering they hadn’t spent much time together. Most of their relationship had happened over the phone.

“I wish you didn’t have to work.”

“Me too. If I didn’t have a case, I would take time off.”

“I wouldn’t want you to do that. We’ll can have lunch or something. Yeah?”

Dad smiled. “Sounds good.”

Riley took a sip of his coffee. “Is your case a hard one?”

“Being sheriff is hard all by itself. But the case is a difficult one. Thank the gods for Cass. He’s a better cop than me. He’s got a nose for it.” Did his dad mean that literally? Did Cass have a canine, doggy nose that could pick up scents better than a human? Surely, Dad knew about Cass turning into a wolf.

At the mention of Cass, Riley’s hand started glowing. He wrapped it around his mug so his dad wouldn’t see. But he glanced in Riley’s direction as if he saw how the soft light bounced off the ceramic mug.

Dad didn’t say anything or ask questions. That he didn’t probably meant he knew a lot more than Riley about why his body did all the weird things it did, like his palm glowing with what appeared to be a tattoo, even though he’d never had a tattoo in his entire life.

But if Riley asked him questions, what would he say about the hand-glowing thing? Or about how Riley thought he had the hots for his dad’s wolf shifter deputy, a man a lot older than him?

He still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

“We’re investigating a murder case. And kidnapping. First one in years for Fortune Falls. We’re usually a quiet town, except for breaking up a few college parties.”

“And helping the long-lost son of the sheriff put gas in his car because he might have run out in the middle of nowhere.” Riley winced and gave his dad his best innocent smile.

Dad raised his eyebrows. “It happened because you didn’t have enough money.”

It wasn’t a question, but Riley answered it like one. “Yes.”

“I’ll give you anything you need, Riley. But you have to let me.”

Riley could feel the tension rise in his body.

“I’m here, aren’t I? Living with you. But I’m not, nor have I ever been, helpless.” He stopped before he got on a tangent about having to do everything himself, including caring for his mother. He didn’t want to ruin the good thing they had by sharing his feelings. Instead, he said, “I need to get a job soon.”

“You’ve been here a little over a day. Take a breath before you get back to life. And maybe focus on school.”

“I’ve been working since I was fourteen. I maintained a perfect grade point average throughout high school. Not that you’d know that.” No one came to his graduation, including his mother. Dad and Griffin didn’t know when it was because Riley couldn’t afford invitations, and he hadn’t had the time to call them.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t know. And why is that?”

“Well, I’m very sorry, but I worked two jobs back then. I didn’t have time for phone calls.” Riley huffed.

Dad sighed and shook his head. Griffin saved him from having to respond when he entered the house through the back door.

“Great, I’m on time for breakfast.” Griffin glanced between Riley and Dad. “What the hell happened?”

Riley said, “Nothing.”

“Riley was just about ready to tell me what a shitty parent I’ve been. As if I didn’t know already.” Dad said it as though they’d been discussing the weather.

Griffin lifted his eyebrows. “Do you have something to get off your chest, little brother?”

“No.” And he probably shouldn’t blame his father for how his mother was, and that’s exactly what he’d been about to do. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. And I do really appreciate you letting me stay.”

“If it’s how you feel…”

“It isn’t. It’s about mom. Mostly. You’re just here, and she’s not.” And something about admitting it brought tears to his eyes.

He put his mug on the counter and cleared as much emotion from his throat as possible before starting out of the room. “Excuse me.”

Dad grabbed his arm and pulled Riley into a hug. He didn’t say a word but just let Riley feel his emotions. The tears didn’t last long.

He’d been all cried out weeks ago. He wanted to move on, but sometimes, the feelings would pick up again as though the universe needed to remind him of his grief.

“I wasn’t a great parent to you. I’ll admit that.”

“I didn’t start my day wanting to bring up the past.”

“I know.” Dad pulled away but held Riley by the shoulders. “I intend to be the best parent I can be, but you must do one thing for me.”

“Which is?”

“Let me.”

“That’s going to be difficult.” He’d had no one for so long. He wasn’t sure what relying on his father entailed. Would he have to ask for every little thing, including spending money? Did he need to be in at a certain time of night? “I’m not a child anymore.”

“I know you’re an adult, Riley. I’m talking more about letting the past go.”

“I’ll try.” But the past hadn’t been that far away on the timeline of his life. He wasn’t sure he knew how to let it go.

Griffin patted Riley on the back. “How about you come with me to work today? That way you don’t have to be alone. And I can introduce you to Miss Ruth. Plus, my mom has been asking daily if you’re ready for her.”

“I’m always ready for Zinnie’s love.” Riley couldn’t help but smile.

“She was worried, what with you losing your mom.” Griffin directed that comment to his dad more than Riley. It was as if he were reminding Dad to take it easy on Riley.

Riley rolled his eyes. He didn’t need anyone tiptoeing around him, but he didn’t say so. He didn’t want the argument to continue.

“Zinnie isn’t anything like my mother.” For one thing, she wasn’t an alcoholic who was so far into the bottle that she neglected everything else in her life, including her son. Riley blew out a big sigh. “I think I might be in the anger stage.”

“Anger stage?” His dad asked.

“The stages of grief.” Riley picked up his cup again. “I’m mad at her. And I think I want to take it out on you, Dad. I’m sorry for that.”

“If that’s what you need, I’m here for it.” But it wasn’t what Dad deserved.

Riley shook his head. “I’ll deal with it.”

Griff shook his head as if in exasperation. “Just feel your feelings.”

Dad began plating food. He handed Riley and Griffin each a plate before pulling one of the bar stools around and sitting down to his own plate.

They ate eggs over medium, potatoes, bacon, and toast. It wasn’t until Riley was a couple of bites in before he spoke again. “Did you know there are wolves in Fortune Falls? As in werewolf shifters.”

Griffin choked on the bite he’d just taken.

Riley patted him on the back.

Dad was the one who answered. “Most everyone who’s a permanent resident, minus a lot of the college students, know about the wolf shifter pack. Why do you ask?”

“Just something the dispatcher said last night. Cass filled me in when he came to my rescue.” When Griffin opened his mouth to ask, Riley said, “Ran out of gas. Called the sheriff’s department for help. Cass came.”

Riley kept his right hand under the table for a moment. It seemed he couldn’t even speak Cass’s name without his hand glowing. What the hell was wrong with him?

Dad frowned. “It’s not like Cass to clarify. It’s against pack law to tell an outsider about shifters. Not just wolves. Or any paranormal, for that matter.”

Riley sucked in a breath. “Other paranormals? What does that mean? Like there’s more than just people who turn into wolves?”

Griffin raised his eyebrows at his father. “There are a variety of shifters and vampires.”

“Witches…and warlocks.” His dad never took his gaze off Riley.

Riley closed his hand. “Warlocks.”

He wasn’t sure why he latched on to that word. Something clicked into place inside his brain. It felt…familiar. Right.

Dad chanted under his breath, and the dishes on the stove went into the sink.

Riley sucked in a breath.

Griffin snapped his fingers, and a small flame sat on the tip, as though it were a candle.

Riley took two full minutes to lose his mind. A million questions went through his head. The one he wanted to ask about was the glowing tattoo on his hand, but instinct told him to keep it to himself.

He wasn’t sure why, other than it had something to do with Cass. He thought it might be some indicator that he had a crush on Cass. He didn’t want to have to explain his feelings to his dad. Cass had said Dad was his best friend. And he was a lot older than Riley. It would not be very comfortable to admit.

What if Dad or Griffin told Cass about the crush? He would see Riley as just a kid. How embarrassing would that scenario be? And why was he thinking about Cass when his dad and Griffin just used magic.

“If you guys can do stuff like that, can I, too?” He should be weirded out, but he’d always known he was to the left of normal. He just didn’t know what made him that way.

Riley should his head. “I should be panicking. Why aren’t I?”

“On some level, you knew who you were all along. That could be why learning about wolf shifters didn’t come as much of a surprise either.”

That made sense, but it was still bizarre to think about other people who weren’t human. It was like learning aliens existed and lived in the house next door.

“Why are you only telling me now?” It was one more way his dad neglected Riley. Perhaps it was the biggest one of all. If Riley had been told who he really was, maybe it would have made a difference to their relationship. Plus, the simple fact of the matter was that Griffin hadn’t told him either.

Instead of waiting for an answer, Riley shook his head and stood. He brought his half-eaten meal to the counter and grabbed plastic wrap, covering his plate before sliding it into the refrigerator.

“Will you sit and let me explain, please?”

Riley had to collect his thoughts. He’d been running on nothing but emotions for the past few weeks. He needed to separate a few things in his mind before he started asking the hard questions.

“No. I won’t. What I am going to do is get dressed.” Riley met Griffin’s gaze. “I assume we’ll be outside. At least for part of the day.”

Griffin nodded.

As Riley was heading down the hall, he heard Griffin say, “We shouldn’t have said anything about him being a warlock. He wasn’t ready to hear it.”

“Did you notice his palm? He met his fated mate. He needs to know what that means.”

“How? He’s been here one day.”

“Maybe he met someone during the road trip.”

“I’ll talk to him.”

Riley sucked in a breath. Fated mate. That had to be like a boyfriend, right? And if that’s what it meant, it had to be Cass. There wasn’t anyone else.