“Just how many people live here?” His mother gave him a disapproving glare. “Please don’t tell me you’re having sex with two men.”
Nester slowly backed away. The stranger was thick with muscles, had raven-black hair that fell to his shoulders, and ox-blood red eyes. He was even taller than Pyke.
Nester spun and raced back to his mate. “He’s out of the closet”!
Thick claws extended from Pyke’s hands, and his canines were showing as he stormed past Nester. “Stay right here.”
“Like hell.” Nester ran behind Pyke to see what was going to happen. Although he couldn’t stand Norma Jean, Nester didn’t want his mother killed.
Just for her to move halfway around the world.
A bark of laughter from Pyke was not what Nester expected. He thought his mate would change into a bear and eat the intruder, but instead, he shook the guy’s hand.
“How’s it going, Hondo?” Pyke asked. “You scared the hell out of my mate.”
“Didn’t mean to do that. I tried to call, but you didn’t answer, and we need to talk.”
The two looked at Norma Jean.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she sniffed. “If this concerns my son, I have a right to know.”
Hondo looked at Nester, and Nester gave a slight headshake. He didn’t want his mother finding out about the nonhuman world. That would be disastrous. He wasn’t sure what she would do with the information, but in her hands, it wouldn’t be good.
Pyke walked over and extended his hand. When Norma Jean accepted it, he kissed her knuckles. “Although it was a pleasure meeting you, we really have to be somewhere.”
Norma Jean’s blush made Nester want to throw up. “But I didn’t even catch your name.”
“Unavailable,” Nester said flatly as he stormed to the closet and looked for her coat. It wasn’t on the floor. Hondo must have hung it up because Nester found it on a hook. Even though the fur was fake, it angered him what the fur represented.
Pyke was a bear shifter, and Nester had a sneaking suspicion that other shifters existed. Even if that hadn’t been true, wild animals were at the mercy of man, and none should have their pelt draped around anyone’s shoulders.
If his mother could have afforded it, her fur would have been real.
Nester grabbed it and handed it to her. “Maybe we’ll catch up some other time.”
“Wait.” She draped the coat over her arm. “Stop trying to rush me out of here. Maybe I can help since you can’t seem to handle problems on your own without getting into a mess.”
“It’s a guy thing.” Sweetness was dripping from every word Hondo spoke. Nester wanted to gag. “Where we’re going is no place for a lady.”
Nester rolled his eyes when Hondo gave her a dashing smile. Were all the men around him full of themselves?
Norma Jean straightened her shoulders, jutting her chin forward. “I can handle myself,” she snapped back sharply as her eyes narrowed to vicious slits. “We wouldn’t even be in this situation if Nessie had listened to me in the first place. I told him that Scott was no good for him, but does he ever listen to me?”
God, he hated that nickname. She was the only one who called him that, and it sounded girly. He suspected she did that to emasculate him. Nester never understood how a mother could have been so jealous of a father and son bond.
“Mom, they’re dropping so many hints that you should have a concussion. Please, we’ll talk later.”
He wanted to tell her not to say anything to the cops, but if he did, that was exactly what she would do. Was he being harsh when it came to his mother? Hardly. Not after the lifetime of humiliation she’d put him through.
Being brisk was mild compared to the things she’d said and done to him. He was surprised he hadn’t turned out just like her, but he thanked his lucky stars that he hadn’t. That was thanks to his dad being her total opposite.
“I can see I’m not wanted here.” Her movements were jerky as she put her coat on and walked to the door.
Nester was going to get an earful later, unless he dodged her like the plague.
Which he planned on doing. Every time he was around her all Nester heard about was her problems and what was going on in her life. She never stopped to ask how he was doing or showed any interest in him whatsoever. Unless whatever he was into enabled her to be the center of attention.
Like him murdering Scott.
“It’s not always about you, Mom,” Nester said.
Norma Jean turned and gave a lofty smile. If she hadn’t been his mother, Nester would have sworn she was the devil. “It’s always about me, son. If you haven’t figured that out by now, then you’re as dimwitted as your father was.” She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Nester ground his teeth as he walked to the kitchen, so angry he was shaking. How dare she talk about Nester’s best friend that way? His father had been the best dad a kid could ask for, and she tarnished his memory every chance she got.
How could someone so evil exist? Nester would rather take his chances with a vampire than deal with her.
Moments later Hondo and Pyke joined him. “She seems…nice,” Pyke said.
“Don’t even pretend.” Nester poured some coffee. “Do you know she used to sabotage my time with my dad? If we wanted to go camping, she would hide our tents. One time she slashed my dad’s tires so we couldn’t go to a ballgame. I was never able to prove it, but I know it was her.”
Yep, Nester had deep-seated mommy issues. Could anyone blame him?
“Damn.” Hondo shook his head as he scratched at his chin. “And I thought being a demon was rough.”
Nester nearly dropped his cup. “Did you say demon?”
“Stop blowing his mind.” Pyke poured his own cup of coffee. “What did you need to see me about?”
“Welp.” Hondo popped his lips on the last letter. “I just came by to see if you wanted to hang out, but I see you have company.” He winked at Nester, and god, Nester felt himself blush. He couldn’t help it. Hondo was hot as fuck. “It wasn’t anything important, but I could tell your friend wanted to get rid of his mother, so I was trying to help.”
“Mate,” Pyke corrected.
Hondo hooted with laughter. It was a booming sound coming from such a big guy. “No shit! Congrats.”
Don’t freak out. He doesn’t have horns and a pitchfork. Keep your cool. “I’m going to take a shower and then find another place to live. Knowing my mom, she’s halfway to the sheriff’s office by now to give them the good news that she found their suspect.”
Nester was certain the counter would collapse when Hondo leaned against it. The guy was even larger than the waiter at The Diner Train.
“Why are the cops looking for you?” Hondo asked. “You can hide out in the demon realm if you need to.”
“On that note I’m going to shower, have a nuclear meltdown, and then hit the road.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Pyke said. “The sheriff is mated to a bear shifter, and once you tell him everything, I’m sure he’ll understand. Besides, Arlan said you were in the clear.”
“Are you talking about Grayson Copache?” Hondo grabbed some cream from the fridge. “He’s a real nice guy. You still haven’t told me why you’re wanted.”