Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [66]
“You aren’t.” Braden looked at her wrists, which were still raw and painful, even after she’d done her best not to irritate them in the shower.
Beth opened her mouth to contradict him. She was fine. She didn’t want to see Mike, whoever he was.
“Please don’t argue.”
She jerked her hand away when he tried to cover it with his own. He clenched his fingers, but pulled away.
“Mike’s our family doctor. Let him check you over, make sure everything’s okay.”
“You call the family doctor for all the people you kidnap?” Beth let the full force of anger consume her face when Braden opened his mouth. “I’m sure that’s simple to explain. Sorry to call you out here doc, but we Tasered a girl, then tossed her in the trunk of the car yesterday. We just want to make sure she’ll live.”
“Nobody said anything to me about a Taser!” Anna’s irate voice broke through most of Beth’s anger. “A Taser, Braden? How could you?”
Braden jerked away from his mother. “That was Chase!”
Anna rounded on Chase. “Apologize. Now.”
“But…”
“Both of you. Now.”
“Sorry.” They muttered at the same time, obviously unwilling to ignore their mother’s edict. Braden wouldn’t look at her and Chase suddenly took a ravenous interest in his breakfast. Anna pushed a plate of freshly scrambled eggs and steaming bacon in front of her.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Uh…”
“We’ve got orange juice, milk, water, coffee…”
“Orange juice is fine.”
Anna turned away and pulled a glass out of the cabinet.
“That was awesome!” Lucy leaned across the two empty chairs between them, a huge smile broadcasting perfect teeth. “No one can make them cower like Mom.” Her eyes danced with amusement. “I bet if you squeeze out a few tears she’ll actually hit them with her spatula.”
Despite herself, Beth grinned.
“Eat your breakfast, Lucy.” Anna placed a glass of juice in front of Beth and handed her a fork. “Go ahead, you must be hungry.”
She was, Beth realized. She’d thrown the sandwiches Braden had brought her at his head last night and she hadn’t been tempted to touch them later. Picking up her fork, she speared a fluffy bit of eggs. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” Anna gave her a small smile of approval as she ate the first bite. Then she turned to Braden. “You can get your own plate.”
Braden huffed, but slid out of his chair without further protest and grabbed a plate.
“Do I smell bacon?” Another man, close in age to Braden, walked through the door, dropping a small bag from his shoulder to the floor. Tall and a little rangy, he had a narrow face that sported a pair of frameless glasses. He was obviously at home in their kitchen and there was something deeply familiar about his smile.
“You do. Are you hungry?” Anna asked, already reaching for another plate.
“You bet.” He pulled the chair out next to Lucy and ruffled her hair.
“Hey!” She shoved him in the shoulder, complaining around a mouthful of eggs.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Lucy.” Anna set a plate in front of Mike. “Mike, this is Beth.”
“Oh, Beth. Hi.” He smiled widely and held out his hand.
Transfixed by the familiarity in his face, Beth absently shook his hand.
“Nice job by the way.”
“What?”
He reached across the counter and snagged some bacon off the plate by the stove. “The cut I stitched up on Braden’s head was a beauty.” He laughed over her shoulder, obviously taunting Braden. “He must have done something to seriously piss you off—you look too nice to wield blunt instruments at men’s heads as a hobby.”
Beth smiled again, finding it difficult not to relax a little in the strange family dynamic that permeated the room. She studied Mike’s face as he chewed his bacon. “Have we met?”
“Nah, I don’t come into Portland too much. These guys keep me too busy out here.”
“You look familiar.”
“I’m told I have my mother’s grin.” He smiled again, as if to give her a comparison. “What do you think?”
“I think I’d have to meet your mother.” For some reason Beth couldn’t fathom, he burst out laughing.
Confused, she glanced around the kitchen.
“Mike is Angie’s son,” Braden explained. “He’s, ah, aware of our situation. Helps