"Frangelico decided to move here and claim territory. He's old, he's powerful, no one can stop him without lots of bloodshed. So far, we've had a peaceful treaty. Fight Club had nothing to do with the death, in fact, they were a target. We shouldn't be shutting it down. We should be defending it. Because we need a place like it. A place that's neutral where both vampire and shifter can interact. Someone saw the possibility of that, and decided to target it. And if you shut it down, you're playing right into their hands."
The room is silent. Alpha Green looks thoughtful, Sheridan's dad is incensed. But no one will speak until an alpha does.
Garrett steps up and claps a hand on Sheridan's shoulder. "She's right. When Fight Club was first set up, I was skeptical. But since it opened, we've had less pack violence, both between our members and with other animals. Any shifter with a grievance can go let out steam. And because it's not claimed by the pack, we're not responsible to arbitrate or reimburse any deaths."
Sheridan looks back at her cousin and he jerks his chin up in approval before dropping his hand.
"But it's not safe," Sheridan's dad says. "Any human could walk in there. The authorities are watching closely."
"So we move it. Or we fly under the radar for a few months. Human fights only. The concept remains. It's a good one." Garrett folds his arms over his chest, facing his father. "I don't like the vampires there any more than you do. But Frangelico isn't going anywhere. And he didn't come in and start a war right away. He seems to be willing to deal."
"Sheridan, I'm surprised at you," Sheridan's dad says. Sheridan flinches but doesn't cower. "I expected you to think more responsibly about things."
"Hey," Garrett intervenes. "You sent her to scope the situation. Either you trust her or you don't."
Garrett's dad's eyebrows go up, and the two stare at each other for a moment. Alpha Green breaks away first, not lowering his gaze. He looks almost proud. "It's up to you, son. It's your territory. Phoenix will back you."
"Fight Club stays open," Garrett commands. A shout of victory goes up. Someone claps me on the back.
"We're not done yet," Tank growls. "We need to solve the crime. Get it sorted with the vampires. Time is running out."
He and Garrett start giving out orders. Sheridan steps down, becomes one with the crowd. Probably hiding from her dad. I don't blame her. It took guts for her to stand up to her father.
She'll be leaving, and it's for the best. She deserves a good life, one I can't give her.
On that thought, I hit the exit. Time to get on my bike and ride, clear my head. If by the time I get back, Sheridan's gone, I'll know where I stand. At least I'll have the fight club to focus on. And Mr. Green's face, the moment his precious little girl grew up and called him on his shit.
"Robson," someone snarls behind me and I whirl.
Lance Green prowls up, his eyes shifter bright. "Stay away from my daughter."
I stare down at him. Why was I ever intimidated by this guy? I can just pack up my mom and have her move. She'll probably be better off in Tucson anyway, away from those snotty wolves.
Mr. Green growls, "If you try to keep her here, I will end you and your pathetic little club. Do you hear me?"
"No."
A vein practically leaps off his forehead. "What?"
"I said no. Listen, graybeard. Sheridan's an adult. She makes her own decisions. She made it pretty clear in there, but if you won't accept it, that's between you and her. I know you want to protect her, but if you think you threatening me is gonna work this time, you got another think coming."
"You can't talk to me this way, you mangy-"
"Shut it." I stab my finger into the older wolf's shoulder. He may have seniority, but I'm bigger and stronger and taller and completely done. "Sheridan makes her own decisions. I know she has a good life in Phoenix, and I'm not gonna push her to give it all up for me. But I'm done kowtowing to you. I rolled over once. I'm not going to do it again." I spin on my boot and stride to my bike.
"How dare you talk to me-"
I growl at him and he stops in his tracks a few feet away. "It's over. You want to fight it out, get on the schedule at the club. I fight most Fridays." I start my bike and the engine's roar rips the air between us. "And one more thing. I hear you threatened my mother again or go after her job at the brewery, I'll challenge you for dominance." He whitens at that. A dominance fight would upset the balance of the Phoenix pack, but I don't care. About time someone knocked him off his pedestal and put his shady dealings on display. "I don't care how many I have to fight to do it. I'm young and tough and I might just win." With that, I hit the gas and speed outta there, not bothering to look back.
SHERIDAN
GARRETT IS ABOUT to wrap up his alpha speech when I see my dad leave, following Trey. That can't mean anything good. I push my way to the exit, hurrying to the parking lot in time to hear Trey shouting my name.
"Sheridan makes her own decisions. I know she has a good life in Phoenix, and I'm not gonna push her to give it all up for me." He jabs his finger into my dad's chest again. "But I'm done kowtowing to you. I rolled over once. I'm not going to do it again."
What the heck? What does Trey mean? I bite my tongue, hugging the wall.
My father looks insulted, huffing and puffing something as Trey walks away, but Trey is having none of it.