Free Instinct Ascending: Rabids Book 2 by Amy Cook Page B

“That is so messed up, dude,” he muttered, shoulders slumping. “You know old people terrify me!”
    Cajun patted him consolingly on the shoulder. “Yeah, sorry about that one, mate. Don’t worry, I’ll explain it to him when he’s settled down a bit. It’ll be fine. You heard him, we’re besties again. She’ll be right soon.”
    “She? She who?” Pell asked, lost.
    “Everything. Everything will be right.”
    “Oh. More Aussie slang.” Pell nodded, still clearly down in the dumps. Cajun gave him a playful noogie on the head, then pulled a mumbling, pouty Pell along with him back toward the car. He had a dinner to get to.

Chapter 9
    Harley
    Harley scowled as his eyes fell on Cajun and Charleen, who were currently standing near a nervous and repentant looking Amiel. It was definitely not a date. It was an intervention.
    “G’day, brother,” Cajun greeted him cheerily. “Fancy meeting you here.”
    Harley nodded. “Yeah. I thought you’d still be at the strip club.”
    Cajun paled slightly, giving Charleen a placating look. She just rolled her eyes and ignored the two of them. She knew very well that this was how things worked with the brothers, and most days she let them have their fun without saying a word, much less believing any of it. Amiel, on the other hand, looked ready to faint. She hadn’t been around them long enough to know the rules of their games.
    “Oh gosh,” she murmured, before forcing a bright smile. “So, I realized that I hadn’t really gotten a chance to know Cajun and Charleen, or to thank them for their help a few months ago. I thought we could all eat together and make a fun night of it,” Amiel offered, clearly trying to lighten the mood and slowly ease them into being in one another’s company. Little did she know, they’d already made up. She didn’t give them a chance to speak, before turning and heading toward the door. She didn’t make it inside. Amiel stopped dead in her tracks as a man approached the glass door, sign in hand.
    “Rabids, Halfers, and sympathizers not welcome.”
    Harley’s eyes narrowed as he read it, gaze quickly shifting to Amiel with concern. Her shoulders were slumped, eyes wide with horror. And then, as swiftly as a passing tornado, her body language changed. Her fists clenched at her sides, back going ramrod straight. Her eyes darkened, pupils dilating with fury. Harley’s Hybrid stirred, annoyingly excited by this change in the girl. It could feel her instincts rising, her own kind of Hybrid nature rising.
    And that fact was disconcerting, considering that had only happened in the presence of Rabids before. Harley hadn’t thought it was possible any other time. He shoved his Hybrid aside and moved to step in. Only she was already on the move. Amiel stomped up the steps to the door, yanking it wide.
    “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded imperiously. The man’s eyes widened, clearly surprised that she was confronting him on the matter.
    “It is my establishment; I am allowed by law to make any changes to who I allow within my doors, at any time,” he replied, scrambling to regain his snooty demeanor.
    “Who do you think you are? What makes you any better than anyone else? Do you have any idea who you’re even talking about? What they do for this city? If it weren’t for them, your lousy establishment would be overrun with Rabids! You’re only doing this because Jolleyways did it, and you’re trying to compete with them because it’s a better restaurant than yours,” she growled. The man’s back stiffened at the insults to his restaurant. By this time, the other patrons in the building had taken notice of the situation, closely watching the confrontation play out. Harley stepped closer, carefully keeping his voice neutral and low.
    “It’s okay, kid, let’s go somewhere else. It doesn’t matter.”
    “No, stop!” she barked, and suddenly he found himself relenting. He didn’t want to; he wanted to pull her back.