Free Lessons in Purrsuasion: BBW Paranormal Werelion Surprise Pregnancy Mob Romance (Chicago Catastrophe) by Rory Dale, Anya Nowlan Page B

Melanie and the other girl – Amber, if Stone recalled - gave him curious looks but didn’t say anything. Freddy was whispering, sounding on edge.
    “Yes, he’s here right now. Get over here, I’ll try to stall.”
    Then there was silence. Stone rushed back to his seat. When Freddy emerged, he was visibly sweating.
    “So, ready to go?” Stone asked congenially.
    “Why don’t we have a couple of drinks first? On the house.”
    The smile Freddy wore was starting to look a bit frayed.
    “And what if I say no? How are you going to stall me then?”
    All the color drained from Freddy’s face in an instant. He started towards the exit, but Stone was already on his feet. Freddy had never been on the athletic side. Catching up with him took jumping over the couch the girls were seated on, sending Amber into a screaming fit.
    He grabbed Freddy in a sleeper hold. Melanie stirred on the couch, but only to light a cigarette and stare disinterestedly at her phone, while Amber seemed to be losing her mind. Stone was glad to ignore both of them.
    “Who were you calling there, buddy?” Stone asked, his voice pure menace.
    Freddy struggled in his grasp, but it was of no use. It only made Stone tighten his hold around the man’s neck, well aware his time was limited. Reinforcements were already on the way.
    “One of the Crimson Claws,” Freddy answered, gasping.
    “How much are they paying you to rat me out? Must be a lot if you were willing to kill Mike just to get to me.”
    “That was a mistake. I sent some guys over to rough him up, but he wouldn’t say anything and so they got carried away. And I’m not doing it for money.”
    A mistake.
    Stone’s lion roared, both begging and demanding to get out.
    “Then why?” Stone demanded.
    “I made a deal. They were going to accept me into the Crimson Claws. These guys are going to take over the city. It was just business, man,” Freddy whimpered, quickly running out of air.
    Stone released him and shoved him into a chair.
    “Give me one reason to let you live.”
    He could almost see the wheels turning in Freddy’s head. Stone’s whole body was on edge and the only thing he really wanted was to rip Freddy’s throat out with his bare hands. Listening to what little voice of reason he had was getting harder by the second.
    “I’ve met with some of them before, I can tell you where,” he offered, desperate.
    “They wouldn’t meet a nobody like you anywhere important,” Stone snarled.
    Freddy looked about ready to piss himself.
    “Wait, wait, one of Parker’s right hand men, Tom I think it was, I stuck around one time and saw the car that picked him up. I could give you the license plate,” he said, grasping for straws.
    That wasn’t exactly valuable information, not that Stone really thought Freddy had any. But by the looks of him, sweating profusely, eyes wild with fear, Stone was pretty confident he had learned all he could from Freddy.
    He had Freddy type the plate number into his phone. The man’s hands were shaking as he did it. The choke hold must have refreshed his memory on what Stone was capable of.
    There was only one thing left to do.
    “Do you want to die standing or on your knees?” Stone asked.
    Anger flared under Freddy’s fear.
    “I told you everything I know!”
    “I believe you, but it makes no difference. You sent wolves to interrogate a human. What did you think was going to happen?” Stone asked coldly.
    Freddy shot to his feet, eyes glowing yellow. Stone caught the fist aimed at his face mid-air and twisted until Freddy’s elbow pointed straight up. Freddy used his free arm to grab something from under his shirt. Metal glinted as he pulled out a small knife and slashed at Stone, making him let go of the man’s arm.
    Stone jerked backwards, the blade nicking his stomach. The wound was superficial, barely any blood.
    Enough of this.
    Freddy advanced, brandishing the knife before him. Stone grabbed his wrist the next time he lunged,