“The hell it isn’t.” Suero stalked forward. “You’re on our territory. And you’re threatening my mate.”
Diablo walked past them, trotting up the steps. The enforcer on the porch snarled, his body coiling.
“Chill out, asshole. I’m here for the lady.” He curled his lip, snarling. “Try to stop me, you’ll hit the ground before you even realize you’re dead.” Diablo turned to Macey. “Do you mind if I pick you up? Gonna take you to Santiago’s house.”
She shook her head, her gaze darting between everyone.
Diablo bent and gently lifted Macey from the swing, cradling her small frame in his beefy, inked arms. “Having fun yet, hermosa?”
She curled her arms around his neck, eyes still wide. “Loads. Where’s Percy?”
“Safe.” Diablo smiled warmly at her. “If I get rid of these jerks, will you bake me some cookies?” He started down the steps, ignoring the cheetahs like they weren’t even there. “I love oatmeal raisin.”
The enforcer on the porch followed, but stopped, as if Diablo’s immense size gave him pause.
“Help Kia,” she whispered, “and I’ll bake you whatever you want.”
Diablo’s grin widened, but Suero saw the simmering rage behind their dark depths. “Do not say that, Percy’s mom. You’ll never get rid of me if you feed me a home-cooked meal.” He strode past Suero, and Macey glanced at him, but Diablo kept going, climbing Santiago’s steps.
As soon as he carried her inside, Suero grabbed the dark-haired man by the throat and slammed him back against the side of the house hard enough to rattle the windows. “You picked the wrong fucking day,” he growled, his voice rough and feral. He could feel his wolf rising, the urge to tear into the man nearly overwhelming.
The enforcer knocked Suero’s hands away, but Suero slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. They grappled, rolling across the grass, trading vicious blows. The cheetah managed to get a knee into Suero’s gut, momentarily stunning him. In that split second, the enforcer scrambled to his feet and sprinted toward the porch steps.
Toward Kia.
A red haze descended over Suero’s vision. With a guttural snarl, he launched himself at the cheetah, tackling him from behind. They crashed into the step railing in a hail of splintered wood and feral growls.
“Kia is mine, puto!” Suero snarled as they slammed onto the walkway, locked in a deadly struggle.
The guy clawed at Suero’s hand, which was wrapped around his throat, choking him. “You just signed... your own death warrant... mutt.”
“No.” Suero squeezed harder, his claws digging into his flesh. “You did, the second you threatened my family.”
Motorcycles roared up the street and skidded to a halt, tires screeching. The cheetah flipped and sprang to his feet, then crouched. “We’re here to bring Kia home safely.”
“You’re not taking my mate anywhere.” Suero surged to his feet, canines bared.
The enforcer’s eyes widened a fraction. “Mate? That’s not possible. Kia would never—”
“Think very carefully before you finish that sentence,” Suero snarled. “Because the next words out of your mouth could be your last.”
The guy laughed, cold and mocking. “Big words from a filthy wolf. You think your little pack scares us?”
“It should.” The deep, authoritative voice came from behind Suero.
Matias.
His alpha strode forward, power emanating from him. He pinned the enforcer with a lethal glare. “Because if you spill blood on my land, I’ll paint this town red with cheetah entrails.”
The enforcer, bold as fucking brass, sneered and rolled his shoulders. “We have orders. Kia and Jared are coming with us.”
“Like hell they are.” Suero took a step forward, his claws unsheathing. “Kia is here of his own free will. No one forced him.”
Matias held up a hand, stopping Suero, then addressed the cheetah. “Let me make something very clear.” His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “Leave.”
The cheetah’s gaze lowered for a heartbeat before flicking back up. Then the corner of his mouth began to curl, slow and tight, like he was chewing on amusement and didn’t mind the bitter taste. “Make me.”
Matias’s hand shot out like a striking snake, claws sinking into soft flesh. His eyes glowed amber, like the brimstone fires of hell. The enforcer’s body went slack, crumpling as Matias released him.
