"Only vaguely," Gaby answered.
"Well, you need to hear the full extent to ensure you take this threat seriously." Wes leaned forward. "Two males threw huge stones through the front window of their cabin. If Tori had been in that room, they would've killed her."
Gaby's heart skipped a beat. "Even though she was already pregnant?"
Wes grunted affirmative.
Holy hell, that was bad, really bad.
Ryan asked, "While they shouldn't try to kill anyone, why do I sense that her being pregnant makes it worse?"
Gaby answered, "Dragon-shifters treasure children since we've come close to extinction many times in the past. The thought of killing a pregnant woman is one of the worst things you can do. Which means whoever did it must truly hate humans." She growled, no doubt her pupils flashing at the same time. "Who tried to kill my sister-in-law?"
Cris didn't miss a beat. "The Randalls. And before the human asks, they were transferred to PineRock after a California wildfire destroyed their clan. While it doesn't excuse anything, it at least helps to know they're newer to PineRock. The entire family is now in the hands of ADDA, although both sides are trying to figure out if they influenced others here with their anti-human vitriol."
Wes jumped in. "Exactly. There may still be more individuals, waiting among the thousand or so clan members here, to strike any human who comes to PineRock." He fixed his gaze on Ryan. "Which is why I'm trying to figure out what to do with you."
Gaby frowned. "What does that mean?"
Wes glanced between her and Ryan. "I'm not sure it's safe to keep him here."
She opened her mouth to protest, but Ryan was first. "I'll do whatever it takes to stay, but I'm not leaving Gaby. And before you go on about rules, could you abandon a woman pregnant with your child?"
Wes sighed. "No. And I get it, but I also have to consider your safety. A dead human would look bad for the clan, not to mention for me."
Ashley cleared her throat and everyone looked at her. "I believe the ultimate decision about whether he can stay or not is mine, Wes."
Wes growled out, "Not entirely."
Ashley raised her brows. "Do you need a lecture in protocol?"
As the pair stared at each other, Gaby sensed it could turn into a long, drawn-out argument that would end nowhere.
So Gaby spoke up. "Regardless, the rules say he can visit a few days at a time, if he wishes, at least until the baby is born. This is his first visit, so he doesn't have to leave just yet. And seeing how ADDA loves their contracts, are you really going to risk breaking it, Wes?"
Wes nodded. "I just might."
Her dragon woke from her nap. I don't like this.
Neither do I, but don't you want Ryan here?
Of course I do. But not if it means he'll end up dead.
Aware that they were all talking about him without talking to him, Gaby looked up at her human and asked, "What do you want, Ryan? Even with more information now, do you still want to stay if there's a possibility you can end up dead?"
He didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Dr. Carter grunted. "You just went up a few notches in my book, Ford."
Ryan merely shrugged. "I promised Gaby that I'd stay with her as long as I could, and I take promises very seriously."
No doubt in part because of how betrayed he was a couple of years ago, when his ex-wife broke the ultimate promise.
She wanted Ryan safe, but more than before, she wanted to keep him near. He was her human. Hers.
Cris tapped her fingers on the table. "I don't see how him staying a few days will hurt. If we try to send him away before Gaby's family meets him, there will be hell to pay, I'm sure. And I don't need any extra work, if I can help it."
Gaby straightened a little at Cris's words. "That's right. If he's nestled among twenty, or more, of my relatives, then no one would think to try and attack all of us, would they?"