Read Online Phoenix Arizona by Lynn Hagen - Free Book Online Page A

had reservations about letting Matt know where he lived. It was a little confusing to Matt. “I understand. So how do I get you home without peeking?” This got a laugh from his mate, and Matt thoroughly enjoyed seeing the smile. Phoenix was so damn handsome when he smiled. Matt never wanted to see a worried face on his mate again. It killed him when Phoenix looked scared.
    “Doofus, take me home.”
    Matt chuckled, thoroughly enjoying his drive as Phoenix showed him where to go. When Matt pulled in front of the building, he shuddered. The damn place needed to be condemned. It didn’t sit well that his mate lived in a dump like this.
    The exterior used to be white, maybe, but now it was an ugly stained yellow. Some of the windows were either missing or broken, and it looked like hoodlums were hanging out front on the steps or leaning against the building. Matt wanted to lock his mate in the car and drive back to his place, vowing that his mate would never step foot in that building again. Unfortunately, he knew Phoenix wouldn’t go for that.
    Matt got out of the car, making sure all saw his badge around his neck and his holster around his shoulders. It had taken a quick second to put both on, and he was proud that he was a cocky guy. His build was slightly muscular and well defined. Matt even liked the fact that he had a way of intimidating thugs. He had that cop look through and through as an old lover had once told him. It also helped amplify his badass persona when he eased back on his wolf and his eyes shifted.
    As hard-core as thugs liked to act, no one fucked with Matt when his eyes were wolf eyes. Sure, he had a guy or two test him in the past, but the results hadn’t been in their favor. The guys standing by Phoenix’s building watched Matt closely as they stepped back, uncertainty clear in their eyes. Matt gave them a tight grin…and then showed the tips of his canines as he escorted Phoenix to the door, glancing at each and every one of them, and then walked his mate up the steps.
    “You don’t have to walk me to my door,” Phoenix halfheartedly protested as he dug his keys out from his front pocket.
    “Yes, I do.” He could tell Phoenix was embarrassed about where he lived, but Matt didn’t give a shit. He was going to make sure his mate made it safely inside. Matt wasn’t so much worried about the men hanging outside as he was with a serial killer on the loose. Besides, he had a feeling Armando put the fear of god in most of those men hanging around. From the way the tall and muscular man had acted last night toward Matt, he knew Armando protected Phoenix, which eased his mind, slightly.
    Phoenix slid the key into the lock, and then opened the door as Armando came running toward them. “How was—why is a cop bringing you home, Nix?” Armando lost his girly voice, and the masculine tone came out full force. He snatched Phoenix behind him and glared at Matt. Matt couldn’t have been happier. He knew this man would protect his mate. But it pissed him off that Armando grabbed his mate from him. “I wasn’t paying attention last night because I was too busy trying to get laid, but now that I look at you, you have cop written all over your damn face.”
    That was more than Matt wanted to know.
    “Calm down, Armando,” Phoenix said as if he’d been through something similar to this before with his best friend.
    “Calm down? Calm down! Since when do you date a fucking cop, and since when do you bring them home?” Armando snapped at Phoenix and Matt growled.
    He grabbed Phoenix back into his arms. He wasn’t going to stand there and listen to Armando yell at Phoenix. Best friend or not, the man was about to get his ass handed to him. “I’d watch my tone if I were you,” Matt warned in a low and even growl.
    Armando pulled his lip back in a snarl, glaring at Matt as he pulled Phoenix back to his side. “He’s my best friend. What the hell do you want from him, cop?” He said the last word