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

with a sneer, letting Matt know that Armando hated cops just as much as Phoenix did. Great, and here he had been proud of the profession he worked. Armando made it seem like Matt was a damn crime boss or something as insidious.
    Matt reached out and grabbed Phoenix, wrenching his mate back into his arms. “Not that it’s any of your damn business, but I want to date him. Is that a problem?”
    Armando grabbed Phoenix by the scruff of his collar, and Matt pulled his arm back and punched Armando square on his jaw. He hadn’t meant to hit the guy, but seeing his mate manhandled had pushed Matt over the edge. Armando fell into the wall, and then got to his feet and tackled Matt. Matt flipped Armando around and placed a choke hold on the man. It wasn’t easy. Armando really was a very big guy.
    Armando rolled to the floor, making Matt’s arm slip free, and then they both jumped up at the same time, Armando sucker punching Matt. It had happened so fast that Matt hadn’t seen it coming. He was knocked straight into the living room.
    Matt rushed in and headlocked Armando. “Enough!”
    “Fuck you, cop.” Armando landed an elbow to the kidney, but Matt didn’t release him.
    “You know, you can go to jail for assaulting a police officer.” Matt locked his arms around the guy’s head tighter. He wasn’t going to be rolled off of the guy this time. He was anticipating the large man now.
    “Not if the cop in question struck me first, jackass.” Armando fell backward, taking Matt with him. Fuck, the man was good. Matt rolled, jumping to his feet, his canines punching down as he crouched and growled.
    Phoenix’s jaw dropped as his eyebrows shot up to his blond hairline.
    “What the fuck?” Armando squeaked as he grabbed Phoenix and backed into the living room, grabbing a lamp and throwing it at Matt. He ducked in time as the lamp crashed into the wall and then thudded to the floor. Armando pulled Phoenix along as the man hauled ass into what Matt assumed was a bedroom.
    “Damn it, bring my mate back here.” Matt had had enough. Truth was going to be told, and they would have to deal with it. Phoenix’s life was at stake. And if Armando threw one more damn thing at Matt, he was going to bite the bastard. He knew he had to not only explain things to Phoenix, but his mate’s best friend as well if he wanted Armando to know how grave the situation was.
    But hell if he didn’t want to deck the man again.
    “Fuck you, cop…dog…whatever the hell you are!” Armando yelled through the door. “Stay the fuck away from us!”
    Matt growled, his wolf fighting to get free and pull his mate back into his arms. He was not about to stand out in the hallway and have a debate with an overexuberant flame queen. Phoenix was his, and Matt wanted him back. He raised his leg, kicking his booted foot into the flimsy bedroom door, but quickly ducked when an alarm clock sailed by his head. “Will you stop throwing shit at me!”
    “Not likely, doggie.” A hardcover book was next. Matt ducked, seeing that Phoenix was tucked behind Armando’s back, his eyes wide as he glanced from Armando to Matt. Matt could tell his mate wanted to come to him, so he extended his arms and Phoenix ran from behind Armando, but Armando grabbed Phoenix before he could get any further than the nightstand. Matt was getting really tired of this man.
    “Nix, get your love-struck ass back behind me.” Armando stooped to pick up the small nightstand.
    Really?
    A nightstand?
    “Whoa, don’t do it,” Matt warned as he pointed a finger at Armando. “You’re only going to fuck your own furniture up, jackass.”
    When Armando ignored Matt and tried to lift the small piece of furniture, Matt was at the end of his patience rope. He shifted into his wolf form and watched as everyone froze.
    “I–I think my hair dye has finally eaten my brain cells.” Armando swallowed hard as he straightened, abandoning his idea of throwing the nightstand, and took a step