Suddenly, the door burst open, and Fang stormed in, his face flushed with anger. He was yelling at Horns, who followed close behind, his expression grim.
"I told you, Asmodeus is the only one who can handle that crowd!" Fang's voice boomed through the office, his frustration palpable. "The backup band is a disaster! They're off-key, they're out of sync, and they're ruining the entire atmosphere!"
He turned, his gaze landing on Kev standing by the window. His anger seemed to dissipate instantly, replaced by a look of concern. "Kev," he said, his voice softening, "where did you go earlier?"
Kev glanced at Horns, realizing that the mooseman hadn't had a chance to inform Fang about the incident at the security checkpoint. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "I had a little... encounter with some city enforcers," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Fang's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a disbelieving laugh escaping his lips. He turned to Horns, expecting a shared amusement. But the moose-man's expression remained grave, his silence speaking volumes.
Fang's laughter died in his throat, replaced by a cold dread that settled in the pit of his stomach. He turned back to Kev, his eyes searching the human's face for any sign of deception. "This isn't some kind of weird joke, is it, Kev?" he asked, his voice strained.
Kev shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Fang's waist, burying his face in the wolfman's chest. "They almost took me away," he choked out, his voice muffled by Fang's suit jacket.
Fang's tail shot straight out, stiff and rigid, a clear sign of his alarm. He gently placed his hands on Kev's back, his touch comforting and protective. He turned to Horns, his voice a low growl. "How the fuck did this happen?"
Horns, recognizing the dangerous glint in Fang's eyes, knew the wolfman was on the verge of losing control. He quickly stepped in, his voice calm but firm, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Boss, let me explain," he began, his tone measured.
"Kev was approached by two city enforcers, Bryan and Abe," Horns continued, his gaze shifting between Fang and Kev. "Bryan accused Kev of possessing a controlled substance and attempted to arrest him."
He paused, gauging Fang's reaction. The wolfman's jaw was clenched, his fists balled at his sides, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Horns knew he had to tread carefully.
"Rex intervened," he continued, "and there was a bit of a... confrontation. But Rex handled it. The enforcers left, and Kev is safe."
Fang's eyes narrowed, his voice a low growl. "That rabbit will regret this," he muttered, his anger barely contained.
Horns nodded slowly. "His behavior was... unusual. He seemed more interested in causing trouble than enforcing the law."
"A hotshot new enforcer trying to make a name for himself?" Fang speculated, his lips curling into a sneer.
Horns shrugged. "Possibly," he admitted. "But there's something else... something doesn't add up." He paused, his gaze meeting Kev's. "I think Bryan started that fight on the dance floor, the one that distracted the bouncer. He might have been targeting Kev from the start."
Kev, his heart still pounding from the earlier ordeal, sat down on the couch, his legs feeling weak. "They made it sound like they didn't know who I was," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Horns shook his head. "We'll need to investigate further. But for now, the important thing is that you're safe."
Fang's gaze softened as he looked at Kev. "If I had known this was happening," he said, his voice filled with a quiet rage, "that rabbit would have never left the club grounds."
Horns, sensing the danger in Fang's tone, quickly intervened. "The situation has been handled, boss," he assured him. "Kev's safe, and Rex made it clear that we won't tolerate any more interference from those enforcers."
Fang's anger flared, his voice rising in volume. "Rex may have handled it," he growled, "but I specifically told that bouncer to keep an eye on Kev! He failed in his duty, and someone's going to pay for that."
He turned on his heel, his movements sharp and decisive, clearly intent on finding the hapless bouncer and delivering a swift reprimand.
"Boss, wait," Horns interjected, his voice calm but firm. "Barry had to stop a fight. You know fighting is against the rules."
Kev's heart sank. He remembered the burly bearman, his kind eyes and gentle demeanor. He didn't want the bouncer to get in trouble because of his own mistake. "Fang," he said, his voice soft but determined, "the bouncer did what he was supposed to do. He stopped a fight. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have talked with Bryan."
Fang paused, his back still turned to them. His fur bristled, and his tail lashed back and forth, clear signs of his simmering rage. "Someone's got to be punished for this," he growled, his voice still low and menacing. "How dare someone come in here and target my people."
He turned back to face them, his eyes blazing with fury. Kev had never seen Fang look so ferocious, so utterly terrifying. It was a stark reminder of the wolfman's primal nature, the raw power that lurked beneath his polished exterior.
"Fang," Kev said, his voice trembling slightly, "the bouncer is your man too. He did what he was supposed to do. Don't take your anger out on him. It was my mistake."
Fang's gaze bore down on Kev, his eyes still blazing with a feral intensity. "No! This isn't just my business, Kev," he growled, his voice thick with barely contained rage. "It's my home. My sanctuary. If you can't feel safe in your own home, then what do you have?"
He paced the room, his movements restless and agitated. "The city has just declared war," he declared, his voice rising in volume. "And that rabbit is going to be the first casualty!"
Kev looked away, unable to meet Fang's gaze. The wolfman's fury was terrifying, his usual composure shattered, replaced by a feral rage that threatened to consume him. Kev had never seen him like this, so unhinged, so consumed by anger. He looked more like a rabid coyote than the sophisticated businessman Kev had come to know.
"Fang," Kev said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached out, his hand tentatively touching Fang's arm. The wolfman flinched at the contact, but didn't pull away.
Kev met Fang's gaze, his own eyes filled with a quiet determination. "If they were targeting me," he said, his voice steady, "it's obvious they were trying to provoke you. I have no money, no connections, I'm nobody in this city. Unless they wanted to put me in a zoo, I don't see what reason Bryan would have for singling me out."
Horns nodded in agreement, his voice firm. "Kev's right, boss. They're too scared to come at you directly, so they're resorting to underhanded tactics. First, they try to bury you in legal battles, and now they're targeting your people, your..." He paused, his gaze flickering towards Kev. "...your assistant."
Fang let out a guttural howl, his anger erupting like a volcano. "Those bastards!" he roared, his voice echoing through the office. "They're afraid of me, afraid of what we're building here. So they try to fight me with lawyers and petty regulations, and now they stoop to this... this cowardly attack on my..." His voice faltered, his shoulders slumping as the rage drained from him, leaving behind a hollow emptiness. "...my assistant," he finished weakly, his gaze falling on Kev.
He turned to face the human, his eyes filled with a mix of remorse and protectiveness. "Kev, this is not your fault," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're caught in the crossfire of a war you didn't start."
Horns, sensing the shift in Fang's demeanor, snapped his fingers, a spark of realization igniting in his eyes. "Boss," he said, his voice urgent, "could this be a desperation move? A retaliation for our deal with the mafia?"
Fang's growl deepened, his anger reigniting. "I'm going to find out," he vowed, his voice laced with a chilling determination. "And when I do, those responsible will pay dearly."
Before he could say more, a knock at the door interrupted the tense atmosphere. Rex, his usual swagger replaced by a respectful demeanor, entered the office. He took in the scene, Fang's simmering rage and Kev's worried expression, and quickly assessed the situation
"Boss," Rex greeted, his voice a low rumble, "you wanted to see me?"
Fang's lips curled into a wry smile, a flicker of amusement was quickly covered by the seriousness of the situation. "Getting smarter, are we?" he remarked, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
Horns, ever practical, interjected, "Close the door, Rex."
Rex nodded in acknowledgement, shutting the door firmly behind him. He glanced at Kev, his predatory gaze softening slightly. He could sense Fang's volatile mood and wisely chose to keep his usual flirtatious remarks to himself.
"What happened, Rex?" Fang demanded, his voice a low growl.
Rex, his posture rigid with respect, recounted the events at the security checkpoint. "Horns arrived in a hurry with Perry," he began, his voice steady and professional. "I gathered the security team, and we intercepted Bryan's car. I had a little... chat with the bunny, and Kev got out of the car. We sent Bryan and Abe on their way."
Fang's eyes narrowed. "Abe?" he questioned, his voice sharp. "Who's Abe?"
"He's an old city enforcer," Rex explained. "He comes around relatively often, but he's never caused a scene before. Some of the guys on the security team used to be on the city force, and I've heard a few of them used to work with him."
"If Abe shows up again," Fang growled, his voice laced with menace, "I'd like to have a chat with him."
Rex's lips curled into a predatory grin. "I can always get the boys to pay him a visit," he offered, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous glint.
"No," Fang snapped, his tone firm. "Don't go looking for trouble, Rex. Only deal with it when it finds you. Understand?"
Rex bristled slightly, his pride wounded. "My job is looking for trouble, boss," he retorted, his voice a low rumble.
"Shut it, cat," Fang barked, his patience wearing thin. "One of your bouncers needs some more training. He let that little white rodent snatch Kev right out of the VIP section."
Rex's grin faded, replaced by a look of grim determination. "I'll have a chat with Barry," he said, his voice clipped.
"Barry is going to be on perimeter duty from now on," Fang declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I want him as far away from the VIPs as possible."
"Now get out of my sight," Fang growled, his voice echoing through the office, "and make sure there are no more fuck-ups tonight. If I hear about anything else, I'm going to lose it."
Rex, his tail tucked between his legs, quickly exited the room, leaving a palpable tension in his wake. Horns, settled back onto the couch and lit a joint, offering it to Kev with a sympathetic smile.
Kev hesitated, his gaze flickering between the joint and Fang's agitated form. "I almost just got arrested for that," he pointed out, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips.
Horns shrugged, taking a long drag. "I smoke every day," he replied nonchalantly. "And besides, if they grabbed you when you were smoking, that means you didn't finish your smoke." He winked at Kev, a playful glint in his eyes.
The lighthearted banter, though brief, managed to lift Kev's spirits slightly. He took the joint from Horns and inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of the herb calming his nerves.
Fang, meanwhile, continued to pace the office, his frustration evident in his every movement. Kev watched him, a wave of concern washing over him. He wanted to help Fang, to ease the tension that seemed to be consuming him. But how?
An idea sparked in his mind, a memory of the night before, of Fang's relaxed demeanor and contented sighs as Kev leaned against him in the VIP booth. Perhaps a simple touch, a gesture of comfort, could help to soothe the wolfman's troubled spirit.