Victoria and Lana stayed overnight in the clinic to look after Nicholas. Greg also wanted to stay to support them, but there were no free beds in a visitor's room, and the doctor insisted that he return in the morning to take all three of them home. Kiki said goodbye to the girls even before that and left.
The road back was steeped in silence. The first to break it was Greg.
"It's impressive that you haven't bombarded me with morals and warnings yet." - he said, never taking his eyes off the road.
" I'm giving you an opportunity to think." - Frank said, turning on the familiar highway.
"About what?" - Greg asked although he knew what Frank is trying to say. Just sometimes he liked to rattle his friends a little.
Frank gritted his teeth and turned sharply, as he parked at the nearest curb. Muffling the engine, he turned and stared at Greg.
" So you have nothing to think about?! What about the fact that your girlfriend is a werewolf? Like her whole family! And who knows how many of them out there. They have their own clinic. There may be thousands of monsters running around!"
"Do you think that the fact that my woman can turn into a wolf will make me turn away from her? Do you have such a bad impression about me?"
"You dumped your other women for less." - Frank pricked.
"They were never MY women, Frank. You must know the difference." - Greg retorted and immediately winced. He did not want to offend his friend by disrupting an old wound. Frank's eyes went cold, and his lips stretched into a line. - "Sorry, I did not mean to offend you. But understand, I want her, I need her, full package. And if she comes with a furry half in one set, then this is not the worst deal."
" Only if this set doesn't include a dozen more fluffy ones ready to eat you." - Frank sneered.
"My friend, if we only fixate on those who want to bite us in the ass, we'll be forced to walk backward. And it's kind of hard to walk fast this way. You did not hesitate in the sniper's valley, did not pause when the shells exploded nearby. So what are you afraid of now?"
Frank was silent for a second, and then he smiled.
"I guess I'm just getting old. Besides, isn't it my responsibility? You always rush forward, and I protect your back. Someone must be the voice of reason. Better me than Tony."
"Definitely, my brother! By the way, when will we tell him?" - Greg turned to him with a grin.
"Give the fluffy ones a couple more days to live in peace." - Frank uttered in a voice full of pity before bursting out laughing. Soon someone will find out for themselves what a wolf in sheep's clothing really means...