/> Tristan opened his mouth, but Melanie beat him to it. "George MacLeod."
Finn blinked. "Pardon?"
"George MacLeod, Tristan and Arabella's father," Melanie answered.
He tried to make out the male's features, but couldn't do so. "He's alive?"
Melanie bobbed her head. "Let us in and we'll explain it all. Brenna Rossi is here to watch over George full-time, to help ease your mind."
"You want me to let in someone who requires a full-time guard?" Finn demanded.
Melanie beat her mate to answering, "He only needs to be here long enough for Dr. MacFie to take a history and possibly a vial of blood."
"And why can't this be done back on Stonefire? Arabella doesn't need more stress."
Tristan spoke up. "I think Ara is finally ready for the truth, or I wouldn't be here."
His dragon chimed in. If we turn him away, Ara may never forgive us.
And if he's a threat? I shouldn't risk my family.
Between our Protectors and Stonefire's, we should be fine. You know Brenna's reputation. If she can manage the Irish clan's Protectors during an attack, she can handle watching one male.
Finn stared at the video feed for a few seconds. He finally sighed. "I'll allow you inside, but I want to talk with you lot first before I take you to Arabella."
Cutting off the microphone, Finn hit the gate release button and turned toward his two Protectors on duty. "Shay, let Faye and Grant know of the situation. You'll probably have to talk with them in person, at the surgery, since their phones might be muted. And Zoe, you'll be coming with me."
Used to following Finn's orders, Shay rushed out and Zoe followed Finn out of the building to the parked car outside.
Brenna Rossi's tall, dark-haired form emerged from the vehicle first.
With his initial shock gone, reason returned to Finn's brain. Considering Brenna had kept her mate sane through a recent ordeal, where the male had ended up with a two-headed inner dragon, she shouldn't have a problem keeping one dragon-shifter under control.
Melanie and Tristan disembarked next. While Finn wouldn't exactly say he was best friends with his brother-in-law, he respected Tristan's love and care for his human mate and twin bairns.
All three of them moved to stand together, just outside the car door that hadn't opened yet. Tristan glanced at Finn, and once he nodded, Tristan lifted the handle and pulled.
A male only slightly shorter than Finn, with gray hair and a well-worn face lined with frown and grimace lines, emerged. The car blocked most of his body, but the male walked in jerky movements. When he finally cleared the car, Finn saw why.
He used metal crutches that wrapped around his forearms and he gripped in his fists. Watching the material of his trousers move against his lower legs, Finn determined he had prosthetics.
Missing limbs still wasn't a reason to abandon a family. Finn would hear the truth, but he wasn't about to pity the male who should've helped Arabella when she'd needed it most.
Tristan motioned to his father. "George MacLeod, meet Finn Stewart, Lochguard's clan leader and Arabella's mate."
George studied Finn a second before the male averted his gaze to the side. Since George didn't say anything, Finn focused on Tristan. "I hope you have a bloody good reason for this, Tristan. I can't say that I'm at my most levelheaded at the moment. The male claiming to be your father abandoned Arabella, as well as you. What right does he have to be here now, when my family might be on the verge of a crisis?"
George murmured, "I have none."
Before Finn could do more than frown, Melanie jumped in. "A shouting match won't help Freya. Explanations can wait. It's more important that Dr. MacFie, Sid, and Gregor talk with George. Once that's done, then you two can have your shouting match."
"I didn't say I would shout," Finn pointed out. "But I'm not about to be charming."
Melanie rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to comment." She turned toward the main pathway. "Now, are you going to escort us to the surgery or should I just make my own way?"
With a grumble, Finn muttered, "Follow me." He pinned George with a stare, not caring that the male probably didn't see it because of his gaze remaining toward the ground. "Try anything, and I will toss you into a cell and allow the doctors to do their examinations that way."
George didn't answer. But Finn's dragon spoke up. I think he's broken. Maybe ease up a wee bit on the threats.