Nik closed his eyes. He couldn’t look at the man anymore. Not because of the man, but because of the shirt he wore. The shirt with “Northport Zoo” etched over the front pocket in bright orange.

Those crazy bitches put me in a zoo.

***

Angie looked at her phone, but realized she’d heard a knock at the door. Her frustration mounted as the day moved on. She couldn’t find any of Nik’s kin. None of his siblings answered at the numbers Nik programmed into her phone in case of emergency.

She didn’t want to panic. Because with her, panic would lead to anger. And the last thing she wanted to do right now was stab her friend in the face.

“Yeah?”

Zach stuck his head in, “You okay, Ang?”

She nodded and motioned him in with a wave of her hand. “The question is, are you?”

He shrugged as he leaned against the wall. Angie could see how much Sara’s anger hurt him. True, the pair seemed to argue all the time, but always with a smile or a grope. But Sara had no teasing smile now. No soft caresses on the back of his neck. Nope. Sara was really and truly pissed off.

“I’m okay,” he lied.

“She’ll get over this, Zach.”

He winced, “You sure?”

“I know the crazy bitch. Whatever she’s got going on, she’s gotten it out of her system. We both have.”

“And who knew Miki could be all adult?”

For the first time in hours, Angie smiled. “She has her moments. They’re rare. But they happen. Especially when she realizes Sara and I won’t be.”

“Look, Ang, just so you know, she and Miki were really broken up when we got the call from Marrec. And Marrec was fucking devastated.”

Her birth parents may have forgotten her birthday completely but that didn’t mean she didn’t have family. Even if she did want to kill both her “sisters” at the moment.

“Yeah, we talked. He’s okay now.” Angie glanced at the man who loved her friend. His shoulders slumped in defeat, his eyes staring at a rather boring carpet. Poor guy. Could he be more depressed? “And thanks, Zach.”

“For what?”

“For taking your sweet-ass time coming for me. I know it cost you.”

He gave a little smile, probably his first in several days, too. “Oh, noticed that did ya?”

“Yeah. And I really appreciate it.”

“So, tell me…was my sister right? Did you fall for him?”

Angie sighed and looked out the window.

Zach opened the door, muttering under his breath, “Great. Now we’re gonna have a cat in the family.”

***

Finally, after two hours, the drugs wore off and Nik was back to his old self. He could shift back to human at any time. His only problem now?

They’d put his ass on display.

I hate those women.

Hedidn’t even know them, and he hated them.

The Northport Zoo was a small establishment near the Canadian border. A place where Angie’s friends apparently had lots of clout. From what he could overhear, the zoo officials would never release him among the other tigers for several months. But, it seemed, their “benefactor” had insisted. And against the department head’s recommendations, they went ahead and placed him in a display behind unbreakable glass.

The full tigers watched him silently. All females. Thankfully. He would be less than happy if he had to take on some territorial male.

Well, this little adventure was only going to last today. As soon as it was dark, he was getting his furry ass out of here. Even if he had to scare some poor security guard to death. And then he would be heading to California. He had some dog butt to kick.

Sighing, Nik looked up to find a small child staring at him. A small child busy picking his nose.

Could this get any worse?

The females stirred restlessly near him and he caught the scent they had.

Oh no. Please. Not that.

They stood in front of him, completely unaware of his presence and arguing like two ten year olds.

Nik didn’t bother searching for a way out. There was no way out. They’d trapped him. Trapped him in hell.

Throwing up his hands in anger, Alek turned away from Ban, facing the tiger display. Their eyes caught and Alek stared. He smiled. Then he just became hysterical.

Bastard! This wasn’t and never would be funny!

Ban stared at his younger brother for several moments before catching sight of Nik.

As his brothers literally rolled on the ground—and freaked out all the zoo visitors—Nik seethed. At this point, he needed to know only one thing. And one thing only.

When Angie sent him off the night before, did she know her friends were waiting for him?

***

Angie found Sara outside petting that ugly freakin’ dog.

“I can’t believe Zach hasn’t found a way to get rid of him.”

Sara didn’t look up, just kept petting the ugly beast. Long strokes from the top of his head all the way down to his tail. And he let her, sensing her need.

“I don’t understand how anyone can hate Roscoe T.”

Angie reached over and stroked Roscoe’s head. “True. He’s ugly, but he’s loveable.”

With a half-smile, “You mean, kind of like me?”

“Don’t even try it, Morrighan.”

Finally, Sara laughed. “Oh, come on. That was a perfect pity-me moment.”

“I don’t pity you for one goddamn second.”

“Well, I tried.” Sara pulled the dog over until he was on his back. She rubbed his belly with one hand while petting his head with the other. “And before you ask, I’m not going to tell you where he is.”