“What’s going on, Dez? Talk to me.”

“Nothing’s going on.”

“Don’t lie to me, Desiree.”

She leaned over, her elbows on her knees, and ran her hands through her hair. After a few moments of silence, she took in a deep breath. “Petrov’s body had marks on his throat. Claw marks. Except that the grip implied…” She looked at him with those beautiful gray eyes. “Thumbs.”

Mace observed her closely. She must have the smoothest skin known to man. Except for the frown lines in her forehead, which she always had, her skin was flawless. Clearly, Dez lived a relatively clean life. No drugs. Very little drinking. And, until recently, very little sex and the difficulties that sometimes come with it.

“Are you going to answer me?”

“You didn’t ask me a question, so I was staring at you instead.”

She rubbed her eyes with the knuckles of her hands. “Mace, what am I going to do with you?”

“Well, we’ve got that big bed right upstairs—”

“Mace.”

“Or I’ve been thinking about fucking you on this couch too.”

“Mace!” She took another deep breath. “Mace. This clearly involves—you know—your people, and I’m not exactly sure how to handle this. It’s not like I can go to my lieutenant and tell him there seems to be a rash of ‘shifter killers’ around.”

“You don’t have to. This stuff works out on its own. I just need you to stay out of the way, Dez. I can’t have anything happen to you.”

She leaned forward and ran her finger along the wound she recently unbandaged. “You mean like this? We both know this wasn’t an accident.”

Debating what to say, he glanced down at her feet. The nails painted a bright red, she wore a small silver ring on the second toe of her right foot. Damn, even her feet were cute. “It wasn’t an accident, I just don’t know why they targeted you. Unless they had something to do with it.”

“They?”

He sighed. Things kept getting difficult. Well, more difficult. No point in lying now, though. “Hyenas.” When she simply raised an eyebrow at him, he continued. “You know. Hyenas. Natural enemies of lions?”

“Yes, Mace. I know hyenas. I watch the Discovery Channel.”

“They did this to you. I’m assuming whatever club you were in, whoever you met with, were hyenas.”

Dez nodded slowly. He didn’t think she understood, but apparently her NYPD attitude wouldn’t allow her to show that weakness.

“There’s one thing that confuses me.”

“Just one thing,” he teased. He knew this had to be freaking her out. It still amazed him she hadn’t tried to go for her shotgunagain.

“Yeah. The club I was at last night…Shaw was there. I mean, he’s like you, right? He’s attached to your sister?”

Mace nodded, surprised at how quickly she caught on. “Who did you meet exactly?”

“Gina Brutale.”

“Yeah, they’re hyenas all right.” Mace realized exactly how lucky he was. “The Brutales are not to be messed with, Dez.”

“I wasn’t. She called me. Said she had information on Petrov. She said he was in love with her. Is that even possible?”

“Sure. You can fall in love with anybody. And I’ve heard hyenas are a wild ride in bed.”

Dez glared at him. “Thanks for the info, Mace.”

“Just trying to be helpful, Detective.”

Dez ran her hand through her gorgeous mane of hair. “Brutale owned the club. The Chapel on Sixteenth.”

Mace shook his head. “If they owned the club then that was hyena territory. I’m sure the club is considered neutral but, still, Shaw must be playing Russian roulette if he’s hanging out there.”

Mace watched Dez as her mind turned around all he told her. She seemed to be less than interested in the fact of what he was. Not while she still had a case to solve.

“Brutale thinks your sister killed Petrov.”

“Do you?”

She sighed. “No. Although I really wanted her to. I’m still not sure why me, though. What did I do?”

“You probably still had my scent on you when you went to the club.” When you were running from me.

She held her hand up. “Okay. Please stop.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s getting a little weird for me.”

“What’s weird, Dez? The hyenas? The lions?” He leaned down, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped in front of him. “Or you smelling like me?”

Her eyes narrowed at the same time her nipples hardened. He almost smiled. He loved making her crazy.

“Well, your sister didn’t kill Petrov. I don’t think Brutale killed him. Shaw, however, could have or…you know…” She shrugged and watched him with those gray eyes.

“You know what?” She raised one eyebrow, and he exploded. “Are you suggesting I may have killed the man?”

“Now, calm down. It’s only a suggestion.”

“A very fucking insulting suggestion!”

“There’s no reason to yell at me.”

“You accuse me of murder and there’s no reason to yell at you?”

“Is it still considered murder amongst your people?”

“Amongst my people? Are you fucking kidding me with this shit?”