Her long legs up on the table, her long black hair streaked with white and orange-red strands, Cella Malone crossed her arms over her chest and took in a deep breath before asking, “They want Novikov in a cage?”

“Yes. Um . . . before and after the game, and during, uh, half-time.”

“And you agreed to that?”

“No.”

“What did you agree to?”

Toni, getting the feeling she’d screwed up, admitted, “Nothing.”

“Did you negotiate?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Toni glanced around at the table full of people and said, “Didn’t know I was supposed to.”

“Did you at least say no?”

“No.”

“Then Yuri”—the Moscow coach—“thinks you agreed.”

“But I didn’t agree.”

“But you didn’t say you didn’t agree.”

“But I didn’t say I agreed, either.”

“Yuri won’t care. As far as he’s concerned, we’ll be putting Novikov into a cage. Not that I blame the man. It’s been a few years, but that poor bear is still recovering from what Novikov did to him. But Novikov isn’t going into a cage. And we’re not playing the Siberian team without him, because I don’t like to lose. And playing against a team made up of polars, tigers, and a couple of foxes is what nightmares are made of.” Cella sighed and shook her head. “I’ll call Yuri myself.”

“No, no.” Toni shook her head and fought her desire to shift to jackal and start chewing on the furniture out of anxiety. “I can deal with it.”

“Yeah,” one of the department heads cut in. “You did such a great job already with Novikov in a cage and everything.”

Toni glared across the table at a fellow canine, a red fox, but she bit back her automatic, Kyle-like response.

“I’m sure,” Toni tried to insist to Cella, “that I can handle this. I just need you to—”

“Could you guys get out?” Cella asked everyone else.

The other department heads quickly left, leaving Toni alone with the big She-cat. She was really a stunning beauty, but Toni couldn’t ignore those knuckles of hers. They were bloody and torn, like she’d just been in a fight. And everyone knew about the Malones. A tiger family of one-time Irish Travelers who had a very tough reputation among shifters. So Toni really didn’t want to get on the wrong side of this woman.

“Look, kid,” Cella began. “I know you’re new to this, but you need to step it up. I’ve got a lot going on,” she complained, rubbing her forehead. “And a killer headache. I mean you did a great job with Novikov and with Bert. Better than anyone else. Plus you got Ric Van Holtz’s stamp of approval. All of these are good things. But don’t think for a minute that your connection with Van Holtz is going to protect you. You don’t get this job right . . . I’mfiring your ass and Van Holtz isn’t going to override my decision. So step up your game.”

Toni nodded. “Yes. Of course.”

“And, sweetie . . . what are you wearing?”

Toni glanced down at her mother’s suit. “A business suit.”

“Why? Are you selling insurance?”

“Well . . . I . . .”

“The bottom line is . . . you look uncomfortable. And uncomfortable to shifters means weakness. You don’t want these guys thinking you’re weak. They will stomp all over you. So grow a backbone, wear something you’re actually comfortable in, and I’ll handle Yuri for now. Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Cella swung her legs off the table, swiped up her papers, and walked out of the conference room.

Alone now, Toni dropped her head on the table. Not even lunch yet and she wanted to walk into traffic.

This had been a huge mistake. Huge. Gigantic. What had she been thinking? And even worse, she’d been getting calls and texts from her siblings all morning. It seemed that everything was currently a mess at home and now here. All because of her, as far as she was concerned.

“Hi!”

Toni’s head snapped up and she looked at the woman standing in the doorway.

“I’m Kerri,” the woman said, her smile bright.

Toni nodded.

“Your secretary.” Oh, God. She had a secretary now? What for? “Although I prefer admin, if that’s okay. Or assistant. Whatever.” The woman was so . . . perky. She couldn’t possibly be a shifter.

“Yeah,” she said, as if reading Toni’s mind. “I’m a full-human. Married to a wonderful hyena. I love his Clan. You know, when I first met him, I totally thought he was a woman, just big-boned, but then I found out he’s actually a man. He laughs at everything, like at my cousin’s funeral, which was awkward, but I just adore him. So you’re a . . .” She pointed a finger at her. “Jackal, right?”

Toni nodded. “That’s so cool! I wish I were a shifter. Being full-human is okay. I mean I’m healthy and not unattractive. But to be able to shift into an entirely different species . . . that’s so cool!”

“Uh-huh.”

“Anyway, your office is finally ready.”

“Office?” The bobcat had put her at a desk not far from his own, and Toni hadn’t thought much about it. It was small but would do for her purposes.

“Floyd didn’t tell you, right?” Kerri asked with an eye roll. “Typical. You started so quickly after being hired that we didn’t have much time to set up your office. And I was making sure it was all going perfectly, so I’m very sorry I wasn’t there to greet you when you got in and that you had to deal with Floyd.” She stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. Seconds later, her big smile returned. “Okay! So let’s go see your new office!”