As she neared her office, Coach Malone was coming toward her. Did everyone come to work early? Toni had been planning to use what she thought would be quiet time to plan her escape. Her plan was simply not working!

“Oh, good. You’re here.” Malone stopped in front of her. “We need new pictures of the guys.”

“Pardon?”

“You know. Promo pictures. For them to sign. You’ll need to get a photographer but someone with a little talent who doesn’t easily cry.”

“Cry?”

“I just don’t want regular ol’ headshots. I hate those.”

Toni took a breath. “Well, I was hoping to talk to you—”

“God, you don’t need me to hold your hand through this, too, do you?”

“No, no. It’s just—”

“Because I’ve got a bunch of shit to do and I don’t have the time. So could you just make this happen? Great. Thanks! I’ve gotta go.”

Beyond frustrated, Toni walked into her office and sat down at her desk. Bo watched her.

“Everything all right?”

“Yeah. I guess. Kerri!” she called out. The full-human appeared in seconds.

“Yes, boss?”

“Don’t call me boss. And Coach Malone wants new team pictures. Is there someone you guys use regularly for this?”

“There was.”

“Was?”

“After the lawsuit, we really can’t use him.”

“Lawsuit?” Toni focused on Bo.

“It wasn’t me,” he said quickly. “It was Malone. She was one of the players then, and he said he was just trying to pose her properly. She said she didn’t like him putting his hand on her ass. Next thing you know that leopard had a broken cheekbone, a busted nose, and two shattered arms.” Suddenly the hybrid smiled, and Toni realized he was actually quite handsome when he wasn’t glowering like a sociopath. “And for once . . . it wasn’t me.”

“Do you want me to come up with another list of names?” Kerri asked.

Toni thought about it a moment and shook her head. “No. I think I have another completely insane option.”

Bo studied her a moment. “That doesn’t sound very promising.”

“Yeah.” Toni sighed and pulled out her cell phone. “I know.”

The electronic blueprints for the Sports Center were projected up on the screen, and Rory pointed at several doors inside the Sports Center that were only known about and used by shifters. “The Center guards scented full-humans here. Here. And here.”

“Did they ever get inside?” Reece asked.

“No. But the Center needs a more secure system or they may have a situation where Dee-Ann may have to get involved becausesome full-human saw too much.”

“We could change all the locks,” Ricky suggested, “but then no one could get inside but wolves and foxes.”

“Nah,” Reece said. “The bears will just tear the doors off the hinges. Especially if they smell food from the food court.”

“Are you two done?” Rory asked.

Ricky and Reece looked at each other and back at Rory. “No,” they said together.

“Look.” Rory stepped in front of the screen. “This is a big job for us, so I need y’all to focus.”

Reece nudged Ricky’s side with his elbow. “Someone’s trying to act all impressive ’cause he’s up for a promotion.”

“You gonna wear a suit to work now, Rory?” Ricky asked him. “And some fancy Italian loafers?”

“Can we just focus on the job?”

Ricky stood. “Reece and I will go over to the Sports Center and take a look around. See what we can fix.”

“I bet Ricky Lee just wants to see his new girlfriend,” Reece said.

“Girlfriend? What girlfriend?”

“She’s not my girlfriend, but I am hoping she becomes my fuck buddy.”

“She’s a jackal.”

“Shut up, Reece.”

“Jackal?” Rory asked. “The Devil’s canine?”

“Stop calling them that.”

“Why?”

“Can’t get her in my bed if my own kin are insulting her kind.”

“He’s got a point,” Reece said, shrugging. “Unlike men, girls are weird about that sort of thing. It’s like they look for any reason not to sleep with you.”

Rory stared at his brother. “I think that’s only you.”

“It can’t be. I’m so much cuter than either of you.”

He saw Delilah sitting on the steps outside his church. His temple, really. Where people came from all around to meet him. To hear his wisdom. To learn about how they should manage their lives. He was there for them when no one else was. Because he loved them. He loved them all.

And yet . . . he knew that Delilah was something special. Something beyond any of the others.

Chris walked down the stairs, his bodyguards only a few feet behind. He sat down next to her. He knew that to those walking by that he looked just like any other New Yorker with his torn jeans and comfortable sandals. But they’d learn soon enough that he was far from “any other” being on the planet.

“Hello.”

She turned her head to look at him, her small smile in place. She was just so innocent. So tender.

“You came back,” he said.

“I did.”