Shelly Laurenston - Big Bad Beast

“Which means what, exactly?” Malone asked.

“That means we’re putting a small team of our best people on this to get to the heart of where it’s all stemming from. I want to know who’s the money behind this. Once we find the money, we can take it from there. But we’ve got to find the money.”

“And who’s gonna be on this team?” Although Dee already had a bad feeling she knew the answer.

“Desiree will take lead. She represents NYPD and can keep the full-human precincts off you, something she did earlier tonight after the residents of that neighborhood complained, so you should thank her. I don’t know what we could have done if anyone else had found you in that warehouse with all those bodies.”

Together, Malone and Dee looked over at Desiree and sneered, “Thank you.”

Desiree laughed and Gentry continued. “To represent KZS, we’ll have Miss Malone and for the Group, Miss Smith.”

Canine and feline scowled at each other across the room. Then Malone roared and Dee barked multiple times, lips pulled back over fangs.

The lynx snapped her fingers in Malone’s face. “Date!” she bellowed. “Was I not clear I have a date? I don’t have time for this bullshit.” She pointed at Dee-Ann. “From you either. So let’s cut to the chase rather than wait for the bear to make her slow, plodding way to it. We’ve already looked at your records, ladies. All three of you are former Marines, and both Smith and Malone have Unit training. So you’re going to get over whatever bullshit issues you have and fix this problem before I get really fucking cranky.” She stood, smoothing down her mini-dress. “Is that it?”

“Well—” the sow began.

“Good. See ya!” Then she was out the door and gone.

Dee turned to Ric, waiting for him to say something. He did.

“So . . . are you hungry?”

R ic paid the cabbie and stood, Dee-Ann glaring at him from the front stoop of his family’s restaurant.

“What did you want me to do?” he asked.

“Tell them no.”

He shrugged. “I like the idea. Besides, we should all be working together to stop this—don’t walk away from me, Dee-Ann.”

His stern warning ignored, Dee kept walking, but Ric caught up with her and pulled her into the alley between the restaurant and the deli next door.

“Don’t you find it curious,” he asked, standing in front of her, “that felines who are so into pure bloodlines they could be British royalty are suddenly concerning themselves with hybrids?”

Folding her arms over her chest, Dee did that thing he hated where she looked right past him. Then again she only did that when he was right about something and it pissed her off.

“If you’re really adamant about not working on this, I can put someone else on it.” He tried to think of the one person who’d really set Dee off and he realized that one person was waiting for him right inside one of the private dining rooms. “I’ll give it to Blayne.”

Ric took a step away, but Dee’s hand shot out and caught hold of his arm. “Pardon?”

“I said I’ll put Blayne on it since you don’t want to—”

“Teacup? You’re going to put Teacup on this ?”

“She’s a great ambassador for the Group, gets along well with felines and bears, and she already knows Dez MacDermot.”

“She babysits for Desiree.”

“She’s also taken on bigger responsibilities with the Group and that’s worked out just fine.”

“With the hybrid pups and cubs. It’s not like she’s ever been in the field.”

“But she handled herself just fine in Ursus County.” Ric still had a hard time believing that his goofy, loveable wolfdog buddy was the same She-predator he’d seen decimate a gang of full-human males trying to kill them. And she’d done it with nothing more than a couple of blades in her hands and sheer willpower. Then again, Blayne’s knife skills only made a real appearance when she was backed into a corner with no way out. Of course . . . he didn’t have to mention he knew that to Dee.

“Ursus—” The She-wolf gritted pearly white fangs and snarled at him like he was trying to take her favorite chew toy. “The only reason she lived through Ursus County was ’cause of me. The only reason she has a job with the Group is ’cause of me. The only reason she breathes my precious, precious air is ’cause of me!”

It was true. The one person who could really set Dee-Ann Smith off was and perhaps always would be Blayne Thorpe.

“I understand that, but—”

Dee’s head dipped low, bright gold eyes looking up at him through dark brown lashes. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Not if you’re just going to use this as an opportunity to beat up on Cella.”

If it was possible, Dee-Ann’s expression turned even angrier. “That’s true. I wouldn’t want to hurt your girlfriend.”

Ric blinked. “My what?”

“Forget it.” She stepped around him, ready to leave, but Ric caught hold of her wrist, keeping her in place.

“I promised you food.”

“I don’t need you feeding me, Van Holtz. I’m not some charity case.”

“I never said you were. And what happened to Ric? It sounded so nice when you called me Ric. And you have to eat, Dee-Ann.” He gripped one of the loops of her jeans, tugging at it.

“Hands!”

“One good tug and these will come off. You’re too skinny.”

“When did you become my mother?”

“See? Even your mother is concerned.”

“No, she’s not.”

He led her to the back door. “Come on. You have to eat, otherwise I’ll be up all night worrying you’ve passed out somewhere. Unable to take another step due to lack of nutrition.”

Ric had his hand on the doorknob, giving Dee a wink over his shoulder. But the door swung open from the inside, shoving him back and right into the She-wolf. He slammed into her, his body pushing hers into the wall behind them.

“Sorry, boss,” one of his crew said, tossing a bag of trash into the Dumpster. “Didn’t see you there.”

Ric didn’t reply. He was too busy being seriously aware of the woman he had pressed against the wall.

“You planning to get off me anytime soon, supermodel?” she asked.

“Or we can stay this way forever. That’s an option.” One he was more than willing to explore.

“Good Lord!” Dee pushed him back and walked toward the alley door. “If Cella’s not your girlfriend, we need to get you one.”

“Cella’s not my girlfriend. She works for me. It would be inappropriate.”

Dee-Ann stopped in the open doorway and faced him. “So do I, but that hasn’t stopped you from demanding I get naked every other day.”

“True, but I don’t sign your checks.”

“Which means what exactly?”

“I don’t know, but if you give me some time I’m sure I can come up with something completely logical that could be argued in front of the Supreme Court.”

“Ya know . . . I bet you could.”

Dee didn’t know why she should suddenly care if Ric was going out with Malone or not, but she’d admit to herself that she kind of did care. Maybe she was just feeling moody. Maybe a little homesick. Whatever. She’d get over it.

She stood outside the kitchen while Ric went back in and got their food. It seemed to take longer than she thought it would, which meant that he was cooking it himself. But when he finally came out, he smiled at her—back to his happy-go-lucky, goofball self because he’d cooked something up in a pan—and motioned down the hall toward the private dining rooms. Figuring he probably wanted to discuss next steps before she had to deal with Malone on a daily basis, Dee started walking. One of the waiters slipped past her carrying a big tray piled with more food.