“So you and my boy…uh…” She wiggled perfectly waxed eyebrows, and Sissy laughed harder.

“God, no.”

Now the lioness looked insulted. “Why the hell not? Is my boy not good enough for you?”

“Miss O’Neill—”

“Roxy.”

“Roxy, trust me when I say that there are few Smiths who can accuse anyone of not being good enough for them. But we’re buddies. Friends.”

“Let me tell you something, baby-girl. My Mitchy—”

Mitchy?

“—I love him more than any woman can love her son. But me and his daddy, well…let’s just say that was more about obligation to the Pride than any great love affair. But my pretty little Gwen…me and her daddy…” Then she purred. Seriously. Purred.

“Let’s just say I’ve never gotten it like that before and not since. Gwenie is my love child. And that’s what you want. Someone who makes you feel that way.”

“What happened with Gwen’s father?” Sissy knew something must have happened because Roxy spoke of him in the past tense. And she had no idea how Mitch made her “feel,” and Sissy was okay with that. No use analyzing everything. That had never been her style.

Roxy shrugged shoulders that looked strong and powerful. Typical swamp cat and probably why Roxy didn’t looked scared of anybody. Why would you be when you’re built like a tank?

“I screwed that up. He had obligations to his family in Hong Kong and I was too scared to leave my Pride or Philly.” Gold eyes locked on her. “You weren’t afraid to leave your Pack, though, huh? Mitch says you’ve been damn near everywhere.”

“Smithtown has too many Alphas and not enough territory.”

“Plus, you didn’t want to have to take down your own mother so you could be in charge.”

“Like I could.”

“Oh, you could. And she knows it.” Roxy moved a little closer. “Take it from someone who does it to her own sisters, baby-girl. She does what she does to keep you off balance.”

“But I’m not in Smithtown anymore.”

“But until you settle down, until you have a mate and your mate is some place other than Smithtown, she’ll always worry you might move back. For good. When you meet someone as strong as you, you’ve gotta find other ways to keep control.”

She took another drag from her cigarette before carelessly tossing it. Sissy’s had already burned down, nearly singeing her fingers. “So when you gonna tell her you don’t want kids?”

Sissy froze. “Who says I don’t want kids?”

“Look, when someone mentions having kids to someone who wants to have kids, you see all sorts of longing and shit in their eyes. Youknow what I saw in your eyes when your mother mentioned kids? Impatience.”

Sissy laughed so hard she started coughing, and Roxy nodded her head. “I thought so.”

She patted Sissy’s knee and leaned in close, whispering, “Just FYI, baby-girl, but Mitchy doesn’t want kids either.”

“Stop.” Sissy pushed Roxy’s granite shoulder with a chuckle. “Please stop. And shouldn’t you be trying to hook him up with a nice Pride female or a full-human? I thought most cats would rather see their cubs with a full-human than a canine.”

“I want my Mitchy to be happy, and he won’t be happy in anyone’s Pride. And he’s much too good natured to be around other cats.” She took out another cigarette, her face getting serious. “I worry about him, though. He’s not sleeping. Or eating enough. I can tell.”

“It’s this upcoming trial and everything. And now there’s the bounty on his head.”

Legs crossed, eyes focused on the sky, Roxy pursed her lips. “He’s had a bounty on his head. That’s why he came to New York, right? A few grand?”

“I think they raised it. Based on what I heard, it’s mighty.”

“How do you know this?”

“I was nosey and listened in to his conversation.”

Roxy nodded approval. “Good girl. What else did you hear?”

“He’s heading back to Philly on Monday.”

“And you’re going to miss him.”

Sissy answered honestly. “He’s my best friend, Roxy. Next to Ronnie Lee. So of course I’m gonna miss him.”

“I tried to talk him out of this, you know? Tried to convince him to keep his mouth shut and pretend he didn’t see anything. I’m from the neighborhood. I know what happens to snitches.”

“He’s not a snitch,” Sissy snapped, automatically defending him. “He’s a cop doing his job. And he’s doing a good job. Putting his life at risk to take down scumbags like Petey O’Farrell takes guts most of us don’t have.” Sissy took a breath to calm herself down. “You’re his mother, and I respect that,” she finished, “but watch what you say. I don’t want Mitch hurt because someone’s being careless.”

That gold gaze watched Sissy for a long time, and when Roxy moved, Sissy braced herself, expecting to get punched. Instead, Roxy kissed her forehead. Almost on the same spot her father had. What was going on with everyone today? Was it the wedding? Did it affect people the way funerals did?

“You are a darling, wonderful girl, and I’m so glad you’re Mitch’s”—she paused for a moment, but it said volumes—“friend.”