Mace opened the refrigerator door and pulled out the three giant sandwiches the nanny had made before she left for the day. “How was work?”

“Fine.”

“You and your partner getting along?”

“I guess. I haven’t tried to shoot her yet.”

“That’s good, baby.” He sat down at the table.

“Okay. I’ve got questions.”

Dammit. He hadn’t even eaten yet. “No, Desiree. There’s no conspiracy.”

“Oh, yes, there is. But that’s not what I’m talking about. You and Smitty were in the SEALs but a special unit, right? Just shifters?”

“Yeah.”

“Any females?”

“Nope.”

“Any other units like yours but with females?”

Mace nodded, half of his first sandwich already devoured. “Yeah,” he said after he swallowed. “I think the Army has something. Don’t know shit about the Air Force. And the Marines definitely.”

Dez scowled, and Mace shook his head. “Not. A. Conspiracy.”

“Fine. But all the years I was in, and I never heard about any special units filled with shifters.”

“And that was for a reason, baby.”

“Yeah. So you keep saying.”

“We keep this secret for the good of our kind.”

“Yeah, but you told me.”

“I trusted you.” He smiled. “And I knew if you told, no one in their right mind would believe you. You have to be smart and know when to break the rules. We’re not only protecting ourselves; we’re also protecting the next generation.”

Dez ran her hands through her hair, revealing her frustration.

“So you think whoever shot at Mitch was military?”

“Yeah. I mean the distance she was at, Mace…forget about being full-human. I don’t see you or Smitty making this shot.”

Mace remembered what Sissy had said when she was still covered in Mitch’s blood—“If he hadn’t moved…”

“Now we just have to figure out who she is.”

“Start with the Marines. God knows, you guys love your sharpshooters.”

Finally, Dez gave a little laugh and sat back in her chair, cracking her knuckles. “You might as well pick her up, Mace. She’ll only start whining.”

Mace had tried to ignore the paw that kept tapping on his leg, hoping Dez wouldn’t notice. The woman may not be a shifter, but her cop senses were on point.

Grumbling, he reached down and picked the puppy up, placing her in his lap. “And you can just wipe that smile off your face.”

“I didn’t say a thing.” She pushed her chair back and reached down to scoop up their son. “Let’s get you upstairs and to bed,baby-boy, so Dad can have his quality time with his girlfriend.”

Dez kissed Mace’s forehead. “Don’t be long. I’m horny.” And with that pronouncement, she left the kitchen, her two beasts trailing behind.

Mace gave the puppy a piece of salami from his sandwich. “You are so not helping me keep our relationship a secret.”

Sissy didn’t know when her favorite Smithtown bar had gotten a karaoke machine, but she never thought she’d see the day when a pair of male lions would stand on that stage singing Bon Jovi songs.

It had been Dee’s idea to meet at the bar, and Sissy had jumped at it. Since Mitch had bopped Gil Warren on the back of the head, Sissy had been feeling really…strange. Mitch was still goofy…right? Still her buddy. Still her friend. And friend only.

Right?

Then why did she keep staring at him?

No, no. She was overthinking this. She probably only felt this way because Mitch had almost been killed right in front of her. That had to be it.

Because how could she be feeling anything else for a man singing his heart out on “Livin’ on a Prayer”?

“I’ve never heard Brendon sing,” Ronnie commented while sipping her beer. “And I think I’ll be okay never hearing him again.”

“Then don’t hang out with the wild dogs. Apparently, Mitch is their star attraction at their monthly karaoke nights.”

“Dogs singing.” Dee curled her lip a bit in disgust.

Ronnie wiped condensation from her bottle. “So…Gil Warren.”

Sissy picked up her beer. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Can’t believe he had the guts to come back here,” Dee muttered.

“And brought that sister of his.” Ronnie sneered. “I hate her. And I heard she hopes to make Gil Alpha.”

Sissy snorted. “On what planet would that happen?”

“Having a strong female at his side would definitely help with that.”

What insulted Sissy most was the way they were staring at her, like they expected her to have a breakdown or something.

“Do you really think I’m that pathetic?”

When they didn’t answer, she slammed her beer bottle down. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Sissy, wait. We didn’t say—”

But she walked away before Ronnie could finish whatever the hell she had to say. She stopped by the bathroom and did what she had to do, but didn’t feel like going back to the table yet since she still wanted to punch someone in the face. She went out the back door and into the alley instead. As the door closed, Sissy heard noises coming from the Dumpster. She walked around it and stopped to stare at the wolf half in and half out.