“I think we should. You and Rafe are getting serious, and I want to make sure it’s what you want. Mira implied that being with a shifter was dangerous.”
“I imagine it would be. Not everyone would be as accepting of their species differences as we are.”
“I’m talking about on a personal level. Mira said mating a human was far from easy. Dangerous is the word she used.”
“Dangerous? How?”
“She wouldn’t say.” He bent closer and caught her gaze. “But I don’t like the idea of you being with Rafe if it’s going to put you at risk.”
Well, neither did she. But how would loving Rafe be dangerous? He’d told her…
“I’m special to Rafe. His true mate. He won’t hurt me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Physically or emotionally.”
Josh sighed. “Okay, but if you have any doubts, you come to me. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“I know you’d take care of me, but this thing with Rafe is real. Different than what we had.” She inwardly cursed at her word choice. “I’m not saying that to be cruel. You were a wonderful boyfriend.” She peeked at him, then quickly lowered her gaze. “In all ways. But with Rafe, it’s—”
“It’s as if he’s the man you’ve always been waiting for. True love or something, right?”
The romantic description wasn’t something she expected from him. She studied Josh for some explanation but his neutral expression didn’t give her any clues as to the reason for his uncharacteristic words.
“Yes. Exactly. He fits me.”
Josh grunted as if that was the answer he expected. “And he was okay with your explanation of how you found Seth and Levi?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“You’ve got to tell him. If he doesn’t like your—”
“I didn’t steal them. I rescued them. Let’s leave it at that.”
“No, let’s not. Why did you rescue them? And from where?”
“Have you seen Rafe?” Jazz asked to change the subject.
Josh stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled roughly, obviously accepting her diversion. “He drove back to Virginia this morning to meet with some shifter agent.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “He didn’t mention he was planning to go anywhere.”
“He was in a rush when I saw him, if that makes you feel better.”
“Well, did he say why he left so early?” Without bothering to wake her.
“He got some important information out of Megan that he wanted to pass on. He didn’t go into details, but he did invite me to go with him so I don’t think it’s anything secret. I couldn’t, though.” He motioned to the closed computer. “Had to deal with Tony’s stuff. Rafe promised to fill me in when he got back.”
A rock landed in her stomach. She’d been so caught up in her own crazy life that she hadn’t offered to help Josh.
“What else needs to be done? Just tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“Nothing. It’s all arranged. We’re having Tony cremated. We’ll have the memorial service later, after things settle down. All the financial stuff, my cousin will handle. His wife’s a lawyer. So we’re all good.” He rolled his shoulders. “Except for the moving on part.”
“He’s going to be missed by a lot of people. Tony was a good man.”
Josh grunted. “I’m not so sure about that, but I loved him. He was my brother. He also brought Megan into our lives, so I won’t judge him.”
“Judge him how?”
He flexed his hands, and the sound of his knuckles cracking fit the hard line of his mouth. “He was involved in some stuff I don’t approve of.”
“What kind of stuff?”
The angry expression he wore suggested whatever Tony had been involved in had been bad. She couldn’t imagine what, though.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
And Josh wouldn’t. The tone he used left no room for discussion.
“Okay, but if you change your mind, I’m here.” She gave his hand a squeeze.
“Thanks.”
His angry expression didn’t lessen. He stood there vibrating with rage. She wanted to push him to open up, but she knew better. He wouldn’t share things unless he knew they were facts. Pestering him would only succeed in pushing him away.
“Hey, why don’t you go back to bed? Try and get some sleep. You look tired.”
“Yeah, I think I will.” Josh walked to the hallway door without another word. It banged shut behind him.
Jazz poured a cup of coffee, then headed outside. Maybe Mira had more details about Megan and why Rafe would rush out so early.
The ringing landline stopped her. Jazz rushed to grab the phone before it woke someone. “Hello?”
“Jazz, it’s Cindy. I need to see you. Now.”
The panic in Cindy’s voice set Jazz on edge, but she knew better than to agree. It wasn’t safe for her to go anywhere.
“I can’t. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.” Cindy choked on a sob. “I’ve been…umm…having an affair…well, two. Jack found out. He left me, Jazz. Packed up the kids and left.”
Jazz pinched the bridge of her nose. “Hold on a sec.”
She moved to the deck and braced her elbows on the railing.
“Okay. How did he find out?” Jazz wasn’t going to bother asking why. Nothing could make cheating acceptable in her mind.
“He showed up here! Can you believe it? While my kids were eating cereal and watching cartoons. Jack answered the door.”
Jazz frowned. “Your lover? What did he want?”
Cindy’s bitter laugh sent a chill down Jazz’s spine.
“To see if I had some of our other lover’s things. He was afraid they’d been lost in the fire.”
Jazz sucked in a rough breath. “Tony? You were sleeping with Tony? And…and this guy?”
Cindy sniffled. “Yeah. It wasn’t serious. Just sex. A little bondage. Some role-playing stuff.” She groaned. “I didn’t mean for it to go on as long as it did. I just…I couldn’t say no. What they did to me—”
“Stop. I don’t want to know.”
Was Tony’s choice in lovers what had upset Josh? Actually, it was probably knowing Tony had been sleeping with a married woman that had angered Josh more than
