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“Yeah. You get these beautiful women, make them dependent on you, and then dump them. Well, this time a woman left you first, and your enormous ego can’t deal with it. And to think that I hoped we could talk like reasonable adults. If we were the last two people on Earth, I’d find myself a moving island so I could get the hell away from you.” I was almost to the drop door leading to the ladder.
He stopped suddenly and crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ll see.”
“Nothing to see. Thanks for the rescue and for the food. I’m taking my kid and leaving.” I dropped into the hole, slid down the ladder, and backed away down the hall. He didn’t follow me.
I was midway down to the first floor when it finally hit me: I had just told the alpha of all shapeshifters that hell would freeze over before I got into his bed. Not only had I just kissed any cooperation from the Pack good-bye, but I had also challenged him. Again. I stopped and hit my head a few times on the wall.
Keep your mouth shut, stupid.
Derek appeared at the bottom of the stairway. “It went that well, huh?”
“Spare me.”
“I take it you’re leaving.”
I stopped hitting my head and looked at him.
“Mind if I tag along?” he asked.
“Why?”
“I want the thief.” Derek’s face was grim. “He has a thing for you.”
A werewolf who can outrun me, who can bend metal into roses with his fingers, and who could grab Julie in case of trouble and take off like a rocket never to be caught by freaky broads with deepwater teeth. Let me think…
“Sure. Be glad to have you.”
CHAPTER 12
MIRACULOUSLY THE PHONE IN THE HALLWAY OF THEshapeshifters’ office worked. As much as I wanted to get the hell out of there, I didn’t want to risk leaving on foot.
I got Maxine on the first ring. “Atlanta Chapter of the Order. How may I help you?”
“Maxine, it’s me. May I speak to Ted?”
“He’s out.”
“Out? Ted’s never out. Where is he?”
“He’s on an errand.”
Crap. “What about Mauro?”