Nash chuckled. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ve got one important thing to tell her.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“That bear shifters are much cooler than wolves.”
A deep boom of a laugh tore from Cole’s throat, startling a couple of young women walking past. Cole winced and mumbled an apology, and their eyes lingered on him in a way that might have interested him before he met Maya. As it was, Nash’s eyes followed their progress along the hallway, eyes locked on the rhythmic sway of their hips.
“Must be nice,” Nash said wistfully. “To meet your mate. I can’t wait to meet mine.”
“No kidding, really?” Nash and settling down? That was hard to imagine. It was hard to imagine himwantingit, too.
Nash nodded. “Yeah, I mean, I can take care of myself, but it would be nice to have someone to cook and clean for me.”
Cole groaned. “You’re a dick,” he said with a grin.
Nash chuckled. “In all seriousness though, it really would be nice to have someone in my life, someone I don’t have to hide a part of myself from. You know what I mean?”
“Yeah,” Cole said. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“Good. But if you ever tell anyone I said that, I’m going to be forced to tell them your mate took down a perp before you could—with a hairdryer.”
“Ouch.”
“Yup.” Nash nodded with mock regret, then abruptly got serious. “We’re here.”
Cole nodded and the easy going banter and light conversation was forgotten as he got back into work mode. Without having to say a word to each other, they fell into the same pattern they’d used dozens of times in the past. One on either side of the door. Cole would go in first with Nash following quickly behind. Cole raised his rifle as Nash opened the door then he burst through it.
“Get down on the ground!” Cole shouted, but before he’d even had a chance to take in the scene and determine how many threats there were, a gunshot rang out.
Pain flared through him, and as he fell, screams echoed throughout the club.
