Craeg watched as Silas finished his last bite of food while rising.“There shouldn’t be any danger,” he told him as he guided his mate out ofMini Barrier Reef Cantina, waving to Thane, who stood at the host’s stand on the way out.“But please be careful, my mate.”
Silas gave him a confused look even as he replied, “Of course.”He threaded their fingers together, saying, “Always.”
Squeezing Silas’s hand, pleased at his mate’s simple act of reaching out, Craeg swiftly led the way through the marine park.He turned left, ducking down an alley between buildings.Craeg used a key to enter a door markedEmployee’s Only, then rushed along corridors to a back entrance into the aquatic amphitheater where the shows were put on.
Slipping into the stadium, Craeg continued to hold Silas’s hand as he walked slowly toward where William stood beside Eban.The beta tipped his chin up and to the right.Craeg followed the beta’s gaze.
Tilda and Katie sat at the edge of a group of school children.Even though they appeared to be riveted to the show, Tilda still held Katie’s hand securely.As he continued to watch, Craeg had to smile at the beaming excitement and gratitude that Katie displayed toward her sister.
Even with Ovram’s technological skills, he’d only been able to dig up minimal information on the pair.Katie was seven and lived with their single mother, Sadie, who worked as a waitress at a dive bar in Sacramento.Unfortunately, she seemed to have a drug problem and often didn’t make ends meet due to that.
Tilda was thirteen years older than Katie, twenty, and lived in a small studio apartment not too far from them.She worked full-time at a diner as a waitress and took online college courses while often caring for Katie.She was doing her best to offer Katie a good, stable home life, but she was barely an adult herself.
They knew they were half-sisters, but neither of their birth certificates listed a father’s name.
Craeg hoped they could offer the pair help...and that they could convince Tilda to trust them enough to take it.
As the show wound down, William glanced at Eban.
Eban, being the head enforcer, spoke into his earpiece.Having several days off, Craeg wasn’t on duty, so he didn’t know what was said.He could guess, though.As Craeg watched, several security people slipped from the crowd and stood near each exit.
When Tilda and Katie neared the one Dare was guarding, the massive, giant octopus shifter eased into their path.Tilda gaped and took a step backward, staring at him with wide eyes.She even pushed Katie behind her.
Craeg didn’t blame her.Dare was huge, after all.The man made a formidable picture, but off the job, he really was a big teddy bear.
“Please hang back, Tilda,” Dare rumbled deeply.“We need to talk to you.”
Tilda kept a hand on Katie’s arm, and the girl pressed close to her sister’s side and back.“What do you want?”she demanded, glancing around furtively.She must have spotted the other security because she paled.
“We just want to talk,” William told her, going to stand next to Dare.“It’s important, Tilda.”
Craeg joined them, still holding Silas’s hand.
Focusing on Craeg, Tilda whispered, “You.”She glanced around the group to return her attention to him.“I’ve seen you before.”Looking at William next, Tilda mumbled, “Both of you.”A second later, she swept her gaze over them all and cried, “I’ll pay for everything.I swear.I-I just need a little time.”
“What’s going on?”Katie whispered, peering between everyone furtively.
Tilda spared her a glance for an instant, telling her, “Don’t worry, Sis.I got this.”Maybe she noticed Katie’s worried expression, for she lied, “It’s nothing.”
William looked around, obviously taking note of the last few spectators that security was urging out of the gates.As soon as the last few people were being ushered out and several of the exit doors had already been closed, William turned back toward the pair and offered a relaxed smile.
“Tilda, your willingness to pay us back is admirable, but that’s not what this is about.We want to—”
“Back off before you get hurt, man.”
The menacing voice drew everyone’s attention.
Craeg turned and spotted a dark-haired man push past Tyrone, a big shifter in security, and enter the stadium.The guy was holding a gun in his hand, his elbow bent so it was pointed at the sky, which explained why Tyrone had backed off.The stranger stalked forward, slowly panning his weapon over everyone as he looked around, seeming to be searching for something...or someone.
When the guy focused on Silas and curled his lip, sneering, Craeg tightened his hold on his mate’s hand.
“After all these years, Silas, you motherfucker.”The guy curled his lip in derision as he touched the scar over his left eye with his empty hand’s forefingers.“You finally show your face.”Waving the gun around slightly, he asked, “Do these guys know what a freak you are?A monster?”
“Cameron.”William stepped forward, his words telling Craeg exactly who’d decided to crash their party.“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, but I do,” Cameron claimed, stalking sideways and around their group.He was keeping his back to the bleachers while drawing closer to Craeg and Silas.With a flick of his empty hand, he indicated Silas.“I knowexactlythe kind of monster I’m dealing with.Do you?”
Just as Craeg spotted Price creeping from between stadium seats toward Cameron, another exit door pushed open.Detective Grisham and Captain John Casinov—Beta William’s human mate—strode inside.Obviously unaware of what was happening, the detective focused on Craeg.
