“I thought it was Sly who did it, but now that I know about Konrad…well, it could have been either of them. One of them picked up the guy by the belt and flung him several feet away, like he was a big blow-up doll. Well, maybe that’s not the best description, but you get what I mean, right?”
“Yeah. I do. Konrad’s lifted and carried me likeIwas a blow-up doll. And come to think of it, that’s a very apt description.” At last she was able to chuckle, remembering how his strong arms cradled her or tossed her over his shoulder, and the phenomenal sex they’d had. The sadness descended again. “I…I don’t know how I’ll ever replace him, Merry. He was so kind and gentle. And he made me feel almost petite. It’s the first time a guy has ever made me feel so…so feminine. Oh, damn.” The tears broke through, and she let them flow. Eventually she sobbed from deep in her gut.
“Roz, it’s okay. Let it out. I’m here.”
Merry’s quiet voice crooned words that were meant to be accepting and comforting through the sobs, but Roz felt no better. She wanted nothing more than to run up the stairs and throw herself into her lover’s arms, wolf or no wolf, yet the rational part of her wouldn’t allow it. She knew nothing about what he was. And if everything he said was true, what about that—what had he called it? Toxin? Had he exposed her to something? Was it sexually transmitted?
“I have so many questions, Merry. But I don’t dare ask him about any of it. I don’t know if I’m safe with him.”
“I’ve always felt safe with him. Has he done anything to make you feel unsafe?”
“No. In fact he made me feel very safe. Completely protected, loved…even treasured.”
“Well, there you go. You probably are all those things. How would you feel about leaving a child in his care?”
“Before I knew? I’d absolutely, totally trust him with a child. I even saw him run into traffic, risking his own life to save a toddler.”
“That’s the Konrad I knew. What’s changed? Other than your knowing his secret. Anything?”
“I know he lied to me. I don’t know if I can believe anything he tells me now.”
“How did he lie?”
“The first time he was arrested for attempted theft, I represented him. He allegedly lifted a one-ton freezer full of frozen meat, carried it out of a restaurant, and dropped it onto the sidewalk. We got the case dismissed by saying it wasn’t humanly possible to do what he was accused of doing.”
“That’s probably true, Roz. But if he’s a werewolf—”
“Then either he lied or he’s not human. I don’t like either of those explanations.”
Merry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Roz, there are all kinds of things in this world I never knew existed until I moved to Boston, specifically to our building. Welcome to wacko central. Now that you live there too, you should probably know all of it.”
Roz gulped. “There’s more?”
“I’m afraid so. You’re sitting down, I hope.”
“Yes.”
“Where are you, exactly?”
“In my bedroom, on my bed.”
“Good. You might want to lie down in case you faint.”
“Merry! What the hell?”
Merry chuckled, but it sounded like a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it worse than it is. Just take a few deep breaths and try to relax.”
Roz did, and it helped. “Okay, I’m ready. Lay it on me.”
“Okay, here’s the thing. Even though we live in a building full of paranormals, I feel safe, maybe even safer, than I would in a building full of human strangers. How well does anyone know their neighbors, anyway?”
“Apparently not that well.”
“Right. But I’ve gotten to know everyone in our buildingverywell. You, Dottie, Joe Murphy, and I are the only so-called normal people there.”
Roz took in the information and ticked off the names of the other residents out loud. Okay, I know about Jason, Nathan, and Konrad, so Ralph?”
“Another falcon.”
