“I guess I never set it up when the team got our new phones. But why should I bother? Malone calls when she wants to talk to me.”
“I have a lot to do and I need to be able to get in touch with you the easiest way possible. That way I can also send you travel info and if there’s a problem you can see it right away and get back to me so I can correct it.”
“Planning to make a lot of mistakes, are you?”
“No. I just assume others will fuck up, so I build in padding for that so I’ll have time to fix the problem myself.”
That was not the answer he’d expected, but she could see he was impressed. Not that he’d admit it.
“The phone buzzing all the time bothers me during training.”
“You don’t need to look at it during your training. You need to look at it when you’re done with your training. You also need to check out your team schedule, which should coordinate with your personal schedule. Right? This is about team business, after all.” She tapped the watch on her wrist. “And you’re late.”
The hybrid’s really big body suddenly loosened up, and he finally released his prey, the cat dropping to the floor while he coughed and slowly got his overly tan color back.
“Why don’t you go wait in my office, Bo.”
“Yeah. Okay. This can’t take long, though. I’ve got—”
“Training. I know. But then, you should have been on time, huh?”
His eyes narrowed, but he headed toward her office. Then he stopped, turned, and kicked the cat so that the lion flew several feet, before walking off down the hall.
Kerri let out a breath. “Do you want me to—”
“Yeah.”
“For—”
“Yeah. For today.”
“Even the second string guys?”
“No. But give me their names. Maybe I’ll have a meeting with all of them at once.”
Kerri grinned and did a little dance, before running down the hall. Toni knew why the full-human was so happy, but none of this meant that Toni had changed her mind. She was just helping out. Especially with Ulrich out of town for a while.
Goddammit! She was just being a good person!
“Wow,” Bo’s fiancée said while she gawked at Toni. “You were amazing. The way you handled him. You didn’t even try to separate them.”
Toni frowned. “Why the hell would I try to separate two apex predators?”
The wolfdog shrugged. “I do.”
Deciding that answer meant the wolfdog was either kind of stupid or kind of dangerously insane, Toni turned away from her and focused on the cat.
“I’m Blayne by the way. Bo’s fiancée.”
Toni nodded but basically stopped thinking about the wolfdog. “Are you okay?” she asked the cat. He was slowly pushing himself back to his feet.
“That asshole is crazy,” he choked out, his throat already beginning to bruise where Novikov had gripped him.
“I’d strongly suggest you not bother Mr. Novikov. He doesn’t like it.”
Now standing at his full height of about six-four or -five, the lion stared down at Toni. His nostrils twitched and his eyes immediately narrowed once he’d figured out she was canine.
“Look,” he began, his tone completely condescending, “sweetheart—”
“And we’re done.” Toni walked away from the cat, heading to her office. She simply didn’t have time for stupid, and anyone who called her “sweetheart” without knowing her was just rude.
As she neared her office, Coach Malone was coming toward her. Did everyone come to work early? Toni had been planning to use what she thought would be quiet time to plan her escape. Her plan was simply not working!
“Oh, good. You’re here.” Malone stopped in front of her. “We need new pictures of the guys.”
“Pardon?”
“You know. Promo pictures. For them to sign. You’ll need to get a photographer but someone with a little talent who doesn’t easily cry.”
“Cry?”
“I just don’t want regular ol’ headshots. I hate those.”
Toni took a breath. “Well, I was hoping to talk to you—”
“God, you don’t need me to hold your hand through this, too, do you?”
“No, no. It’s just—”
“Because I’ve got a bunch of shit to do and I don’t have the time. So could you just make this happen? Great. Thanks! I’ve gotta go.”
Beyond frustrated, Toni walked into her office and sat down at her desk. Bo watched her.
“Everything all right?”
“Yeah. I guess. Kerri!” she called out. The full-human appeared in seconds.
“Yes, boss?”
“Don’t call me boss. And Coach Malone wants new team pictures. Is there someone you guys use regularly for this?”
“There was.”
“Was?”
“After the lawsuit, we really can’t use him.”
“Lawsuit?” Toni focused on Bo.
“It wasn’t me,” he said quickly. “It was Malone. She was one of the players then, and he said he was just trying to pose her properly. She said she didn’t like him putting his hand on her ass. Next thing you know that leopard had a broken cheekbone, a busted nose, and two shattered arms.” Suddenly the hybrid smiled, and Toni realized he was actually quite handsome when he wasn’t glowering like a sociopath. “And for once . . . it wasn’t me.”
“Do you want me to come up with another list of names?” Kerri asked.
Toni thought about it a moment and shook her head. “No. I think I have another completely insane option.”
Bo studied her a moment. “That doesn’t sound very promising.”
“Yeah.” Toni sighed and pulled out her cell phone. “I know.”
The electronic blueprints for the Sports Center were projected up on the screen, and Rory pointed at several doors inside the Sports Center that were only known about and used by shifters. “The Center guards scented full-humans here. Here. And here.”
“Did they ever get inside?” Reece asked.
“No. But the Center needs a more secure system or they may have a situation where Dee-Ann may have to get involved because some full-human saw too much.”
“We could change all the locks,” Ricky suggested, “but then no one could get inside but wolves and foxes.”
“Nah,” Reece said. “The bears will just tear the doors off the hinges. Especially if they smell food from the food court.”
“Are you two done?” Rory asked.
Ricky and Reece looked at each other and back at Rory. “No,” they said together.
“Look.” Rory stepped in front of the screen. “This is a big job for us, so I need y’all to focus.”
Reece nudged Ricky’s side with his elbow. “Someone’s trying to act all impressive ’cause he’s up for a promotion.”
“You gonna wear a suit to work now, Rory?” Ricky asked him. “And some fancy Italian loafers?”
“Can we just focus on the job?”
Ricky stood. “Reece and I will go over to the Sports Center and take a look around. See what we can fix.”
“I bet Ricky Lee just wants to see his new girlfriend,” Reece said.
“Girlfriend? What girlfriend?”
“She’s not my girlfriend, but I am hoping she becomes my fuck buddy.”
“She’s a jackal.”
“Shut up, Reece.”
“Jackal?” Rory asked. “The Devil’s canine?”
“Stop calling them that.”
“Why?”
“Can’t get her in my bed if my own kin are insulting her kind.”
“He’s got a point,” Reece said, shrugging. “Unlike men, girls are weird about that sort of thing. It’s like they look for any reason not to sleep with you.”
Rory stared at his brother. “I think that’s only you.”
“It can’t be. I’m so much cuter than either of you.”
He saw Delilah sitting on the steps outside his church. His temple, really. Where people came from all around to meet him. To hear his wisdom. To learn about how they should manage their lives. He was there for them when no one else was. Because he loved them. He loved them all.