“Fine. Are you coming by later?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.” She spun away and crossed the room, refusing to glance back. He was jealous, whether he wanted to admit it or not. She opened the door. Jinx paced the hallway but stopped when he saw her. “Ready to show me your security setup?”

“Sure.” He flashed a dubious look toward the door.

“He’s not friendly. You were right.” She walked away, hoping to lure Jinx from the doorway before Darkness appeared. He needed some time to cool off and she wanted to analyze what had happened. She did cover for him though. “Darkness is bent out of shape, thinking how bad it would look to send me back to work at the crime lab if I sprained an ankle or something.”

“That makes sense.” Jinx hurried to her side. “We’re always worried about bad press. Some humans might accuse us of purposely harming you.”

“Journalism has really taken a dive in the past ten years. It’s a valid worry. They seem to print any damn thing nowadays.”

Darkness climbed the sheer wall face, wanting to punch it instead. It had infuriated him when he’d walked into the room and found Kat in danger. Jinx had been staring up at her shapely ass. Any male would.

He muted a roar of rage and shoved away from the wall at the top, free-falling. He tensed before impact with the floor but loosened his knees just enough to prevent injury. He landed, straightened to his full height then sat hard and put his boots on.

“Jealous.” It had him seeing red. It didn’t anger him that she’d called him on it but that she’d accurately read his emotions. “Get control of yourself.”

The door opened and he jerked his head in that direction, expecting Jinx to come apologize. Slade entered. He paused.

“Sorry. I thought I’d be alone.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Did Jinx come through here already with our guest?”

“Yes. He’s escorting her to Security now.”

“That’s what the officer said but I wanted to make sure.” He removed his cell and dialed. “All clear.”

Darkness stood. “What is going on?”

Slade grinned. “Forest was bored and Trisha needed a break.”

The door opened and Fury entered with Forest and Salvation. The young males were grinning, their excitement clear. Darkness tried not to stare at Fury’s son. He was a replica of his father in miniature size. Both young ones spotted him and froze.

Darkness twisted his lips up in a smile to put them at ease. “Hello.”

Salvation glanced at his father. Fury nodded. “You remember Darkness.”

The young male glared. “You fought with my daddy. Mommy was pissed.”

“Sal,” Fury rasped.

“Sorry. She was angry. She doesn’t like it when you fight.”

“No, she doesn’t.” Fury chuckled. “It’s rude to mention those things. Species fight. It’s in our nature but we don’t hold grudges. It’s just how males work out their differences sometimes. No real harm was done. Darkness and I are friends.”

Forest reached over and slapped Salvation’s arm. “Like us. We fight sometimes but you’re my best friend.”

“I thought you two wanted to climb,” Slade reminded them. “Less talking. Go!”

The young males rushed to the center area of the wall and jumped. Salvation caught a handhold but Forest missed, inches short of reaching it. He landed on the floor and growled.

“I’m taller,” Salvation chuckled. “Climb me.” He gripped two handholds, dangling there.

Forest jumped again, this time grabbing hold of the slightly bigger boy around his waist. He hugged him around the middle with one arm then gripped Salvation’s shoulder. He scrambled upward until he could reach the handholds. They stayed close together.

“Not bad for a pair of canine young,” Slade whispered.

Fury nodded.

Darkness knew he should leave. It was a family moment, shared between fathers and sons. He didn’t though. He watched the children and tensed as they reached the thirty-foot mark.

“Do they ever fall?” He worried about their bones breaking from that height.

“Sometimes. They are tough,” Fury answered. “We are good at catching them.”

“Forest is more likely to tire out. He’s still working on his upper-body strength,” Slade whispered. “But he’s improving.”

Darkness moved closer to the wall. He climbed faster than a canine. He could also leap to reach them. He kept his focus on each movement the children made, ready to go after them if one needed assistance.

“We should install safety lines and harness them.” Darkness decided he’d ask for the improvements, regardless of Fury or Slade’s opinion.

Fury moved to stand next to him. “They do this often. We come every few days. They haven’t been hurt yet.”

“Yet.” Darkness scowled. “I’ll make certain that rope lines are added by this weekend.”

Slade moved to the other side of him. “It might encourage the task force to come in here. Trey is the only one who’s attempted it. He didn’t fall but he was sweating it.” He chuckled. “He didn’t try again. Once was enough.”

Fury bumped Darkness’ arm. He turned his head to find the male grinning at him. “You care.”

“Of course I do. No one wants to see young ones harmed.” Darkness stared up, intent on taking action if either child needed help.