“Mating need,” Eric said without looking up from the grill.

Diego jumped. “What?”

Eric gestured with his fork at the males whose gazes riveted to Cassidy. “Cassidy is of cub-bearing age, and she’s no longer mated. Males outnumber females around here five to one. Whenever Cassidy walks outside, every unmated male around zeros in on her.”

Diego saw that. Blatantly or subtly, the men watched Cassidy. “And you let them?”

“They can look all they want, but it’s Cassidy’s choice. The males can claim her and fight each other to the death for her, but she can still turn down the mate-claim. The high ratio of males to females means that the females get to be choosy.”

Diego frowned at the hungry stares trained on Cassidy. “What if they don’t wait for her to be choosy?”

Eric flipped a steak. “Cassidy’s my second, plenty dominant enough to make anyone she doesn’t like back off. Plus, she’s my sister. Anyone touches her against her will, they know they’ll answer to me. And, trust me, they don’t want to.”

Diego didn’t have to be Shifter to understand. Eric wouldn’t need to threaten or even look belligerent. Just as in the neighborhood that had spawned Diego, the people here knew who ruled, who could do what, and what would happen if they disobeyed the unspoken rules.

The difference between Diego’s world and Eric’s was that Eric implied he’d respect his sister’s choice. The man who had ruled Diego’s neighborhood had pretty much kept his sister away from all comers, whether she liked it or not. She’d tried to kill her brother one day, just to get away from him.

Cassidy smiled over at Eric and Diego, oblivious that she was the topic of conversation. She came to them and clicked her beer bottle against Diego’s. Diego had a hard time breathing.

Cassidy slipped her hand under Diego’s arm. “Take a walk with me.”

Eric turned back to his burgers and steaks, and Diego let Cassidy move with him to the edge of the party. A few more steps, and they were in darkness.

“I know you and Eric are talking about tracking down Reid,” Cassidy said. “I also know that Eric will try to keep me out of it. But I want to find him.”

Cassidy’s voice held an edge. Diego recognized that edge, having heard it many times from himself.

“I’m going to kick his ass for touching you, Cass,” he said. “I want to, and I can. And if he had anything to do with Donovan’s death, I’ll get him for that too. I promise you.”

Her eyes glittered in the darkness. “Are you going to shut me out too?”

“No. But you were ready to kill Reid tonight. If he hadn’t gotten away, you’d be in deep shit—so deep I wouldn’t be able to get you out of it. You have to let me do this my way. I’ll gather evidence against him to make the charges stick. If I’m careful, I can get Reid convicted for murder, not just assault and abduction. Trust me, I want him to go down.”

“We have to find him first.”

“I’ll find him,” Diego said with conviction. “Xavier and I are good at what we do, we have your brother’s trackers, and Eric seems to be good at what he does too. Between all of us, Reid doesn’t stand a chance.”

Cassidy’s face softened, but he saw the sadness in her eyes. “Diego…”

Diego put his hands on her shoulders. “Believe me, Cass, I’m going to get Reid for even trying to hurt you. And if he had anything to do with your mate’s death, he’ll pay for it. And if he didn’t, I’ll find out what really happened to Donovan, and make whoever killed him pay for it. I swear to you.”

She looked perplexed. “Why would you do all this for me?”

Because he understood what she was going through. Someone had killed a person she loved and gotten away with it. Donovan’s death must be an open and festering wound for her, and Diego wanted to heal her.

Diego knew damn well he might never run to ground the men who shot Jobe, might never have the satisfaction of taking his vengeance. But he could at least do this for Cassidy.

Diego squeezed her shoulders. “I’m doing it because you have a great ass.”

Her answering smile flared. “Lots of women have great asses, Diego Escobar.”

Diego slid his hands to the ass in question. “But I like yours best.”

“Yeah?” Cassidy’s touch flowed to his own bu**ocks. “Yours is pretty nice too.”

Diego caressed her, finding her firm and sweet. “This is dangerous.”

“I like dangerous.”

He touched her Collar, which felt smooth and cool, like an innocent piece of jewelry. “You all right?”

“The Collar didn’t have time to do much damage today. You petting me helped. A lot.”

Her smile sent fires through him. Diego touched the Collar again. “I don’t like to see this hurting you, mi ja.”

Cassidy looked up at him, her eyes full. “Thank you, Diego.” She reached up to him, mouth hot, and Diego kissed her without hesitation.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Cassidy wrapped her arms around Diego’s neck and melted to his heat. They swayed together, mouth to mouth, body to body. Cassidy’s hurt, guilt, and anger receded as she sought him hungrily.

Diego’s mouth was scorching. He opened to her, lips moving on hers, his tongue sweeping in. He pulled her against him, and she felt his obvious wanting, hard and without shame.

Cassidy cupped his bu**ocks, the fabric of the dark pants he wore for work catching on her fingers. She slid a hand up his chest, feeling his heart beating hard beneath her touch, and worked his tie loose. She liked the heat under his suit coat, felt the frustrating restraint of the leather holster tight against his side. She wanted to touch all of him.

She moved the loosened tie and popped open the first buttons of his shirt. She felt his damp throat, his smooth skin above his T-shirt, curls of hair touching her fingers. Cassidy broke the kiss to lick the hollow of his throat, his dark skin beckoning.

Diego ran his hands through her hair. She’d loved how he’d petted her when she’d been in cat form on his lap, in smooth, comforting strokes. He’d been a friend soothing her hurts, nothing sensual.

Now was all sensual. Diego ran his hand down to the small of her back, pulled her up to him, opened her mouth with his. He slid his fingers beneath her waistband, the low ride of the jeans letting him find the elastic of her panties and caress beneath it.