“Okay. And?”

“And you’re used to working with full-humans. Rich, fancy ones who think stealing someone’s company out from under them is being predatory. And your family is used to dealing with full-humans. They know they have to act a certain way in order to do well in their chosen fields because it’s full-humans giving them the money or hiring them for the jobs.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“But that’s not what you’re dealing with at this job. Now you’re dealing with predators. Ones that get on the ice and bash the shit out of each other for money.”

“Couldn’t you say the same thing about any pro team? Shifter or not?”

“Not really. Think about it. The team doctor has a specialty in artery repair and their team insurance includes fang-loss as a long-term disability. These are not full-human concerns, but they’re ours.”

“So what do I do?”

“Treat them all like you treat Kyle. He’s the only one of your brothers and sisters that you don’t hold back on.”

“What about Oriana?”

“You’re too worried she’ll get an eating disorder. But Kyle is too arrogant to bother with any of that. So treat the team, including the coach, like bigger, stronger, stupider versions of Kyle.”

“And what if that blows up in my face?”

“You were all ready to quit anyway. What could you lose with one more day trying it my way? Plus . . . you get to keep this place for a whole other day.”

“You are way too attached to this apartment.”

“Did you see the size of that TV in the living room?”

He spotted her right away. And had followed her for at least an hour. She captivated him. The way she seemed to float everywhere. The way she kept that small smile, no matter what was going on around her in this horrible city. There was just something about her that he couldn’t put his finger on, but it called to him.

And he knew if it called to him, it would call to Chris.

She walked on. Easing through the busy streets, seemingly untouched by all those around her. She glided. She glowed. All men noticed her, some spoke to her, but they didn’t try to stop her. They didn’t try to impede her progress. And she seemed not to notice them. She stopped for a while by the street artists, studying their work. Briefly discussing what she saw, but even that didn’t keep her for long.

Finally, she walked down a street he’d come to know so well since he’d moved to this horrible city and, to his shock, she walked up the stone steps to his true home and sat down in the middle, her back facing the big double doors.

He finally approached, crouching beside her. He gently took her hand and her head turned toward him, big blue eyes focusing on him.

“You searchfor something,” he told her. “You search for truth. For joy. For happiness. You search and, finally, you’ve found it.”

She said nothing, merely stared at him with those blue eyes, that same small smile on her lips.

“Come with me. Let me show you the truth. Let me show you the way. He’s waiting for you.”

She nodded. “All right.”

With that commitment, he led her up the stairs. He knocked once and the doors were opened. He smiled and nodded at the acolytes who protected the doors. He could see their jealousy. They also knew that he was bringing in something extraordinary.

He led her through the temple. As they walked, she looked around, blue eyes taking it all in. But she asked no questions, did not question him or his motives. Simply let him lead her through his home, his hand holding hers.

He stopped in front of double doors deep inside the temple and waited, giving her a brave smile. She merely stared back at him.

He didn’t knock. He didn’t have to. Eventually the doors opened and Chris stood there. He studied her, learned who she was just by looking at her. Chris could see into a person’s soul, understand their needs and wants, and then help them find the truth about their lives.

Chris was their Savior, and soon, the world would know it.

“I’m Chris,” he said, holding out his hand.

“I’m Delilah.”

“I’m here to help you,” Chris explained. “To guide you to the light.”

Delilah dropped her hand into his, stared at Chris with those big blue eyes, and replied, “Okay.”

The TV was nice and the perfect end to a perfectly shitty day. After downing more of that Chinese food than she’d thought she would, they ended up crashed on the couch, watching true crime shows and eating gourmet butter pecan ice cream that was already in the freezer.

“You’ve gotta love the defense attorneys,” Ricky said after swallowing another spoonful of his ice cream. “No matter how much bull their clients are trying to pass off, they always seem to go along for the ride.”

“Defense attorneys are important. You never know when you’re going to need one.”

“Planning to kill your third husband the way you killed your first husband so that you can get the life insurance and buy more Chanel bags, are you?”

“I’m not planning to do anything. Life is too short to spend a moment in prison. But you never know when you might be falsely accused. It happens more than people want to realize. And if it happens to me, I’d like to know that there’s a defense attorney out there who’s going to save my ass.”

“Do you sit around worrying about being falsely accused all the time?”