Page 31 of A Beta Protects

“Sure,” Galen says, overruling me. “What’s up?”

I hope whatever it is has nothing to do with Chloe.

“I wanted to ask about Chloe,” Shawn says.

Shit.

“She’s back at the house,” Galen says.

“Yeah, that’s, uh, a good thing.” Shawn scratches his jaw then lifts his hand, waving at Nina, who calls out, “Coffee?”

Shawn nods. “Sure. Make it a takeout.”

Let this conversation be brief and let Galen stay ignorant.

“So, I haven’t seen her with anyone,” Shawn says.

Galen looks at Shawn. I look at Galen. Though when Galen looks at me, I take a sip of my coffee as my gaze slides to the window, and I hope Bryce shoots at me again, putting an end to this unwanted conversation.

“No,” Galen says slowly. “Why would you be expecting to see her with… Oh.”

Silence falls for two beats.

Nina’s voice pulls my attention back to the table. “Here you go, Shawn.”

I put my cup down. “Ah, we should probably get going, Galen. That thing won’t happen on its own.”

Namely, hunting and killing Kira’s ex-husband.

Galen stares at me through narrowed eyes as I get to my feet.

We leave Shawn in Lacey’s as we walk back to Galen’s truck.

“Do you have something you need to tell me, Dom?” he asks.

You mean the fact that Shawn, a human cop, might have feelings for Chloe, a relationship that can never happen?

“Not really. But I think we should widen our search for Bryce.” I look at his car. “That idea you had before might not be such a bad idea.” If only to lure Bryce out of wherever he might be hiding.

“And Shawn?”

“We can discuss it after.”

Or never. I have no desire to break Chloe’s heart, and I have a feeling that conversation will lead to it.

11

KIRA

Iwas in the kitchen with Sierra and Chloe when Dom returned from whatever mission took him away for most of the day.

Dirty fries were indeed as incredible as Chloe assured me they would be, and I inhaled a plateful of fries and a BLT.

And even though Nick was sitting in the chair beside mine, and Dom could have sat in another, Dom looked at Nick. Nick got up, and Dom took the chair closest to me, like his place was next to me, and Nick knew it.

“How about a movie tonight?” Dom asks me.

He’s wearing a different T-shirt than before, and he looks tired. I’d ask him about it, but Chloe, Sierra, Nick, and now that I’m paying attention, Galen, who is downing a big glass of water at the sink, is staring at us.

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