Page 21 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“Who are you?” she whispered.

He frowned. “I’m Captain Milo Keppler. I just spoke to you all, remember?”

Jana shook her head. “That part I know. What I mean is who are you tome?” She shivered. “Okay, this is weird. It’s… it’s as if Iknowyou somehow, but I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

The sun chose that moment to come out from behind the clouds, bathing her features, making her face glow. And something deep inside Milo burst into life, a warmth he’d never known that crawled through him, thenrushedthrough him, leaving his skin tingling and his heart pounding.

Holy fuck. Jana Guzek, who the hellareyou?

Chapter Five

VIC ZIPPEDhis bag, then unzipped it again for one last check. He’d gotten his packing down to a fine art after all these years, and he reasoned that if he forgot something, he’d simply buy it.

Which was why Saul teased him—frequently—about the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom, bulging with spare toiletries.

The magnitude of his mission probably accounted for his lack of sleep the previous night. So much was riding on its success. Aelryn had been correct: This wasn’t a goal that could be achieved with calls, Zoom meetings, and emails.

They need to know what we’re facing.

They need to understand that we have to work together on this.

No pressure, then.

Saul and Crank came into the bedroom. Saul peered at the bag. “All done? You’ve got everything?”

He chuckled. “Yes, Dad.”

Saul kissed his neck. “I still say ‘Yes, Daddy’ sounds better.” He tilted Vic’s chin to kiss him, and Crank moved behind him, sandwiching him between them.

Vic closed his eyes and lost himself in the warmth emanating from his mates—mental as well as physical. “I’m going to miss this.”

Saul brushed his fingers through Vic’s hair. “I know we won’t be able to hear you from across the US, but that doesn’t change the fact that we love you.”

“What he said,” Crank murmured.

Vic let out a sigh. “It was bad enough when I had to leave Saul. This?”

Crank kissed his shoulder. “I know. But think of it this way—you get twice the welcome when you come home.”

“What he said,” Saul added with a smile.

It was no good. Vic had to make a move or he’d stay all day in their arms. He wriggled free of their embrace. “I’ll call you tonight from San Francisco.”

“Don’t calltoolate, will you?” Crank admonished. “Time zones and beauty sleep, remember?”

Vic chuckled. “Neither of you need that.”

Crank gave him another kiss. “You know how to make a guy feel good, don’t you?”

Saul sat on the bed. “You’re gonna put in a lot of miles on this one. You know that, right?”

Vic knew all right. “Which is why I thought we’d spend more time together before I had to leave. Wherewereyou two all day?”

“With Hashtag,” Crank told him. “We had something that needed doing.”

He arched his eyebrows. “Something more important than the three of us in bed?”

“Actually? Yes.” Saul reached into his jeans pocket and withdrew a USB drive. He held it out to Vic.

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