Page 50 of Cops and Robbers

“I’m embarrassed to admit how archaic this is, but I’m territorial concerning you. When you got close to Sid, my instincts kicked in, and I tried to dominate the room without meaning to. We are all pretty dominant dragons, so it could have gotten very ugly even if we are friends. I left to control myself.”

“That’s why you left me with Lewis…”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his still sore jaw from Sid’s hit. “I had to go upstairs and release some pent-up energy with Sid.”

“Do you feel better now?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid that may change around the others.”

“Hmm…As much as I fancy the idea of a man fighting over me, we need to be a cohesive unit. I’ll do what I can to help.”

He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “Thank you for understanding.”

Her cheeks glowed with a soft pink tinge. She stared at the ground, still holding his hand. His pulse throbbed.

“What brought you guys together?” she asked, tilting to avoid another pedestrian on the sidewalk.

“A friend introduced us all on a Tattered…Archfiend hunt. The enemy was a complicated son of a bitch. We stuck together afterward because we’re all Rogue.”

“Rogue?”

“Our dragons are too dominant to allow another to rule us…or other reasons have forced us outside the dragon community.”

“Like an outlaw?”

He laughed. “To some, I guess that’s pretty accurate. We may live here as long as we obey the laws. But we also don’t receive help from others.”

“I’m glad you have a family.” Her voice held a wistful edge. Along the link, the strum of longing tugged at him. He couldn’t imagine a life of always being orphaned. How did that bubbly personality survive? He had a feeling it had a lot to do with Naomi—the woman who’d helped Kate. And even if she were gone, Raz couldn’t help but feel like he owed her.

When they reached the bar, a black luxury SUV sat out front, its trunk open. Sid carried a bag and packed it in the rear.

“How nice of you to join us,” Lewis said, walking out of the bar with a bag on each arm.

“Slackers,” Sid muttered with a cheeky grin as he made his way inside.

Despite the light vibe they gave off, he felt the familiar static that filled the air between the men before a dangerous mission. They might be on the sidelines, but they needed to figure out the truth before they committed themselves to entering the submarine. Playing it cool helped steady their nerves.

Lewis threw the bags into the trunk and turned to the pair of them, his gaze scrutinizing. “At least you seem to be feeling better.”

“I got a few kinks out this morning.” Raz shrugged.

Kate giggled. “Nice pun there, hot rod.”

Lewis laughed, and Raz joined in, feeling the tense worry ebb from his muscles.

Sid groaned as he brought out more luggage. “The last thing I want to hear about is you getting laid while I was stuck here.”

“I told you to get a hotel room,” Lewis said.

“And pay out the wazoo for a night? No thanks.”

Raz rolled his eyes and stepped in between the other two to stack the bags he’d carried with the others. “Are we all set?”

“Once Caige shows his face.” Lewis shut the trunk.

“I’m here.” A voice rumbled from behind the vehicle. He arrived, shoulders bent, coffee in hand, with nothing but a backpack. Always right on time and looking worse than he did the night before. Though Raz would too if he had to use his dragon’s energy every second of his life. Caige’s sweater hood hid most of his face, but the Illusion he used to conceal his appearance today gave him a younger, scrappy adult look with a twisted nose bridge and sunken cheekbones.

“And where’s everyone else’s?” Sid pointed toward Caige’s thermos.