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Mo jumped a little and looked over at the door. Another man stood there. The man smiled and walked into the room. “I—”

“He prefers Mo,” Victor interrupted, and Mo gazed at Victor in astonishment. Not only because he’d corrected whoever this was, but that he’d spoken at all.

The man smiled a little but carried on and extended his hand. “My name’s Agent Daniel Mayner. I believe you said you were mugged last night.”

Mo froze just as he was extending his hand.Shit, shit, shit.He blinked and mentally shook himself. “Agent? Since when does the FBI get involved with muggings?”

Daniel clasped his hand and replied. “How about we cut the bullshit, and you talk to me about Khloe?”

Chapter Five

Victorrosetohisfeet, the snarl widening his lips. Daniel didn’t look the least bit impressed or terrified Victor was about to rip out his throat. In fact, the sneaky wolf barely glanced Victor’s way. His mate, however, looked terrified, and Victor quickly went to stand with him, noticing, to his surprise, that Zack did the same.

“Daniel,” Zack growled out, his tone a warning. Daniel dropped Mo’s hand and, looking like he didn’t give a shit, went and helped himself to a coffee.

“Lachlan ‘Mo’ Granger,” Daniel started like he was reciting a shopping list. “Twenty-seven. Dual major in elementary and special education. Father, Lachlan Granger, currently in Leavenworth serving his third year of fifteen for myriad drug convictions. Mother Annabel Carter, deceased. Sister Khloe Granger, twenty-two, whereabouts unknown.” Daniel looked over at Mo, and Victor had a sudden urge to scoop his mate up and get right the fuck out of Dodge with him.

“Does that about cover it?” Daniel asked mildly.

Victor watched as Mo’s fingers nearly blanched white with him fisting them so tightly. “How long have I been here?” He looked up and met Daniel’s gaze. Daniel frowned, glanced at Zack.

“Since last night.”

“Really?” Mo said a little sarcastically. “Can I please see your identification?”

Victor stared at Mo in confusion. Why did Mo think they were lying?

Daniel dug in his pocket, removed his wallet, and passed the entire wallet over to Mo. Even he looked a little shocked. Mo took the wallet and examined Daniel’s ID, checked his driver’s license, and even compared the credit cards to his name. Mo handed it back and thanked him.

Victor couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Why do you think you’ve been here longer?” Without hesitation, he handed Mo his own phone and opened it, showing the date and the time. Mo’s brown eyes turned to his.

“Because I was very badly beaten up and I don’t have so much as a bruise.”

“Well, shit,” Riley said, then shook his head. Victor met everyone’s desperate gazes around the room. What the hell should they say?

“Tell me about Khloe first,” Daniel said and sat down. Mo sighed and dropped into his chair. Victor and Zack were on either side.

“You know about my dad, and I’m sure you can imagine how I grew up. My dad was always a little on the edge of the law, but after Mom left—well, died—he didn’t even try to hide it.”

Victor wondered if that statement was telling. Mo had said his mom “left” then amended it to “died” as if they weren’t simultaneous. His shoulders sagged, and he noticed Zack reach out his hand and clasp Mo’s, and Mo allowed it. Victor wasn’t sure whether to be astonished a human would accept such comfort from a stranger or wildly jealous it wasn’t him offering it.

And he was confused. Despite what his wolf was telling him, Victor had known for a long time he wasn’t destined for a mate.

“How did Khloe get involved?” Daniel asked.

“I was always determined to drag us out of the life. Dad used to make us both act as runners, and I told him that if he made Khloe do it, I would call the cops. He agreed, but then I was trying to focus on school, and I took my eye off the ball and she got a boyfriend.”

Mo said it like a death knell, and fuck it, Victor reached out and took his other hand, gratified when Mo squeezed it back, still stunned he didn’t think it was weird.

“Name?” Daniel asked, looking up from where he was jotting some notes on his phone.

“Rigor Elkin. I don’t know if that was his real name.”

He wasn’t sure if anyone else had seen the slight stiffening of Daniel’s shoulders, but Victor slid his gaze to Riley and knew instantly from the way he watched Daniel that he had. Daniel sighed and scrubbed his face. “We know of Richard Elkin, or Rigor as he likes to be known. Not personally, but the bureau does. He’s bad news and involved in drug running. When Texas got a little too hot for him, he moved here. His minions have spent time in and out of jail, and that’s where we think he met your dad.”

“A case you’re working on?” Zack asked casually. Too casually, and it clicked. Daniel only got involved in shifter-related cases. Was this linked? And was it the tie-in to the deaths and drugs they were investigating at the high school?

Daniel gave a brief nod and looked at Mo. “I know you’re looking for your sister.”