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She’d been like this since they left the Dapper Dog. It made Gio worried about what the women had talked about. Briar was there, and she was the renowned trouble magnet of the group. Had she said something that upset Mila?

“Mila?” Carter said. “Mila!”

She finally pulled her attention away from the window. Instead of looking at Carter, she focused on Gio. “What?”

“Carter was asking you something,” Gio said with a chuckle.

Mila gave him a vague smile, then looked at Carter. “What did you say?”

“What’s going on, Mila?” Carter asked. He glanced over at her before turning his attention back on the road.

Mila frowned. “I’m thinking.”

“About what?” Gio asked.

“If I should be upset that you didn’t tell me you’re a vampire, even after I found the blood,” she said.

Carter jerked the wheel a little, making the car swerve a bit over the double yellow line. Thankfully they had the road to themselves.

Gio drew back as if she’d slapped him. How had she found out?

“What are…? How did you…?” Words tumbled out of Carter as if he didn’t know what question to ask first.

“Goddamn Briar,” Gio cursed. It had to be Tobias’s human that did this. “I’m going to call Tobias and tell him to control his flock better!”

“Are you trying to blame Briar for keeping secrets from me?” she asked, her tone sharp, making Gio wince.

Carter didn’t slow much to make the turn into their driveway. He came to a screeching halt, shoved the vehicle into park, and shut it off with inhuman speed. Turning in his seat, he gave Mila a beseeching look.

“Please, let us explain!”

Gio didn’t need a bond to know Carter was panicked that Mila was going to leave them. He was fighting the same emotion.

“I’m not dangerous,” Gio said. “I don’t hunt people and kill them like the legends or movies.”

Carter nodded his head violently. “And I’m not a mindless beast. I’m in control of my wolf.”

Mila huffed. “I’m not scared of either of you! Come on, I want some tea.”

With serenity, she got out of the car and headed into the house. Gio exchanged a look with Carter.

“Did that happen?” Gio asked.

Carter looked as stunned as Gio felt. “Yes?”

“Are you guys going to spend all night out there?” Mila called from the open front door before disappearing inside.

Gio exchanged a look with Carter, then both of them scrambled out of the car. They bumped shoulders trying to follow Mila into the house.

She was in the foyer, crouched down to greet Babette. The dog was dancing around her, too excited to stand still for pets.

“I missed you too,” Mila said, holding her arms out and waiting for Babette to calm down enough for cuddles. The dog backed up, then ran at Mila and leapt into her arms. That put her in the perfect spot to cover Mila’s face with kisses.

She stood up with Babette in her arms and grinned at the guys. “If Babette liked you both, then you couldn’t be evil. She's a very good judge of character."

Gio didn’t know what to say yet, and Carter was still fumbling his words.

“Dogs, uh, love wolves. No, I mean, uh shifters,” he said, haltingly. “We smell good to them.”