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No! I want to be with you. This place is great, but I can always come visit. The best part of this
house is the people inside it and they ll always be my family. Denton s expression didn t show any
regret. Isaac hoped Denton would always feel that way.
Good. Let s go talk to Eaton and figure out what happened to Marty, Isaac said.
That s a good idea. He could tell from the excited expression on Denton s face that the living
together hurdle had been bypassed successfully.
They finished dressing and found Eaton curled up on the couch, his cell phone clutched in one tight
fist.
Chapter Seven
One look at Eaton s expression and Denton knew everything wasn t all right.
What happened? he asked softly. Eaton looked like he might break apart if he had to deal with
one more thing.
The gang said Marty came and got his motorcycle but then disappeared. No one has heard from
him since. They said it was four hours ago. He should ve been back by now.
Denton wanted to say something nice and reassuring but he came up dry. Eaton was right, Marty
should ve returned. Maybe he found something interesting and is waiting for us to come. He knew
we d be there later.
Eaton and Isaac both gave him looks that said they knew he was an idiot but they cared about him
anyway. He wondered if they practiced their synchronicity.
Something has happened, I can feel it, Eaton persisted.
Can you think of anywhere else he might have gone? Denton asked. He didn t know if Eaton and
Marty had a connection or not. Was it possible for Eaton to really know something had happened or
was he just projecting?
Isaac and I will follow his footsteps and see if we can find him, okay? Denton said.
I can t reach Aden either. He s not answering, Eaton said, shaking his phone at them. I can t get
hold of anyone.
You didn t try Carey, right? Denton glared at his friend, daring him to confess.
Eaton shook his head. I wouldn t do that. Carey doesn t like Marty and I don t want to ruin his
honeymoon. Broden would never forgive me.
Denton thought Eaton s assessment was probably right. When it came to upsetting Carey, Broden
didn t forgive much.
Okay, keep your phone close by and we ll go investigate, Denton said.
But I want to come too, Eaton whined. I can fly overhead and see if I can spot Marty s bike.
And what will you do then? Denton asked.
Eaton hung his head in defeat. I could come in human form and watch your back.
If we need a sharpshooter, we are past the surveillance stage. We re just going to explore whether
the salties are at the port. If they aren t, we ll come back home and try to find them elsewhere. If they
are, then we discover how many are hiding out and plan accordingly.
If they took Marty, I will get him back. Eaton s pretty face took a hard edge. Denton knew from
experience that Eaton might be a mild-mannered genius, but if he needed to protect his family, he did
so with lethal force.
Somewhere along the way, Eaton had chosen Marty as his. If anyone was responsible for taking the
hawk shifter, Denton hoped they had their will in place and their papers all in order.
I ll call, Denton assured his friend.
Eaton nodded. I ll be waiting.
Now that he knew how much Eaton cared for Marty, Denton knew his friend was placing a great
deal of trust in him. He followed Isaac out of the house. A black SUV squatted on the drive. Let s
take your car. It will blend a little better, Denton said.
You just love me for my heated seats, Isaac teased.
Yep. The first time he d ridden in the SUV, Denton had discovered the beauty of heated seats. He
thought about having them added to his Jeep but for now it was cost prohibitive.
Denton climbed into the passenger seat and quickly fiddled with the settings until his ass turned
toasty. Sighing, he leaned back his head and soaked in the comfort.
You look like a happy reptile, Isaac observed.
It s like a heated rock, Denton smiled.
Crocodiles don t bask on rocks, Isaac said.
How do you know? I m the crocodile.
Because I did my research. You re a freshwater croc. You like murky water and lying in the sand
to heat.
I could lie on a rock. Denton folded his arms and looked out the window. Now wasn t the time to
tell Isaac about his basking rock. He wondered if he could swipe it from the mansion to take it with
him to Isaac s house without the inquisitive kitty noticing.
You can lie on whatever you want as long as you do it near me, Isaac said.
Thanks. Denton felt better. The drive to the bar passed relatively quickly, though Denton was
quick to note that Isaac lost every bit of his sanity after he got behind a wheel. When they reached the
bar, it was all he could do not to jump out and kiss the earth in excitement. No longer was the world
spinning out of his control.
You are a little melodramatic, aren t you? Isaac asked dryly.
No. You shouldn t be licensed to drive a golf cart, much less a full-sized motor vehicle. Denton
scolded. I d better drive the rest of the way.
Over my dead body, Isaac snapped.
Don t make it necessary, Denton replied.
Isaac tossed over the keys. Denton knew his mate would pick the fight back up another time. Right
now, Marty was on the clock. Who knew what the salties were doing to him while they exchanged
light banter?
They entered the bar shoulder to shoulder. Denton made sure to meet each shifter s gaze before
moving on. Not one of them looked guilty.
Crap.
Is Marty still gone? One of the hawks stepped forward.
Denton had no idea of his name. The feathered ones all blended together with their black leather
and cropped hair, like little clones that joined the dark side as one group.
Yes. We re still looking for him. Denton agreed. He didn t give details it wasn t their
business. Not anymore.
I d like to help, the strange hawk replied.
All the clone hawks nodded their agreement.
At this point, we re trying to determine if he made it to Terminal Eighteen or not.
I can fly there and come back quickly, the helpful hawk shifter offered.
Several others added their agreement.
I think an entire flock of hawks would attract too much attention. A couple of you should do the
trick, if you re willing.
Again lots of nods were his answer.
What s your name? Denton asked the eager hawk.
Benji. This is Tim, he pointed to the shifter on his right. We d both like to go.
Okay. Fly there and report back. Look for Marty s motorcycle and for salties.
Will do.
The two men eagerly left the bar to do their work.
Who do you think you are to order my men around, a snarly voice asked.
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