“I am your weapon.” Dante rang the doorbell. A few moments later he heard someone on the other side approaching.

  “Who is it?” a deep-timbered voice bellowed from the other side.

  “Deputy Dante Mykel,” he called out. “My car broke down, and my phone died. I was wondering if you’d allow me to call the station. If you don’t want to loan me a phone, maybe you could call and let them know I’m here and need someone to come pick me up.”

  Jason looked at him. Dante shrugged. If he’d said there were people after him, then the occupant might not open the door. Dante needed police backup, and if he had to lie to get it, sue him.

  The door swung open as the porch light came on. A tall, barrel-chested guy with a shotgun stared right at them, a large dog at his feet. “Nice shottie.”

  “Are you complimenting his shotgun?” Jason squeaked.

  “No, the German shepherd-Rottweiler mix. He’s gorgeous.” Dante held out his hand, letting the dog sniff him, letting the nervous dog smell his cheetah. The shottie growled a little more before he nuzzled Dante’s hand then licked it. “Or is he a she?”

  “Well, I’ll be.” The guy frowned. “Diablo has never acted that way with a stranger before. He usually stays in fight mode.”

  That answered Dante’s question of the dog’s gender.

  “You named your dog Devil?” Jason asked from behind Dante. “No wonder he wants to sink his sharp teeth into people.”

  “Most folks can’t figure out his breed,” the guy said.

  “I can see the traits.” Dante hunkered down and scratched Diablo under his chin. The dog rested a paw on Dante’s thigh. “I’m really good with animals.”

  Jason gave a short laugh. “You might call Dante the dog whisperer. So, can we use a phone while Dante and Diablo become besties?”

  “Let me see some ID.”

  Dante straightened and pulled out his credentials, which he carried with him at all times. As soon as he flashed the badge, the guy stepped back. “I’m Luke Teufel.”

  “You do realize your last name means devil?” Dante chuckled as he walked inside. “I sense a theme here.”

  Luke chuckled, which made him seem more approachable. “I thought it was funny to name him that since you’re right. My last name does mean devil in German.”

  “Another theme.” Jason smiled. “German shepherd and a German last name.”

  Luke guided them into a kitchen. It was large, with a four-seater table, enough cupboards for any homeowner to envy, and an island in the middle. Dante noticed a limp when the man walked. Slight, but there. Luke took the cordless off the wall and handed it over.

  The human ran a hand through a head full of dark hair before he eased down into a chair at the table. He was pretty damn tall, with wide shoulders and guns for biceps. His light gray eyes studied Dante before Diablo padded into the kitchen and drew Luke’s attention away.

  Dante was also watching the two. His mate was at the table, and whether Luke was kind or not, if Luke or Diablo made one false move, Dante would teach man and dog a severe lesson.

  But Luke, although large, didn’t give that kind of vibe. His gaze turned tender as he rubbed Diablo’s head. The dog rested his chin on Luke’s thigh as Dante dialed. Jason sat there with a grin on his face, making kissing noises at the dog.

  “Deputy Mitch Lennox.”

  “Hey, Mitch, it’s Dante. I need a pickup from—” Dante pulled the phone away and asked Luke for his address then relayed it to Mitch when Luke gave it to him.

  “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not Uber,” Mitch said.

  They razzed each other a lot at the station, and Dante was trying to figure out a way to tell Mitch what was going on without alarming Luke. The guy was innocent in all of this, also human, and Dante didn’t want Luke to know the severity of the situation.

  “Broke down not too far from this house. Old Kevin just doesn’t run like he used to. I’m gonna have to take him to the mechanic when I get a tow, but I’m sure Stephen won’t mind such a late arrival.”

  “Shit,” Mitch said. “I’m reading you loud and clear. Are you safe?”

  “I was taking Jason home when it happened. Yeah, Luke Teufel was nice enough to let us use his phone, but I don’t want to be an imposition. How fast can you get here?”

  “I’m already heading to my cruiser. Maynard’s on shift with me. We’ll be there in less than ten minutes. Are the two still on your six?”

  “Possibly. Not sure. Left Kevin back on the road about thirty minutes ago.”

  Dante heard when Mitch hit the sirens. “Stay put. I know Luke. He’s a good guy. He was discharged from the Marines a few years back, injured his leg. Stays to himself but still has that mindset.”

  Dante looked over at Luke, who was studying him closely. “See you when you get here.”

  Mitch hung up, so Dante set the phone down on the island counter.

  “Color me skeptical, but that sounded like code. Are you fellas in trouble?” Luke looked from Dante to Jason then back to Dante. “If you are, let me know so I know what to look for.”

  Mitch had said that Luke was a good guy. He’d said ex-Marine, but Dante knew there was no such thing as an ex-Marine. Luke had a glint in his eyes, a glint that said he’d seen a lot of things, been through some shit. Dante felt bad bringing trouble to the man’s door, but Luke was right. It was only fair to warn him of possible danger.

  “Sorry to deceive you when we showed up. I needed a phone and didn’t think you’d let me in if you knew armed perps were after us.”

  Luke got up and walked out of the kitchen. Dante wasn’t sure what to make of that until Luke returned with two handguns. He set them on the table before he sat back down. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Dante gave Luke the entire story, about how Kevin had jumped Jason in the parking lot of Loose Lips, and how Stephen was Jason’s ex, and how the two of them had run them off the road and shot at them.

  “Delicate ego,” Luke said with a clenched jaw. “Met guys like him before. All tangled up in the head, wires crossed in all the wrong places.”

  “That pretty much sums up Kevin and Stephen,” Jason said. “I can’t believe I dated the jerk. I just wished I’d seen the signs before getting involved with Stephen. Now I feel like an idiot for falling for his lines.”

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Luke said. “The best of us get fooled sometimes. Trust the wrong people. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  Dante saw why Mitch liked Luke. His size might be intimidating to some, but there was a gentleness about him. A calmness that Dante liked.

  “Will he try to bite me if I pet him?” Jason asked.

  Dante eased off his chair and moved toward Jason. Diablo might have relaxed around Dante, but Dante wasn’t sure the dog would behave for Jason.

  “Be nice,” Luke said to his dog. “Diablo was abused before I got him. He’s skittish, but loyal. Let him come to you, enter your personal space. If he does, you can pet him.”

  Jason patted his thigh. Diablo looked warily at him but edged closer. Dante stood right beside his mate, watching. Diablo sat at Jason’s feet then slowly nudged Jason’s knee with his nose.

  “If my dog accepts you, then you’re good people.” Luke smiled. “It’s not often he does that.”

  “Poor boy.” Jason ran his hand over Diablo’s head. “Who hurt you? Do you want me to send Dante after them? Do you want him to eat them?” Jason’s head snapped up, then he gave a nervous chuckle. “I meant shoot them.”

  Luke studied Dante again but didn’t say anything. Luke didn’t have to. There was tremendous intelligence in those light gray eyes.

  Diablo growled. Jason yanked his hand back, then the dog inched toward the back door. Luke snatched a gun off the table, and Dante removed his from his back waistband, where he’d tucked it to conceal it.

  “I think your car is in my backyard,” Luke said.

  It took a second to understand what Luke was saying. Dante had claimed Kevin was his car when talking to Mitch.

  “And your mechanic.” Luke touched Diablo’s head, and the dog quieted. “Gotta loved crossed wires. They’re pretty predictable.”

  When Dante looked out the window of the back door, a growl rumbled in his throat as he watched a shadow race across the backyard. If Kevin and Stephen wanted to play games, they’d met their match.

  Chapter Eight

  Jason wasn’t sure what to do. He felt trapped in the house while Psycho One and Psycho Two were outside. What kind of sick game was this? Stephen had dumped him, not the other way around. Now he was out for some kind of revenge? Why? And why was Kevin being a dickhead? The guy had attacked Jason, but he’d gotten away. Was he pissed that the cops were now looking for him or that Jason had spurned his advances? The guy had put him in the hospital. Wasn’t that enough?

  “Back,” Luke said to Diablo. Jason was shocked when the dog came to him. He thought for sure the dog would either leave the room or maybe go to Dante. Diablo sat at his feet, pressing his body into Jason’s.

  He bent, petting the dog on the head to reassure the boy, wishing someone would pet him on the head because he was a ball of nerves. He also felt guilty that Luke had been pulled into this. The guy already had a limp, and Jason didn’t want anything happening to him.

  Just then he heard the sound of distant sirens. Jason moved closer to the kitchen entryway, ready to let the cops in when they arrived. Diablo stayed by him, moving when Jason moved as if he’d appointed himself Jason’s guardian. Dante and Luke were still by the back door, watching and waiting.

  All Jason could focus on was how he’d felt when Dante had been shot. Now there were two nutjobs in the backyard with weapons, and his anxiety level was through the roof. Jason had sworn off men, had been tired of the bullshit, yet Dante had gotten under his skin, had wormed his way into Jason’s heart.

  Now he couldn’t see himself without Dante in his life. His cheetah. His mate. His friend.

  Colorful lights swirled inside the living room, the blue and red flashing off the walls. Only, no one came to the door. Were the two taking their time, or had they gone around back?

  Jason shouted and dropped when he heard gunfire. Diablo got started toward the kitchen, but Jason grabbed his collar as he dropped to the floor. “You’re supposed to be guarding me, remember? I think we should stay out of the way and let them do their thing.”

  Diablo looked at the kitchen again, then lowered himself next to Jason, though there was a deep growl in his throat.

  “Just don’t attack me, boy. I’m one of the good guys.” He petted Diablo’s soft fur. Now that the dog was so close, Jason could really see how large Diablo was. Huge.

  Diablo licked his mouth.

  “That was so gross, but since I’m scared out of my mind, I’ll let that pass. Just don’t think we’re dating now because you kissed me.”

  The gunfire stopped. Jason wanted to get up and look, but he wasn’t sure if it was safe. He couldn’t stay there, though. He had to make sure Dante and Luke were all right. Finally, Jason got to his feet. “Come on. Let’s go make sure our guys are okay. You know, for a dog your size, you’re nothing but a fluffy bunny.”

  Diablo cocked his head as he looked up at Jason as if the dog actually understood him. Jason hoped not, because he really didn’t want to make the oversized dog mad.

  Diablo led the way as they eased into the kitchen. The back door was open, and Jason saw movement, as well as heard voices. He moved closer, careful not to make his presence known, but as soon as he was close enough to the back door, Dante looked right at him.

  And Jason looked right at the dead body on the grass.

  It was Stephen, and Jason wasn’t sure how to feel. He’d once thought he loved the guy, had pictured their future together, and even though Stephen had acted like a dick at Loose Lips, Jason felt a twinge in his chest. He’d never seen a dead body before and never wanted to see one again. He had to remind himself that his ex-boyfriend had come after him. Stephen had instigated Jason’s assault. Stephen was not a good guy and didn’t deserve Jason’s pity.

  Dante walked over and folded Jason into his strong arms. Jason clung to him, breathing in Dante’s familiar scent. The smell helped ground him, helped calm his shakiness.

  “Are you okay?” Dante asked.

  “Diablo and I had things under control the whole time.” He tightened his arms around his mate, not wanting to let go just yet. “Where’s Kevin?”

  “Mitch, along with Deputy Dario, is hunting him down.” Dante’s hands pressed into Jason’s back. “Let’s get you inside.”

  “Take him to the living room,” Luke said. “I’ll make some hot tea.”

  Jason made sure Diablo followed them inside. He didn’t want to leave the dog outside with a crazy man still on the loose and a dead body on the ground.

  As if reading his thoughts, Dante said, “Sheriff Weston is sending someone to pick up the body.”

  “I don’t want to know.” Jason didn’t. The less details, the better. That image of Stephen on the ground, his eyes empty and staring toward the sky, was already going to haunt him. He thought of how they’d dated, the sex they’d had, and Jason broke away from Dante, racing for the front door since he didn’t know where the bathroom was. As soon as he cleared the steps, his stomach contents was on the ground.

  Dante was right there next to him, running a hand over Jason’s back. “That’s natural, kitten. First time seeing a dead body, the stress of the situation, and the anxiety since one of the guys is still on the loose tends to get this kind of result.”

  “The pizza tasted better going down.” Jason wiped his mouth then reached a shaky hand toward the railing. “I really want this night to be over with already. Are you sure it was only the two of them? Brett and Chad weren’t with them? Those were the other guys at the table that night.”

  Dante shook his head. “No, I just scented those two. Should I worry about Stephen’s other friends?”

  Jason didn’t think so. Brett had been crass that night, and Chad had seemed amused, but neither had looked as creepy as Kevin had. “I don’t think so.”

  “I’m still going to have a talk with them. Maybe they can tell us where Kevin is hiding out if the deputies can’t find him. I’m sure Sheriff Weston already interviewed the two, but it doesn’t hurt to apply a little more pressure.”

  Jason sat on the front steps, his head hung as he tried to steady his breathing. What really pissed him off was the fact that, by now, everyone in town knew about the attack on him—because small towns were gossip mills—and Jason’s parents had yet to reach out to him. Even if, in their eyes, Jason was a screw-up, they could have at least called to see how he was doing, especially since Jason had spent time in the hospital.

  The only family member who acted like they cared was Gem, and Jason had yet to see him. He and Gem weren’t that close, per se, but he was the only decent family Jason had. Not even Sara had called after her initial visit, which told Jason that she’d just stopped by to help only so she could use that favor for later.

  Maybe it was time to strengthen his bond with Gem, but right now, all Jason wanted was Dante. And possibly adopting Diablo, who was at the top of the steps, looking at Jason as if asking if he was all right.

  Jason turned sideways and scratched Diablo under his chin. “I’m okay, boy. Thanks for protecting me. I only made you stay behind because I didn’t want you hurt.”

  Diablo nuzzled Jason’s hand before trotting back inside.

  Luke came outside with a tray. He balanced it on the railing, handing Jason a wet cloth and a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash before passing out cups of tea. Jason was grateful for the warmth since the night had grown chilly.

  “Hell of a night,” Luke said. “More excitement than I’ve seen in a while.”

  “Sorry about that, man,” Dante said. “We never meant to involve you.”

  Luke waved off Dante’s apology. “I needed some shaking up. Got my blood pumping. Too bad we couldn’t have gotten the other guy. You need help, just let me know.” He tapped his leg. “Ain’t what it used to be, but I’m there if you need me.”

  Jason had been afraid of Luke when the guy had answered the door. He reminded Jason of a giant, but he turned out to be the nicest guy. If they were being chased through the woods and needed help, Jason couldn’t have asked for anyone better.

  Of course not getting chased at all would have been even better. Fortunately, everyone had come out of this unscathed, except for Stephen. Jason quickly shoved that thought down.

  Another cop car pulled into Luke’s driveway. Sheriff Tate Weston got out. Here was another burly man that had always intimidated Jason. The sheriff closed his car door and walked over. “We recovered your car. It’s being towed.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “Found this on the ground next to the driver’s door.”

  Jason was greedy to get his phone back. He’d felt naked without it. Too bad it had died, even though he wasn’t expecting any calls or texts.

  “Mine?” Dante asked.

  Sheriff Tate shook his head. “Just found that one. Went through the entire vehicle, too.”

  Did that mean Kevin had taken it? Why? It wasn’t as if cell phones were easy to get into these days with passcodes. It was basically an expensive paperweight. Jason had lost his last year, and the phone carrier had set it up so if anyone tried to have it turned on through any other dealer, that dealer would get a notification that the phone was lost. They had even disabled the SIM card, rendering the phone useless.

  At least that was what customer service told him. Jason had never been contacted that his phone was found.

  Jason was ready to get out of there when the coroner van showed up. He was so over this, and now he was exhausted from running through the woods for half an hour and the stress of the entire situation.

  Luckily Dante caught on to that and shook hands with Luke, thanking him. Then he led Jason to one of the patrol cars. Deputy Lennox and Dario would ride back to town together. They’d returned a bit earlier, saying they hadn’t been able to find Kevin.