With Caution

earlier.”
    “Fucking A.” Rhys stood, slamming his fist on the desk. “Are you telling me it was the middle of the afternoon when you were attacked?”
    Remi nodded.
    “What’s up, Rhys?” Jake motioned to Remi, wanting him closer.
    Rhys’ jaw ticked. “Dirk reported the incident in the evening. It was already dark.
    That son of a bitch killed the kid hours before and left Remi lying around to die before getting him help.”
    Snagging Remi’s hand as he walked closer, Jake pulled him into his lap. Resting his head against the top of Remi’s head, he closed his eyes. He felt sick again. Remi is here, he’s alive and safe. But Sterling. Oh God, they had to work fast. They had to get Sterling away from that monster. Dirk was getting closer and closer to meeting an angry werewolf in a dark alley.
    Remi patted Jake’s back like it was no big deal and turned to face Rhys. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
    The door opened and Remi jumped out of Jake’s lap, looking toward the door. His forehead wrinkled, then the corner of his lips turned up.
    Matt. Jake didn’t even have to look. He smelled the kid and McDonald’s French fries. Jake grinned. Apparently he and Rhys weren’t the only ones amused by Matt’s sense of style.
    “Oh my God.” Matt ran into the office, so excited he must have forgotten Rhys was there. Amazing, as terrified as the kid was of Rhys. He dropped his bag of food in Jake’s lap and reached for Remi. Remi stepped back but Matt managed to snag his hands and pull him into a hug.

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    J.L. Langley
    Chuckling, Jake just watched. The look on Remi’s face was part surprised, part cornered wolf.
    Finally, Remi patted Matt on the back, sort of hugging him in return.
    Matt drew back without letting go of Remi’s shoulders. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’ve wanted to since I found out Jake found his mate. Dad said you are coming to dinner tomorrow night. I was going to see you then, but, wow, just wow.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “You think you can talk to Jake about letting me be a beta?”
    Remi’s eyes widened and he shot Jake a panicked look.
    “This is Matt. Our office manager.”
    The phone rang. Rhys answered it, “Romero and Waya investigations.”
    “Matt? Gadget’s son?” Remi blinked.
    Matt opened his mouth to speak, but Jake beat him to the punch. “Yeah, Matt is the oldest.” Wait. Did Matt say— “We’re going to Gadget’s for dinner tomorrow?”
    Matt nodded, a lock of his black bangs falling into his eyes. “Yeah, he said you were bringing Remi.”
    “Motherfucker.” Rhys slammed the phone down.
    “What?” Remi and Jake asked at the same time, turning toward Rhys.
    Matt grabbed his lunch from Jake and darted out the door. “Nice to meet you, Remi.
    See you tomorrow night.” He closed it behind him.
    “He’s checking on you.” Rhys turned the phone around and pushed the caller ID
    button.
    It read: Lassiter, Dirk .
    The smell of fear surrounded Remi for the first time since he came into the office, and Jake growled, unable to hold it back. “What did he say?”
    “Nothing. He hung up as soon as I answered it.”
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    With Caution

Chapter Fourteen
    “Cut it out, fag!”
    Remi winced at the slur from his fellow firefighter and continued reading his book. It wasn’t directed at him, but damn it was hard not to take notice of it. Funny, the word had never bothered him before. He’d thought nothing of calling one of his friends a fag or queer when they did something less than manly.
    Jamison launched himself at Cortez. They fell off the battered brown firehouse couch and rolled across the floor. Tortilla chips came raining down in their wake. One pelted Remi in the cheek and landed on his book.
    Remi picked it up and ate it, flicking the salt off his page. Catching Baker’s gaze in the chair across from him, he shrugged.
    Baker shook his head and went back to his Game Boy.
    “You fucking faggot, get off me,” Cortez snarled, shoving at Jamison’s shoulder with one hand while still holding the TV remote above his head with the other. They flipped over again, heading toward the small end table next to Remi’s chair.
    Remi rescued his can of coke off the table just in time to keep them from spilling it.
    “I was in here first, asshole.” Jamison grunted. “Give me back the damn remote. We aren’t watching fucking TV Land.”
    “Fuck you, dick breath, no one