“I’ve spent my life under an abusive alpha,” Desandra said. “I know what it’s like to be at someone’s mercy. My children won’t grow up persecuted. If I have to take the alpha spot and hold it to make sure they have a happy childhood, I’ll do it.”

A deserted building sat on our left, sagging to the street, thin streaks of graffiti staining its walls like tears. Robert squinted at it. “One moment.”

He took a running start, jumped, and ran up the near-vertical wall. His fingers fastened over the third floor’s windowsill and he dived into the window. Desandra whistled quietly.

“You know he’s married, right?” I asked.

“I can still enjoy looking at his ass.”

Her eyes lit up.

Oh no.

“It’s like two . . .”

“No.”

Desandra giggled.

That was a close one.

“You know, if you have certain frustrations,” Ascanio said, “I would be happy to help you work them out.”

Derek looked at me, pointed at Ascanio, and punched his left palm with his right fist a few times. I shook my head. No, you can’t pummel him.

Desandra laughed. “Maybe in twenty years. When I have, what is it called? Midlife conflict?”

“Midlife crisis,” I supplied.

“Yes. That. Assuming you live that long.”

“That’s a big ‘if,’” Derek said.

Robert reappeared carrying a small dirty sack, leaped down, and jogged over to us.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s a rat stash,” Derek said. “They hide them all over the city.”

Robert reached into the sack, pulled out a large roll of duct tape and a bundle of canvas rags, and smiled.

“What’s this for?” Desandra asked.

“You’ll see,” I told her.

We headed down the street.

Desandra shrugged her shoulders. “Hey, Kate? Have you thought of walking up to Hugh and telling him that he’s got the biggest dick ever?” She spread her arms to the size of a baseball bat.

“No, you think it would work?” I asked.

“It’s worth a try. Maybe he’ll be so happy you noticed his pork sword, he’ll forget all about trying to kill us.”

Pork sword. Kill me now. “I’ll think about it.”

Ascanio began patting his clothes.

“What?” Derek growled.

“Looking for something to take notes with.”

Robert gave no indication he heard us but I knew he was listening. Any idiot could figure out that Hugh and I had a history, and Robert was far from being an idiot. Soon questions would be coming, I could feel it.

Ascanio gave up on patting and gazed at Desandra with something akin to admiration. Found himself a role model, had he? Because he wasn’t trouble enough already.

“What is it, child?” Desandra asked.

“Did you really have your tongue cut out?” Ascanio asked.