“It does not.” Auntie Bea’s smile suggested the FBI wouldn’t know what hit it should they attempt to remove Dan from her protection. Which was, Charlie acknowledged, completely accurate. “Get out of the way, Charlotte.”

Charlie stepped aside, but turned as she did. “Dan, these are my aunties. They’re going to help keep you safe.”

“They look like hot baths and vegetables.”

“Yes, they do.”

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Dan admitted.

*   *   *

“So, that’s Dan taken care of.”

“It is.” Charlie had retreated to David’s side as the aunties escorted Dan out of the park. Someone had to tell Jack where to take his stuff and David couldn’t be counted on to remain on two legs. “Jack thinks he’s part of a secret government experiment, got spotted by the wrong people when his rant went viral, and now they want him back.”

“Possible.”

“Seriously?”

“All governments keep secrets, Charlie.”

She could hear sirens in the distance—ambulance, given the distinctive out of my way, out of my way sound. Not like David was saying anything she didn’t know, although the secrets governments kept were generally about money wasted on dumbass ideas while social services held bake sales.

“Do you want him?”

After a brief and unsuccessful attempt to breathe spit, Charlie managed a mangled, “Who?”

“Dan.”

“What? No.”

“After he’s been cleaned up a bit?”

“No!” Wanting Dan was the farthest thing from Charlie’s mind. She shoved both hands back through her hair, walked three steps out, three back, and snarled, “For fucksake, David, we’re standing on sacred ground. On your ground. You feel what I feel. Why would you even say something like that?”

He tossed his head, the antlers suddenly much more physical than they had been.

Oh, shit. They were standing on sacred ground. He felt what she felt, and he’d prodded her into feeling it strongly enough that he couldn’t mistake it.

“Jack’s thirteen years younger than you.”

“I know!” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Yelling at David wouldn’t help. “Trust me, I know.”

“You would never take advantage.”