Reclaiming Quinn - Parker Williams Page 0,55

softened. “You think I don’t know that? You’ve got fucking steel in your spine. And I didn’t do it for you. I did it for him. You would probably have ripped his throat out.” He grinned. “And I don’t want to clean up the mess.”

He didn’t want to laugh, really, but Deke couldn’t help it. There wasn’t much around this place that lifted his spirits, but Zach sure as hell did. He took a seat next to Deke.

“I think you need to come clean with me about what the hell is going on around here.”

Uh-oh. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not stupid. Pathetic humans are garbage and he expected better of you, as though saying you’re not human. And then that comment about having the first steak. There’s more than you’re telling me. Spill, Quinn.”

Goddamn, the man was far too intuitive. Though he’d only known Zach a short time, Deke actually trusted him. And if that were true, he’d need to trust him with his secret. “My name isn’t Quinn.”

Zach rolled his eyes. “Naw, really? Gee, never would have guessed.”

Deke frowned. “You’re a sarcastic son of a bitch, you know that?”

“So I get told all the time. Quinn is your partner, and they took you and you’re pretending to be him to keep him safe. Am I close?”

Deke shook his head. “I hate you.”

A derisive snort. “You’ll learn to love me. Everyone does. As for the rest? I’ve got theories. There’s been some things happening that made me think.” He leaned in, eyes narrowed. “What are you?”

Prickles ran up Deke’s back. “What do you mean?”

“When they caught me, the men were sniffing like they had allergies. Then when I got here, I noticed everyone had their noses all over us. It wasn’t overt, but I did notice. And no way those rangy things are so strong unless they’re using some kind of drugs or something, but I didn’t see any signs of use. And then, of course, we have that discussion about making me into a steak. Not something one typically hears. So I ask again, what are you?”

There were rules about interactions with humans. At least there had been when Deke was growing up. Humans were to be avoided, and never, ever allow one to know your secrets. Ryker had killed people. Klein too. So who was more to be avoided? The wolves who routinely took people off the streets and sold or ate them, or the cop who was, as far as Deke could tell, a decent person? Still, no way would he accept there were beings who could shift from human to wolf.

“Zach, I—”

“Let me guess. Werewolf.”

Deke gasped and widened his eyes. “What? That’s insane.” His heart was hammering. “Why would you say that?”

Zach pointed to the sling that hadn’t even gotten mussed when he tussled with Klein’s guy. “This was yours, but when you gave it to me you said you were fine. Now I don’t know how long you wore it, but it seems to me you must have healed pretty damn fast. Then there’s the fact you could hear the little girl and her mother, even though this place is pretty solid.”

“There’s no such thing as—”

Zach held up a hand. “Don’t. Really, just don’t. Am I way off base? Possibly. I mean, I know how it sounds, and if I’m wrong, well, I’m gonna be one embarrassed SOB.” He sat back, a smug look on his face. “But you’re not normal, and that’s a fact. So I ask again; what are you?”

Tell him you’re human. Say it. “There aren’t werewolves. We…. We call ourselves shifters.”

Surely the admission would freak Zach out. Deke peered up and found Zach smiling at him.

“See? Honesty is the basis for a good friendship.”

None of this made any sense. “How can you just accept this? You should be screaming or something.”

Zach reached out and put a hand atop Deke’s. “I’ve been a cop for ten years. I’ve seen things that have no explanation. We’ve gone to accident scenes where the tops were sheared off cars and the rest of the body was a mangled heap. There was no way someone survived it, but then we’d find people alive in it. I’ve watched as someone who was dead got brought back to life. I don’t believe in a God or Goddess, miracles, or anything like that. I believe in the things I can see, touch, and smell. My instincts haven’t ever let me down, and they told me that there was more