He gave a quick shake of his head. "My business, not yours."
"If someone's threatening you, it is my business."
He stared down at me. "No, you aren't one of us. I won't involve you."
"I can handle myself, Richard."
He just shook his head.
"Marcus wants to involve you, ma petite. Richard refuses. It is a... bone of contention between them. One of many."
"How do you know so much about it?" I asked.
"We leaders of the preternatural community must deal with each other. For everyone's safety."
Richard just stood staring at him. It occurred to me for the first time that he seemed to look Jean-Claude in the eyes, with no ill effects. "Richard, can you meet his eyes?"
Richard's eyes flicked down to me, then back to Jean-Claude. "Yes. I'm a monster, too. I can took him in the eyes."
I shook my head. "Irving can't look him in the eyes. It's not just being a werewolf."
"As I am a master vampire, so our handsome friend here is a master werewolf. Though they do not call them that. Alpha males, is it not? Pack leaders."
"I prefer pack leader."
"I'll just bet you do," I said.
Richard looked hurt, his face crumbling like a child's. "You're angry with me, why?"
"You've got all this heavy shit going on with your pack leader, and you don't tell me. Jean-Claude keeps hinting your leader wants you dead. That true?"
"Marcus won't kill me," Richard said.
Jean-Claude laughed. The sound had a bitter undertaste to it, as if it hadn't been laughter at all. "You are a fool, Richard."
My beeper went off again. I checked the number, and turned it off. It wasn't like Dolph to call this many times, this close together. Something bad was happening. I needed to go. But...
"I don't have time to get the full story right this second." I poked a finger into the middle of Richard's chest. I gave Jean-Claude my back. He'd already done the damage he'd intended. "You are going to tell me every last bit of what's going on."
"I don't..."
"Save it. You either share this problem, or we don't date anymore."
He looked shocked. "Why?"
"Either you kept me out to protect me, which I'm going to hate. Or you have some other reason. It better be a damn good reason and not just some male ego shit."
Jean-Claude laughed again. This time the sound wrapped me around like flannel, warm and comforting, thick and soft next to na**d skin. I shook my head. Just Jean-Claude's laughter was an invasion of privacy.
I turned to him, and there must have been something in my face because the laughter died as if it had never been. "As for you, you can get the hell out of here. You've had your fun for the night."
"Whatever do you mean, ma petite?" His beautiful face was as pure and blank as a mask.
I shook my head and stepped forward. I was leaving. I had work to do. Richard's hand gripped my shoulder.
"Let me go, Richard. I'm mad at you right now." I didn't look at him. I didn't want to see his face. I was afraid if he looked hurt, I'd forgive him anything.
"You heard her, Richard. She doesn't want you touching her." Jean-Claude had taken a gliding step closer.