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he expected Denton to break down with a confession.
    “Fucking salties!” Denton snarled. “Do you know where they went?”
    Marty shook his head. “Not for sure. I heard them talking about storing stuff at the docks, but you didn’t hear it from me. I don’t want to get involved in their shit.”
    Denton didn’t point out the obvious. If the salties were attacking him, Marty was already involved.
    “They’re trying to get me to leave town,” Denton confessed.
    “Crap!” Marty paled. “Don’t take Eaton.”
    If the hawk’s voice had been more demanding and not so broken, Denton might have been able to steel his heart against the weird surge of compassion that struck him.
    “Why haven’t they taken you to see a doctor?” Denton nodded toward the rest of the useless gang.
    “Because I told them not to. I will heal—eventually.” Marty proclaimed.
    “Why don’t you then?” The answer came to Denton even as he asked the question. “They broke your arm, didn’t they?”
    The only injury a flying shifter couldn’t easily recover from was the arm. Transforming from a solid human arm to hollow bird bones could be catastrophic if the bones weren’t in good condition.
    “Yeah,” Marty looked away, apparently finding the fuzzy television in the corner worthy of renewed interest.
    Denton ground his teeth together. “Tell you what. You tell me where you think the salties are based, and I’ll let Eaton help heal you.”
    If Eaton truly was Marty’s mate, being near him would speed the healing process. Even as the thought passed through his head, he knew what his croc had been trying to tell him. Isaac belonged to him. They were mates.
    “Really? It’s not a trick?” The hope in Marty’s face almost made Denton sorry for being a bastard.
    “As much as I’d prefer to keep you two apart, I need to find the salties more. Those bastards are setting up base here for something and terrorizing everyone,” Denton explained. “Tell me where they are.”
    Not stopping the salties in whatever crooked business they were setting up would only make things worse in the long run. In Australia, the salties cornered the market on drugs and prostitution. Denton’s biggest fear was that they were spreading their territory to the US and starting a similar operation in Seattle. He wouldn’t tolerate those bastards in his territory. He desperately wished he had Carey to watch his back.
    “I’d answer the man,” a cold voice spoke behind Denton. Most men would shiver at the sound of Aden Gale behind them. For Denton, it was better than a warm hug. Carey’s father, who Denton had long ago claimed as his own, had never let Denton down a day in his life. Although some might question the man’s mental stability, his loyalty was unwavering.
    “Afternoon, Dad,” Denton said.
    A large hand clamped down on his shoulder, a reassuring sign of support. “Did you forget what I taught you about back up?” The question might be casual but the heavy weight of disapproval filled every syllable.
    “Sorry, sir.” Denton didn’t offer any excuses. He knew he’d made a tactical mistake. The only saving grace was he didn’t think the hawks would turn on him. They might not like him much, but Marty wanted into Eaton’s pants bad enough not to hurt Denton. Eaton might be cerebral and lost in his own world most of the time but he was fiercely devoted to his friends.
    Marty paled.
    Denton didn’t know if it was from blood loss or the sight of Aden but the hawk shifter didn’t look so good.
    “Why don’t we get him to the house and you can question him in private,” Aden suggested.
    A quick glance around the room proved everyone was pointedly not looking in their direction. Denton was more than a little surprised that the other hawks weren’t supporting their leader, but none of them even glanced Marty’s way.
    “Okay,” Denton nodded his head toward the door. “Come with us.”
    Marty didn’t argue. He moved slowly, but