The rest of Brian’s living room—his video and DVD collection, his books, his magazines—told Liam nothing except that, like Connor, Brian had an obsession with cars. Cars were a sickness among younger Shifters. Liam couldn’t see the attraction; it wasn’t as though they were Harleys.

Liam took a quick look through Brian’s bedroom, but came up with even less. If Brian had secrets, he didn’t hide them in the house he shared with his mother. Liam did find a few pictures of Michelle tossed carelessly into the drawer of the nightstand. She’d been a pretty girl, with honey-blonde hair and a sweet smile, her skin tanned from the Texas sun. Photos of her and Brian together told Liam she didn’t mind at all that he was Shifter.

“Did you put these in here?” he called to Sandra.

“No,” she said when she looked. “Brian kept them there. The police took away about half of them when they searched.”

Liam was surprised they’d left any. But maybe they’d taken enough to show the jury what a pretty, helpless innocent Brian had corrupted.

“Can I have this one?” He held up a photo of Michelle with both arms around Brian.

“Sure.”

She was trying to make herself stop caring. Liam recognized the signs, having seen them in both his father and Kenny when they lost their mates. Pretending that they’d let go, that their beloved’s things were just things, of no importance.

“Will you ask Brian about her?” Liam asked as he pocketed the photos. “Find out whether he was going to claim her? It’s important.”

Sandra shook her head. “I’ll not be visiting him again.”

“Don’t give up yet.”

Vehemence entered her eyes, making her come alive. “I can’t visit him. He won’t let me.”

“Who?” Liam’s eyes narrowed. “Fergus?”

“Yes, Fergus. I’ve been told to stay away, to let Brian go.”

Liam went to her and rubbed her shoulders. “Sandra, you can’t do that. He’s your son, your cub. He needs you now more than ever.”

“Tell that to Fergus. I had orders.”

“Well, here’s me overriding those orders.”

Sandra laughed, an unhealthy sound. “You can’t.”

“I’m using my prerogative of second in command of this Shiftertown.” For now, he thought silently. “I say go see Brian, and let me deal with Fergus.”

“I can’t let you do that. He can kill you.”

“He already wants to kill me for so very many reasons. You’re the only one who can do this for us, love. Fergus won’t let me near Brian, and he won’t let Kim talk to him anymore, but stopping a mother from seeing her cub—that one he won’t be able to justify. I’m betting he knows that.”

Sandra looked tired. “I can’t stand up to him, Liam.”

“You won’t have to. He’s not here, and his lieutenants won’t interfere with a mother’s rights.” Liam gave her an encouraging smile. “Even Fergus’s thugs have mothers who wouldn’t let them hear the end of it if they kept you from your cub.”

Sandra relaxed a little. “You are full of shit, Liam.”

“Try it. They won’t hurt you, not around so many humans. You want to see Brian, don’t you?”

“Will you come with me?”

“I can’t.” Liam rubbed her shoulders again, wishing he could tell her that everything would be fine and mean it. “They’ll waffle about stopping you, but they won’t let me anywhere near the jail. But you go on. Have a good talk with him, and tell me everything he says.”

Kim hung up her cell phone as Liam walked in the back door. A strange sensation flashed through her, and it took her a minute to recognize it—she was glad to see him.

She hadn’t been so happy to see someone enter a room in a long, long time, not since her parents had passed. Friends were fine, and Abel was—All right, so whenever Abel had walked in, her first reaction usually had been impatience and irritation.

Seeing Liam made her heart beat faster and not simply because of lust. She went warm as he smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“Where is everyone?” he asked.

“Your dad, still next door with Glory. Connor went out to hook up with some friends, he said. Ellison came over, and he and Sean took off.”

“Oh, did he? Leaving you alone and unprotected?” He played with the hair at the back of her neck.

“Not with every single one of your neighbors outside staring at the house. Maybe you noticed them?”

“Wondering what I’m doing in here with the human woman.” Liam massaged her neck, leaning down to nip the shell of her ear. “What would you like me to do?”

Kim’s body grew pliant. “Liam, about this friend I want to invite…”

“What about him? He wasn’t your lover, was he?”

“No. Really, he’s just a friend. I’ve known him since college. I didn’t want to say this in front of all the others, but Silas is a journalist. A very good one. He wants to do some pieces on Shifters and make a documentary. Kind of show how they’re mistreated, that kind of angle.”

Liam straightened up, eyes wary. “Let another human uncover Shifter secrets?”

“No, I mean show Shifter life in its reality—the kids playing in the yards, like that Michael in his pool I saw the first day I was here. He’s cute, and he’d have great appeal. Humans can watch Shifter moms planting gardens, dads coming home from their working-class jobs. Teenagers like Connor playing soccer or holding hands with their girlfriends. Let people see how peaceful you are, how normal.”