A/N: Interview with Rhys and Riley, anyone? Yes? The link will be in the first comment and given as an external link.

Thanks you for coming up with the questions!

*****

A dose of Riley.

That was what I needed right now.

That was what I always needed, but with the weekend I'd had, I craved it more than I usually did.

The familiar chime of the bell above the door greeted me and there he was – my mate. His hands flew to his hair, ruffling it and he pulled down on his shirt.

"Hey." I smiled and bent over the bar. He leaned towards me and I pecked him on the lips. Oh, how I wished to do more than just that! Apparently Riley felt the same as he pouted.

"We haven't seen each other since Friday and this is how you greet me?"

"You are working, Riley; I don't want to get you in trouble."

He appeared pleased with my response.

"Did you solve that problem you mentioned?" He asked and began making me my coffee.

I rubbed my forehead, slumping in my seat.

I'd called Riley on Saturday and had hinted that something was going on with us Bullets. I hadn't given him any details – I'd just wanted to hear his voice and make sure he was okay – but I'd promised I'd tell him more once we met in person.

I looked around us. No one was in earshot so I leaned towards my mate again, placing my elbows on the immaculately clean surface of the bar.

"You know we... consult the police about the murders, right?" I asked quietly and received a nod in reply.

"Some of the younger members in our society had gotten the ridiculous idea that we should form our own investigation, separate from that of the police."

"They w..." His voice rose and I pushed my finger to my lips in a hushing gesture. A few of the patrons and one of the waitresses were now staring at us. Riley bent over the counter and spoke again, in a lower tone.

"They want what? Don't they realize how dangerous this could be?"

"That's what we tried to convince them in. By 'we' I mean the Council," I explained and took a sip of my drink. "Not only would they be facing a serial killer but also the police; I doubt they'd be happy with us interfering." I snorted and took another gulp. "Callum is far from ecstatic about it, but he realizes he needs us."

Riley bit his lip.

"And why does he need you?" He asked hesitantly.

"We'd have..." I paused, not sure how to explain the situation. Not only was I about to share something private about the Bullets, but I had to make sure it sounded believable to a human and that without lying to my mate.

"A long time ago – far too long for it to be the same person – there was a series of similar killings and members of our society and other societies like ours were involved," I began.

So far, so good, I though. As long as Riley doesn't ask me to elaborate on 'society'.

"You are telling me that one of the Bullets was... a killer?" His eyes rounded and he gulped.

That was not good.

How was I supposed to gain and keep my mate's trust if he thought I was somehow affiliated with a group of murderers?

"Associated with killers," I corrected. "The people who formed the Council back then gave her a choice: never see those people again or leave us for good. She left."

"Did she go to them?"

"Yes."

"She willingly went to the killers?" His eyes got even bigger as he whispered and I sighed.

How could I explain that she went because of the mate bond when I couldn't mention such a thing?

I could say that she was in love, but did that cover it?

I doubted that.

There could be nothing as strong, nothing as powerful as the mate bond.

But Riley was human; what else could I say to try and make him understand?

"She was in love with one of them."

Speechless, Riley covered his mouth and shook his head.

"I shouldn't have told you that," I stated, almost silently. My mate looked shocked; I should've just stuck with the fact that we consult the police. But I wanted Riley to get to know us, to get to know the Silver Bullets. I couldn't have left out the bad decisions some of us had made; it wouldn't have been fair to him.

His next words surprised me:

"No, I appreciate you sharing. It was not a topic I enjoyed, but I really appreciate you telling me this; it means you trust me."

"Of course I trust you, Riley." I reached for his hand and caressed it with my thumb. "Can we talk about something else?"

"Sure," he agreed. "Any suggestions?"

I looked about in search of inspiration. Riley laughed and I followed his gaze to one of the waitresses – the short-haired one he was friends with – who had narrowed her eyes at me. She marched towards us, her serving tray producing a loud clank when she not-so-gently placed it next to my mug.

I attempted to suppress a smirk.

"Is this when you tell me that if I break your friend's heart, you'll break my nose?" I asked and she grinned.

"Something like it."

"I'm much bigger than you."

Much, much bigger. The girl had guts, I gave her that.

"It's like I always say: the bigger they are, the higher they shriek when you kick them in the balls."

"Winona!" Riley reprimanded her, but I cut him off with my laugh.

"I really do like her," I told him.

"She just threatened your balls," he pointed out with a hint of annoyance which I was almost sure was aimed at his friend and not me.

"True," I agreed, standing up, "but she did that for you."

And how could I not be grateful that she was looking out for my mate?

"Are you leaving so soon?" He asked, worried.

"No, I'm just going to the restroom." With that, I gave him another peck. I knew he was at work, but I couldn't help myself. If I had my way, he'd be sitting in my lap with my arms around him. We could still just talk, but I wanted to feel him. Sadly, that would have to wait.

"What?" Winona's voice was barely audible as I moved away from them. I heard my mate reply, but I couldn't make out his words.

I was still smiling as I entered the restroom. I'd have to work on winning Winnie over. She was important to my mate and she was obviously a good friend.

Maybe I should introduce her to Kennedy... He won everyone over; he could help.

But I should definitely make sure she liked me or at least trusted me around Riley.

I turned on the tap to wash my hands.

Perhaps we could go out some time. She cared for my mate so surely she'd be touched when she saw how important he was to me. The Milk & Cream wasn't the best place to display that; after all they both worked here and had to maintain some form of professionalism.

Yes, we had to go out.

I sighed.

We had to go out, but not this week, maybe not even the next; I needed to keep an eye on the youngsters.

We'd had a second Council meeting over the weekend and this time Kelly had joined us. Nothing had changed though. The teens were still not allowed to join the investigation.

Closing the tap, I looked at the mirror above the sink.

How could they not understand how dangerous that perp was?

How could they not see that they were not ready to face the criminal?

I opened the restroom door and walked back towards the bar.

At least I didn't have to think about them at the moment. No rebellious, irrational youngsters, no killings... While I was here, I could enjoy the soothing company of my mate...

I froze in my spot when I saw Riley place a cup before a client - a familiar man, dressed in all white. My fists balled and I started to shake, a low growl making its way up my throat and through my lips as I watched the Hunter smile at my mate.

"Is he always this shy?" The man kept his gaze on Riley, but I knew the question was aimed at me.

"Any particular reason you are in town?" I quietly asked the Hunter, hoping he wouldn't notice the tremors in my tone.

He probably did though; he was trained for it. They all were, but Ace Darrell was one especially efficient Hunter. Efficient and cruel. I knew he cared not for the humans around us. He'd be ecstatic if I shifted before them. After all, that would give him a reason to kill me.

"Oh, you are a smart boy, Rhys Flemings; I'm sure you can guess," Ace replied, poison mixing with his Texas accent. "And if you are asking if it is for business or pleasure... Well, you know they are the same for me."

I bit on my tongue to stop another growl when he talked to Riley again:

"Thanks for the coffee, doll." The white-haired man gave my mate a nod and got up, leaving a few bills behind on the bar. My eyes were trained on him as he calmly walked to the door, opening it to let three girls to walk in and grinning at them before exiting the café.

"Rhys... Who was that man?" My mate's voice shook, but unlike me it wasn't anger he felt; he was scared.

*****

A/N: Told you there will be Riley in this chapter! Did you enjoy it?

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In the next chapter, Rhys will have to explain to Riley who Ace is and what he does; would you be interested in that?

 How much do you remember of the Order of the Hunters?

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