“Kay, I'm sleeping with a gun-toting man I banged in an ally, hopped up on cocaine, who wants to know how to tamper with identification records without the Feds finding out. Oh yeah, and he turns into a wolf. And he's got me wrapped around his cock.”

“When expression returned, it was outrage. “Oh, that—” Wells couldn’t think of anything bad enough to callLaw.“Rat bastard is the word you’re looking for,” Tom filled in for him.Wells turned and stalked back up the dock.A gull alighted on the boards at Tom’s feet. It cocked a beady eye up at him. Tom gestured with his beerbottle as he commented to the bird, “You’re right. Rat bastard is two words, isn’t it.”

“I don’t hate you, Cyndi. You’re blood. I have to love you. You just annoy the hell out of me.” He put onearm around her thin shoulders.”

“Law looked dumbstruck, almost angry. He breathed, "Son of a bitch." And to Tom's surprise, Law got down on one knee and took his hand. "Tom, you beloved bastard, I love you. I need you in my life forever. I cannot imagine existence without you. Will you-God please say yes-grant me the honor and the privilege and save my life and marry me?”

“Confused and fearful as he was, this one thing Tom knew for certain. No man ever took another man's balls in his mouth to mock him.”

“Are you going to be nice to me now?""I'm always nice to you." Sure. Law ground his chin into Tom's groin, makingTom jump."Why would I suddenly start being nice to you?" Law said. "You put out for an asshole. That guy is still here.”

“She sniffled. "Does he know?""Not a clue," Law said. "There are concrete bricks less dense than my beloved.”