The screech of sirens reached her ears. It figured the cops would be fast this one time, when she needed them to be slow. Jade jumped to her feet. “Az!”

She shoved through the broken door. The wood scraped her arm. Perfect. Of course she’d leave DNA evidence behind at a murder scene. But, hopefully, once they examined the body, the wise folks at the NOPD would realize they weren’t dealing with a normal stiff, and they’d make this murder victim just . . . vanish.

Other deaths had a way of disappearing in the Big Easy. Mostly because there were so many Other hiding in the city. When supernaturals looked to blend in with the human population, they flocked to the big cities. It was easier for them to hide in plain sight there. Of course, in New Orleans, the city made for voodoo and magic . . . hiding in plain sight took on a whole new meaning for the paranormals.

She glanced to the left, then to the right. Where the hell was her savior? Big, blond, and way too gorgeous had vanished on her.

Freaking literally vanished. Come on, she did not need this right now. Her savior should have stayed put, and well, done more saving.

You’re not getting away from me that easily.

Her gaze scanned the old cement sidewalk. Looking, looking . . .

Blood drops.

She locked onto those red drops and raced along the spattered trail. Austin had cut her hero too deeply. With that kind of wound, it was amazing that Az could walk at all. She’d been sure Austin had severed his spine—or come real close—but Az had acted like the wound had barely troubled him. An attack that brutal would have crippled her.

Az had killed with a touch. He’d been super strong. And he had amazing endurance.

Oh, yeah, he was the man she’d been dreaming of for years—the man who could finally help her.

Not. Getting. Away. When a girl had been waiting as long as she had for her hero to show up, she didn’t let the guy fly away.

Police cruisers whipped by her. Jade hunched her shoulders and rushed forward even faster. The blood twisted down an alley. Great. Another alley that reeked of piss. Why couldn’t just one ever smell like roses?

Her speed slowed way down as she entered the alley. Not rushing anymore, but more like creeping now as she carefully followed the blood trail. As far as she could tell, there was no way out of this dead-end alley. Red bricks stared back at her and her throbbing forehead reminded her that she’d already gotten up close and personal with the hard edge of bricks once and—

An arm snaked around her and hauled Jade up against a very big, very, very strong male body. There was no chance to scream—not that she’d been planning to scream—because a heavy hand covered her mouth.

“I told you to flee.” His low, rumbling voice.

But then she’d known Az’s touch instantly. There was no mistaking that deadly strength.

“You should have listened to me.” His breath blew over her ear, and she felt the lightest touch of his lips against her lobe. Jade couldn’t help it, she shivered. Her ear had always been a weak spot.

Besides, if Az wasn’t the type of man to make a woman shiver, no one was. Tall, strong, with a face sculpted to perfection, the guy was walking, talking sex appeal. And danger.

Why, why did she always have to want the dangerous ones? She should have learned her lesson by now. Should have fallen for a quiet accountant somewhere.

But if she had, the quiet accountant would have ended up dead—thanks to me.

Better to stick to the ass-kicking type of man.

She opened her mouth to talk and realized, yep, his hand was still over her mouth. More sirens wailed in the distance. Jade tensed, hoping none of those cops felt the urge to search the area, or, oh, follow the trail of blood that led straight to them.

When Az eased his grip, she took a deep breath, and her tongue snaked out just a little and licked his palm.

Maybe that move hadn’t exactly been accidental on her part.

Seduce. Use. Betray.

Some days, it was just her motto. If she’d been a good girl, she would have been dead long ago. Jade had learned that the bad girls lived longer.

Az sucked in a sharp breath at the sensual touch, and Jade felt the unmistakable response of his body behind her. Now that was interest—

He spun her around—spun them around—and pinned her against the bricks. He glared at her, those sky blue eyes of his so bright in the growing dawn. Too bright.

“You don’t want to play with me.” His voice probably would have frightened small children.

Good thing she wasn’t a kid. And, um, who said she was playing? “Y-you saved me.” He had. So impressive. “A-and you were hurt.” She didn’t even have to fake the tremble in her voice. Running from the cops often made her voice all trembly. It was that wild fear/adrenaline combo.