He glared down at her. “I heal fast.”

Wonderful. Extra bonus for them. She licked her lips, and his gaze flickered down at the movement of her tongue. Even better. This morning—minus the mild concussion and near dismemberment—was rocking for her. “Yeah, well, while you’re healing, you’re also leaving a trail of blood all over town.”

His brows pulled together as he tossed a glance at the blood that littered the ground near them.

“And cops are probably raiding your place right now,” she continued, talking too fast. But they needed to move. “So why don’t you let me take you someplace safe? You can finish healing, clean up the blood . . .”

His gaze searched hers. “You want to . . . help me?”

Not exactly. “Yes.” She smiled at him. Jade hoped the smile looked innocent. She’d been told before that she could fake innocent pretty well. Okay, except for the eyes. Her eyes always screwed things up for her, so she carefully lowered her gaze. “You saved me. Now let me return the favor.”

He didn’t speak.

So she took his hand. Jade carefully laced her fingers with his. The guy’s hand swallowed hers. His touch also made her heart beat way too fast.

“You shouldn’t touch me.” His words came out sounding gruff.

Now she forced herself to meet his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you. You saved me.” If it hadn’t been for him, she would have been on her way back to hell.

“You should fear me.” He tried to pull his hand away.

She tightened her grip. “And you should learn to trust other people.”

The wail of a siren drifted in the air. Jade tensed. The chitchat was fun, but . . . “We need to get out of here.”

His bright gaze raked her once more. But, after the briefest of hesitations, he nodded.

Yes.

“I’ve got a car waiting,” she told Az as she pulled him behind her. Good thing she’d stashed her ride close by, before the crazy shifter attack. She and Az could hop into the car and head out. Then he could just bleed in the vehicle and stop that dripping trail of blood. “In ten minutes, we’ll be safe.”

Well, as safe as they could be with one very angry pack of panther shifters after them.

Normally, panthers were a solitary breed. But if they got a strong alpha to lead them—a sick f**k who knew all about control—then they’d band together and make life hell for everyone else.

These particular panther shifters had been after her for years. Always hunting. Destroying everything and everyone in their path.

Some guys just had a real hard time letting go . . .

So you had to kill them in order for the message to sink in.

“Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Before another hunt began.

“Austin’s dead.”

Brandt Dupre glanced up at the announcement. The swamp waited behind him, bloody with the fire of the rising sun. He cocked a brow as he studied the panther shifter before him. Riley was practically vibrating with rage, probably because the blood and bruises on his body indicated the guy had just gotten his ass seriously kicked.

“Jade?” Brandt asked softly. Oh, but even after all these years, she could still surprise him. Taking out one of his most trusted panther assassins. He’d have to punish her for that, of course, but . . .

“It wasn’t her.” Riley spat on the ground. Blood dripped from his lips. “It was that big, blond bastard who—”

Brandt lunged at the shifter. His claws burst from his fingertips as he grabbed Riley by the throat. “A man was with Jade?” With his Jade?

Riley nodded as Brandt’s claws sliced his throat. Riley didn’t even flinch when the blood slid down his neck.

Rage burned in Brandt’s body. Jade should have learned by now. She should know better.

This was their war. She didn’t get to bring others into their battle. She sure as hell didn’t get to f**k others.

How many dead bodies would he have to leave before she figured that fact out? Did she want him to keep killing those foolish enough to go to her aid?

She must.

He tossed Riley back a few feet. The shifter fell onto the dark earth. Brandt turned to face the swamp as he fought to control his temper. “He’s dead.” An order. And what the alpha wanted . . .

He got.

Why couldn’t Jade understand that?

“He may not be so easy to kill.”

Brandt stiffened at Riley’s muttered words. Then he glanced over his shoulder.

Riley had risen to his feet. The shifter ignored his bleeding neck but brushed off his hands. “The guy’s not human.” Riley swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not even sure what the f**k he is.”