e Shaff

r arrived a fraction of a

WA

nches from the toe of my right boot, the carbon-steel b

the cold air wash over my neck, th

e at the edge of the pool. In his right hand, balanced across

on to leave," he said, his

ery from a chair is running low on levera

fast enough to w

rd cleared his lip

mist, tracking directly toward my left shoulder-a precision thr

dormancy, took over. My body reacted befo

ld steel grazed the sleeve of my jacket, parting the denim with a soft

or a third blade tucke

give him

strides, I vaulted onto the stone

ated that level of raw, trained explosive speed from a g

ating left cross

stiffened fingertips of my right hand directly into the nerve c

went completely dead, fingers uncurling as the th

the metallic heat of adrenaline-washed over my senses. His chest rose and fell

to the back of his

e leather back

and-daggers insignia of the Redeemer Knights, crowned by the upper rocker t

touch another man's colors without permission was a severe vio

ache

I lifted the heavy vest from the frame of the chair. I folded it neatly acros

e, replaced by an incandescent, murderous rag

d, his voice vibrating with absolute fur

oun," I said quietly, meeting his

dry boulder next to his good hand, smo

rode out here into the wilderness with no backup, no perim

you, and not the men in your club who

cal blow. The fury in his eyes didn't vanish, b

tactical blade from my boot

"And I will never be any man's property. But you need to walk agai

t you need my medicine to

the cab o

ver my shoulder. "Next time, come to

kicking up red gravel as I sped down the mountain track, leaving the cr