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Provided he didn’t beat her to the punch.
“It’s rare that a hybrid demon has your strength.” Beth studied him like he was some kind of bug. No, an experiment. To her, that was probably all he was. “You know that makes you a valuable commodity.” Her head tilted back. The better to watch him. “And to think, I originally thought Jana was the prize. I didn’t realize what I’d found in you.”
“Oh? Is that why you gave your goons the all clear to kill me when they slammed their semi into us that night?”
The woman didn’t blink. “Back then I thought you were expendable.”
Great. Expendable.
“Here at Perseus, we put humans first. Jana’s a human, so she was the priority.”
There it was again. Only the emphasis wasn’t so subtle on the “was the priority.”
Beth sauntered toward him. The woman actually put one of her fire-engine-red nails on his chest. “You have all of a demon’s strengths, but inside, where it matters, you’re human.” She stared up at him. “You’ve killed demons before. You killed your own father.”
He was aware of Jana stiffening in Davey’s hold.
“You kill them, you hunt them.” Beth let her hand fall away. “Because you hate them, don’t you? You want to wipe the bastards off the earth.”
Well, wasn’t she a warm Christmas card greeting. “I am a demon.”
“Your mother was human. That wasn’t some bullshit cover story that you fed Nancy. It was the truth.”
So she’d done her homework on him. Was he supposed to be impressed?
“Zane?” A different note had entered Jana’s voice. One he hadn’t heard before, but he could still identify it. Worry.
“Your father killed her.” Beth shook her head. “He showed you just what those freak demons are at their core. But you showed him just how strong humans can be. Because it was your human side that fought back.” Her smile was too satisfied as she continued, “It’s your human side that let you walk through the door. We want that human side. We want you.”
He laughed. He couldn’t help it. “You actually think I’m gonna work for Perseus? Lady, you’re out of your mind.”
“Uh, yeah, Zane, she is,” Jana said.
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you understand. You’re a wanted man right now. The FBI is after you, and the Baton Rouge PD thinks you were involved in the arson at Night Watch. They think you’ve been working with your lover, Jana Carter, a known criminal, to set a series of fires in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.” She paused and glanced over at Jana. “Just so you know, there was another fire in New Orleans tonight. Witnesses will say they saw you at the bar right before it burned. You and Wynter.”
“It’s their M.O., Zane.” Jana’s lips tightened. “They make their recruits become the hunted. Make them run out of options.”
“No!” Beth denied this instantly. “I’m not trying to make you run out of options?—”
“Bullshit, Beth!” Jana fired back. “You took every one of my options away. You set me up for fires, and you turned me into a wanted woman!”
Beth inhaled a deep breath. “You set the first three fires.” One blond brow rose. “You’re not innocent, Jana. Don’t pretend to be for your new lover.” Then Beth made a mistake. She sauntered too close to Jana.
Oh, he saw it coming even before Jana shoved back against Davey with her upper body and slammed both feet into Beth’s stomach.
The blonde doubled over, gagging. Davey swore and hauled Jana back.
“Get her out!” Beth lifted her head. Her eyes glittered with fury. “Put her in containment.” Her gaze darted to Zane. “Put them both in there. Let them calm the hell down.”
“I’m plenty calm!” Jana shouted. “Calm enough to kick your ass even without the fire, calm enough to?—”
“The last time I had you on my table, you were begging to live.” Beth’s scarred hand was over her stomach, and her eyes were ice cold. “You’ll be begging again soon enough.”
Jana’s chin notched up. “And you’ll be burning.”
Beth’s lips trembled, a small move, and he knew that she understood Jana’s words were a promise.
“Can you still feel the fire on you, Beth?”
