And turned toward Vaughn.
The bastard actually tried shifting backward across the floor.
Fear now.
Good.
Wolf moved out of the way completely.
Trigger did too.
Interesting how nobody seemed eager to protect the corrupt federal agent anymore.
Tate crossed his arms near the door.
“You kill him in front of me,” he warned mildly, “I’m gonna have paperwork.”
Trigger pointed at him immediately.
“See? Sheriff’s thinking practically.”
Ava pinched the bridge of her nose like she regretted every career decision leading to this room.
I stopped directly in front of Vaughn.
He looked up at me from the floor bleeding and breathing hard.
Still arrogant.
Still stupid.
“You think you scare me?” he rasped.
No.
That wasn’t what terrified him.
I crouched slowly in front of him.
Calm.
Controlled.
The kind of calm that made soldiers nervous.
“You know what the problem is with men like you?” I asked quietly.
Vaughn swallowed once but said nothing.
“You mistake kindness for weakness.”
My eyes flicked briefly toward Flick behind me.
Curled into Isabel’s side now while the younger girl quietly held onto her hand.
Two terrified women comforting each other after surviving monsters.
Rage slid cold through my veins.
