Page 37 of Power of Shadow

The Jackal’s statement strikes me as funny. Safe? With him? That’s a pretty good joke, considering how we met.

How did he get inside before me?

No one followed us. No one entered this place. Unless he got in the same way I did, through that damn window. Or before us...

Anger boils inside me. Once again, he’s crossing my plans, and I don’t like it at all. Quite the contrary.

By what fucking chance does this guy always end up in the same place as me? Why the hell is he getting in my way again? Didn’t he learn anything the first time?

It’s true I messed with him recently, but that was just payback.

Did he feel provoked? Did he feel challenged?

“Come on, Shadow. Don’t be a coward.” The low chuckle that follows increases my irritation, and I clench my jaw.

I emerge from the corridor and slip like a ghost along the hall until I see him.

He’s standing in the open space of the warehouse, dressed as before, with a mask on his face. His back to me. In front of him, on the ground, lies the motionless body of the man who led me here. The body of the security guard I was going to question. The pool of blood before him resembles tar in this light, but I’m certain it’s blood.

The safe house list can go to hell!

“I can sense you,” Jackal continues. “Isn’t it strange? It’s as if I sense, deep down, when you enter the range of this magnetic pull.”

God, this guy’s out of his mind. I hope someone helps him soon, or he’ll end up six feet under.

And that will be one less problem for me.

Quietly, I draw the knife strapped to my leg. Holding the weapon in my hand and looking at his back, the urge to hit him right in the middle burns inside me. My fingers are itching to do just that. And I’m perfect at throwing at a target, though not as fast as he is.

However, I can’t do that. The guy’s a challenge for me and I want to beat him, but not like this. Not like a coward and someone unworthy of first place.

Inhale... Exhale... With a swift movement, I release the knife from my fingers. It pierces the air and sticks a step away from the Jackal’s foot.

“You missed, my love.” It’s all a joke to him.

“You know very well that I wouldn’t miss unless I wanted to.”

He slowly turns to face me, remaining where he is. Only then do I take a step forward and emerge from the shadows.

A hand rests on his chest. “Aw, baby. You’ve got me by the heart. You don’t want to hurt me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Jackal. Just because I haven’t killed you yet doesn’t mean I won’t. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to return the favor and tell you that you’re late.”

Under that fucking mask, there’s a smug smile on his face, I’m sure of it. And I want to scratch it off with my own claws.

And damn him... The words he spoke open something inside me. I can feel it. That damn attraction. His presence makes every cell in my body stand at attention. For what? I have no idea.

This isn’t the time for that.

My gaze falls once again at the security guard lying on his back.

“Why did you kill him?”

“He was useless.”

“To whom? To you? What’s your goal, Jackal?”