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realized what he was doing. Sharp-edged disappointment lanced through her. Not just because of Willa. But because…
    She grimaced, silently admitting the truth.
    Over the past hour she’d started to hope he would forget…well, everything. That he’d been shot, kidnapped, and held captive. She wanted him to want to help Willa. Unfair? Yeah. But after spending a lifetime dealing with ruthless villains, she wanted a hero.
    “Shit. I should have known you would try to play me,” she muttered, shaking her head in disgust. “I always heard the Pantera were only concerned with their own people and the hell with the rest of us, but I didn’t think you would be so selfish you’d put your needs above that of a sick little girl.”
    Without warning he was bending down until their noses were nearly touching, the air snapping with the force of his anger.
    “Don’t presume for a second that you know me or my people, female,” he snarled. “You asked me to help Willa and I told you what you need to do.”
    She wanted to back away. Standing so close she could sense his cat lurking just beneath the surface, its hunger almost palpable. It made the hair rise on the back of her neck.
    Indy, however, grimly stood her ground.
    She didn’t have much in this world, but the one thing she had in spades was courage.
    Or, as Karen would call it, bull-headed stubbornness.
    “And your prescription is the Wildlands?” She gave a sharp laugh. “The one place you’re certain to escape while the rest of us get turned into cat food?”
    “I don’t have to escape.” His voice was filled with a ruthless assurance that sent a chill down her spine. “I can promise you that a dozen Hunters are already searching for me. I give you one hour, maybe two, before they pick up my trail.”
    Indy unconsciously licked her lips. He sounded so certain.
    “You don’t scare me,” she forced herself to mutter.
    A dangerous smile curved his lips. “Then you’re a fool. My brothers won’t stop until they have me back.” He paused, his gaze taking a slow, thorough survey of her rigid body as he moved to tower over her. “And then you’ll be all mine, honey.”
    An intoxicating musk laced the air, clouding her mind with all sorts of sinful thoughts. Thoughts that included tilting her head to press her lips against the tempting fullness of his mouth. And ripping off that soft cashmere sweater so she could nibble a path down his chest. And running her fingers through the silken platinum of his hair.
    Almost as if sensing the treacherous ache that was spreading through her body, Angel moved forward, easily herding her against the dented lockers that lined the hallway.
    Her heart thundered, but it wasn’t from fear.
    Desperate to regain command of the situation, Indy lifted her hand and jabbed him with the tip of the dart gun.
    “Back off,” she rasped.
    He pushed forward, trapping her with the heavy strength of his body.
    “Don’t worry,” he whispered, lowering his head to stroke a rough tongue down the line of her jaw. He chuckled when he felt her tremble at the tiny shocks of pleasure racing through her. “When I make you my cat food I’ll do enough licking up and down this delectable body, you won’t mind at all when I start feasting on you.” He nipped the lobe of her ear. “In fact, you’ll be begging.”
    ***
    Six blocks from the abandoned school, Stanton Locke entered the small, private house that was guarded by layers of security. Not that many people would be interested in the plain, three-story brick house in the quiet neighborhood.
    Set back from the tree-lined street, it had a high hedge and sturdy gate that prevented the casual pedestrian from getting more than a brief glance of the covered porch.
    Laying his hand on the palm scanner that was hidden next to the door, Stanton Locke waited for alarms to disengage before entering the shadowed foyer.
    He was a tall man with a lean, distinguished face and brilliant blue eyes. Currently