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“Shelby!” Hunter blasted.

Her fingers clenched around some of the leaves in the bush. Snap. A twig had just broken. She stopped breathing.

Kimber’s flashlight swung toward her. “I see you.”

Something broke inside of Shelby. She felt it. An inhuman shriek erupted from her. She leapt from behind the bush, and she charged at Kimber.

Kimber—Kimber sprayed mace. I knew she had something!

But Shelby closed her eyes and just started stabbing. Her hand flew down over and over even as Kimber began to claw at her. Shelby didn’t stop. The two women tripped. They fell. She stabbed.

She remembered Margot.

Stab.

Kim.

Stab.

Aisha.

Stab.

Tonya.

Stab.

Jenna.

Stab.

Kali.

Stab.

And Tiffany, in the fountain, with the water red all around her⁠—

“Shelby!” Hunter’s voice. Breaking through the blood and death and pulling her back. She froze, with the knife raised again. Her eyes seemed to have locked down again, the lids tightly closed because of the second spraying of mace.

“Damn. You two seem to have a lot in common.” A powerful, masculine voice boomed. John Henry? “Bloodthirsty fighters.”

Did he think she had a lot in common with Kimber? She did not. Not. Just as Hunter was nothing like Nate⁠—

“Baby, she’s done. Drop the knife.” Hunter’s strong, deep voice.

She trusted him. She couldn’t see clearly but…

She dropped the knife. She tried to stand, turning toward his voice. Shelby had no idea where her hearing aid might be—back at the diner? Outside where Kimber had taken it? Sounds were tricky, but Hunter was to the left. Toward her strong ear. She thought that was where he was and⁠—

Warm arms pulled her against him. His scent flooded her nose, even as his arms wrapped around her. Shelby shuddered, and the tears on her cheeks weren’t just from the mace. “I thought you were dead.” Her breath heaved in and out. In and out.

“Uh…about that…” John Henry began.

Hunter’s grip tightened on her. He was soaking wet. “We’re safe. Both safe.”

She wrapped her arms around him. “I love you.” This wasn’t the time to tell him that. Not the place. We never have the right time or place. But she had to get the words out. I will not let fear win. “I love you.”

“I love you.” Hunter’s response. Hard. Deep. “I will always love you…and I need you to know that, Shelby. Always…always know…”