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Not wanting to take any chances, I check the app.

Dread fills me when I see the feed, and then I’m quickly turning around to run back toward Cove’s place.

Thank fuck I’m not far away. I manage to reach her place in under two minutes, heart pounding, lungs screaming, but I don’t fucking care.

I force myself to stop, to gather my breath and settle my mind, when I reach her backyard.

My eyes land on the man picking the lock on her back door.

Guess this asshole has a death wish. That's okay, I’m more than happy to be the one to fulfill it.

Taking a calming breath, I let myself slip into my working mindset.

Reaching into my pocket, I grab my switchblade. Flicking it open, I quickly but quietly jog over toward the man just as he manages to get the door open.

“I don’t fucking think so.” The words are low and filled with venom as I wrap my arm around my man’s head, holding it to my chest. Bringing the blade up, I slide it across his throat before he even has a chance to blink.

The man lets out a gurgling sound before going limp in my arms.

Making sure not to drop him, I reach over, closing the door without a sound before throwing the man over my shoulder and walking back into the forest.

Going to have to send a clean-up crew for that one.

I ignore the warm blood soaking into my shirt and down my back as I head back in the direction of my house.

Maybe it was stupid of me to react the way I did. I should have knocked him out, taken him home so I could question him and see why the fuck he was at my Bunny’s house.

In the moment, all I could think about was that this asshole was breaking into my woman's house. To harm her? Kill her? Kidnap her? I don’t fucking know. I just knew I wasn’t going to let it happen.

Dad is going to be pissed. But let’s be honest, this wouldn’t be happening if he’d just let us take Cove like we wanted to in the first place.

After tonight, I couldn’t care less about what Dad wants.

Rafe is after Cove, and none of us know why.

So until we figure it out, Cove is in danger.

We can’t be with her every moment of the day.

The only way we can make sure, without a doubt, that she's safe is by bringing her home with us.

Shepherd is going to be over the moon.

Chapter Eight

Shepherd

I love my life. I love my job. Most of all, I love killing.

It fills me with an indescribable feeling. Like adrenaline, but on crack.

I can feel myself vibrating with the need to wrap my hands around someone’s neck, squeezing until their eyes bug out and their face turns blue. It’s always an interesting shade.

Okay, so maybe killing isn’t what I love the most, that would be my Bunny. She is the apple of my eye, the air inside my lungs, the reason for my insanity.

Again, another lie. I was crazy before I ever met Cove, but she is the reason I’ve been a little more erratic as of late.

Can you blame me?