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A nod "Yeah, yeah I-I orking three other cases at the sa er

Dee tapped her chin "He found you on that case" Her gaze drifted to Jude as she eased into her chair and leaned back

Like the lady didn’t have a care "Jude, I’d lay odds that if you went to that city, used your usual finesse, you’d be able find hih that case"

The beast inside jerked on his leash Hunt "Oh, I’m sure I can finesseand clawing his way to so a road trip"

"You mean ill" Erin’s determined voice

Dee’s eyes widened "Uh, civilians don’t noro on hunts"

Erin flashed her perfect sed into the wood "Not your norlared at theot that? I expect a new freaking desk! I will go to Pak with this, don’t think I won’t!"

Erin’s dainty hand lifted The claere gone Nice control "I’ with you," she told hiiven, he shook his head Claws really weren’t going to do the trick on this one "No"

"I’s apart and stared her down "Twice before, I’ve had clients bitch to ride shotgun with uy wound up with two broken arms and a concussion"

"’Cause hunts aren’t for civilians," Dee chiuy," Jude continued, "died onthe asshole back" But for that five uy had lain lifeless, Jude had been nervous as all hell A dead client didn’t pay

"’Cause hunts aren’t for civilians," the too-helpful Dee said again

Erin’s nostrils flared "I’s are changing for ot connections that you don’t I can help you"

"You can get killed" And if she slipped away from him, well, nervous as all hell, really wouldn’t be how he’d be describing the--

"And if I stay here, without you, what’s to say the bastard won’t make a try for me?"

"If he co close to the now ravaged desk

"Hell, no" Erin’s hair whipped as she shook her head "Not an option"

"Look, I can explain about yesterday"

"Not an option" Her hand lifted toward him, palm flat "And it’s not because of that bullshit yesterday It’s because you can’t handle this guy"

"Shot down," Dee rin

And Zane looked insulted "The day I can’t handle a shifter is the day you can--"

"He’s a wolf"

"--throw rave What? A wolf shifter? " Not fear in his voice More like shock

Dee whistled "I aood kills, Jude"

He slanted her a quick glance The lady needed some therapy

"What’s your power scale, deloves were definitely off now

Jude figured it was a good thing the office was pretty ents were out on their own hunts

Choking out a laugh, Dee shook her head "You can’t ask a de a h!" Zane cut through, face reddening

But Erin’s lips curved down "Doubt it If the stories are true, a wolf shifter can take down a level ten deoing with Jude" Her steely words sliced through the air "So all this doesn’t really low

Jude stared down at her Weighing Deciding "I can’t risk your safety"

"If you leave an hotly

Erin flashed him a feral stare He shut up

"You take"Guess it’s one of those lose-lose situations"

Those were real bitches

"It’sand sick of blood It’s ti didn’t work

Trust me, I can see that now" She licked her lips "He won’t stop until I stop him"

"Or until you’re dead" A piss-poor colared at her Like fuck that would happen

Erin’s chin lifted "If I have to, I’ll just follow you to Lillian But I a"

"Uh, don’t you have a job?" Zane asked "Cases to prosecute?"

"I’m off until Monday" She waited until Jude looked back at her and asked, "So what’s it gonna be, tiger? You taking ain, sweetheart He bit back the words and sucked in a sharp breath "You go, you follow un" Dee squeezed her eyes shut "Can no one trust professionals these days?"

He ignored her "At the first sign of trouble, you back the hell off and let s"

A nod

Mistake Oh, this was such a mistake, but--

But if he left her behind, he’d worry about her every second Because the truth was that Jude could all but feel the bastard’s eyes on theuy still hadn’t woken up yet He was in the ICU, with a guard stationed at his side, courtesy of Tony’s pull Erin had called to check on hi, but there had been no iht it was awith the help of all those beeping and buzzing uy out there after Erin didn’t play around Vicious, twisted, and quick to kill

Not exactly a dreae, even with Zane for protection, wasn’t an option he liked

So that just left…shotgun

Jude gave a grudging nod Da finally His body tensed when he saw the fa, and the two of theainst her back right before they disappeared inside