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I still couldn’t believe I’d been face to face with these things I could’ve been bitten Hell, I could’ve died in the wreck or been captured!

Of course, the night was still young

When he started dragging the corpse away frooan to invite the new froious?"

"I know it ain’t withthe arrow from me, Jackson wiped it on the sole of his boot, then returned it to his bow’s azine clip

Back in the dead-tree hideout, I said, "If I get bitten--"

"You will have my arrow in your brainpan directly, doan you worry," he said without a nanosecond of hesitation

"Well Good to know" I wondered if I could regenerate froo find shelter, will those men come for us?"

"Let’s hope a windstoraze off the woods "Their dog woan be able to track us"

"They looked like regular people" I could aline they’d been part of a community watch on the trail of criminals, like I should’ve stopped and said, "They went thattaway!"

"Jackson, why’d they wreck all those cars?" And why’d they have to wreck ours? Right e had soone

"It’s an easy way to provision," he said "They’re probably wanting women, too I think that’s half the proble"

"Tell o, I meet crazy-ass coo-yôns I’ve only run into one or two solid characters since the Flash You re went bad so quick? I think the lack of women is fuel to the fire"

I rolled my eyes "Ohhh, men are now bad because they have, like,excuses for ’em Just think you women civilize us "

Huh His explanationI could coave you credit for"

He faced me with a scowl When he realized I was serious, he said, "You’d keep ht that this was soh that it wasn’t worth a mention Still I said, "Sans doute" Without a doubt

I could tell that pleased hie"

There was no chance of sleep "I can help you keep watch"

He gave a soft laugh "I told you--nothing can get the drop on "

"Wow If only you felt confident on that score"

"I spentinto Jackson’s house, a threat co out of the blue Had others come quietly? "I sleep with one eye open," Jackson had once said

And his cos after being kicked in the ribs? I’d just assuht bar brawls

Or had he been talking about an earlier time in his life, when he’d been a scared little boy, beaten by his mother’s drunkendates?

Maybe that hy he traced his scars They ht be records of near misses or hard-earned victories No wonder he could be so brutal

I felt a spike of sha thatthe dark, he ot you"

You do, don’t you? Here ere in the Bagmen’s lair, and I wasn’t terrified for my life Jackson would kill any that strayed too close In fact, they should fear him

I ith the boy thatWe were carless, with nearly zero supplies, fresh from a wreck and trapped in a swa to feel optiey at how relieved I was to have it now Because of Jackson riding my ass, I still had e of clothes, soel-packs and more "I’m actually not scared Can you believe it? If there was ever a time for me to be"

"Maybe you’re in shock"

"Maybe I’ softly, I told hireat to be alive"

"Srated, but the corners of his lips quirked

Curling up in the ashy leaves, usingas a pilloatched him I’d always found hiirls like Catherine had

Tonight I was starting to see why she’d sighed over hiht illuminated his chiseled cheekbones and his black, black hair His gorgeous eyes gleamed He hadn’t shaved in a few days, but the stubble only added to his looks

When he turned his head, listening for soht nose

He was focused and ruthless, and seeing hih

Never in a ined that Jackson Deveaux would end up being e from the voices, and afriend

If I wasn’t careful, I’d do so incredibly stupid, like fall for hi him so closely "Get some sleep"

"I’m too keyed up from the wreck Never been in one before Have you?"

"Motorcycle wrecks all the tiain his lips curled "That firstI saw you, I could barely take my eyes off your ass in that little dress" He scrubbed a hand over his ht even now

Which made my breath hitch I couldn’t tell if I was flattered, eander of that face of yours Nearly hit a pothole and took a header over the handlebars,so much

Definitely flattered and excited--

He suddenly tensed In an instant, he’d taken aim and shot his bow

When I heard a thud in the distance, I sed "You et the arrow"

He helped eline, I know you ain’t about to leave that bag behind"

Once we’d returned froain, I told hi lance to see if I was serious "If you truly want to thank me, you’ll tell me a secret"