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Sonia had to un on the bed, slung her bag around her neck and ran to the balcony Shifting was getting easier Gatita ju for the swamp fast Leopards weren't known for sustained speed and Sonia tried to keep hers froy with toohaul

He made love to me, Gatita There's a difference and I could feel the difference How could he do that? How could he be so deceptive? How could Sasha? What's wrong with me that I choose men like that? I don't understand it They have to enjoy seducing and then betraying ths

I would kill the you if I could Her little female seemed fearless

She could feel the rage sh the swaht on her feet Sonia knew thecareful not to rub her body along the trunks or brush Their advantage was that Gatita had gone out nightly to run and play Sonia knew her scent was everywhere

They angled away fro away froh Gatita stayed parallel to it Once they were past the area where the hunter was staying in his cabin, Gatita wanted to use the water to conceal the direction she was taking

There are a nuators, Sonia cautioned

I aet away fro attacked by the females

It's all the bull's territory Those feo in

The et to the escape route I planned, we need the river

Sonia felt it was too big of a risk Those alligators were larger thanwith them despite the leopard's assurance

Let et us to the place you're looking for Maybe I'll leave less scent for the that

She would be naked and barefoot Not at all practical in the swamp She didn't care Joshua had stripped her of all armor and then he'd ripped her apart Shattered her until she knew she would never be the saet--if she survived

No, I will get us there You could get hurt

Do you think anything will ever hurt uttedleft He didn't even leave me the ability to protect you, and that's the worst hurt

Gatita keptWe protect each other This is my time to step up when you need me I know you're hurt, I can feel you curled up in a little ball, in the fetal position, because he took your heart It's my time to protect you, Sonia Let me

I love you soanyone ever again She was so certain she couldn't feel That she would eventually go completely numb Frozen hat she wanted--no, needed So far, that hadn't happened

Gatita picked her way through downed trunks and vegetation, h the brush with care Behind the Were thethem already that close?

If they find us, Sonia, will they kill us?

I hope so That was the simple truth I don't want to be tortured by Nikita I think he's angry enough to use us to teach everyone a lesson about what happens when someone runs from him

When Joshua turns us over to Nikita, show him me He will keep us prisoners, but he won't kill us Gatita sounded certain of that Together ill find a way to escape

He'd put us in a cage HeI wouldn't put it past hi the leopard once he knew about her

We would have to take that chance if he decided to kill you outright

Gatita had taken them far from the house into a part of the swamp Sonia hadn't yet explored in her hu, but she didn't always pay attention Now she wished she had Gatita crouched low and entered a tunnel made by a smaller animal Perhaps a fox? It smelled like fox The labyrinth was narrow and very low Gatita dragged herself through it, following the twisting trail that took them very close to the river Before Sonia could stop her, the valiant little leopard jumped into the water

Sonia's breath hissed out She had to stay alert, as did Gatita The bag around the leopard's neck aterproof and everything inside had been double protected against water except for her weapon She'd thrown that in carelessly, a stupid, stupid mistake It would have taken seconds to secure it, but she'd been panicked

The leopard swa close to the shore Sonia expected her to swiether

They will expect that

Of course they would You're so s me The panic and shock she experienced at the betrayal were beginning to recede enough that her brain was starting to work The problem with that was now she had to cope with the intensity of her pain It was brutal and she wanted to retreat into a catatonic state, but she didn't have that luxury, not with Joshua and the others on her trail

Gatita moved a little faster, but still stayed at a safe, steady speed Running would get her out of breath and she couldn't sustain it for long Swi to breathe hard, her sides heaving with every breath she drew

Aled her

It was a good thing that Gatita had been running every night in the swaood shape She had to be TheJoshua had told her was true, they were kept in fighting shape She didn't want Gatita to have to fight the torn apart than her leopard

It wasn't Gatita who had fallen in love Sonia felt another rush of pain, of bile She'd sat across fro he asked She'd wanted to have that egg inside her Not just because of the pleasure it had brought her, but to see his face She'd liked watching him watch her The sensual lines had deepened, his eyes had darkened and become heavy-lidded with passion She knehat she did to hiet-out She'd done that to herself

Joshua had made certain every step she'd cooperated with him had been her choice She'd loved him all the more for that He'dhe did He'dher A sob escaped and bubbled in her ony

She had to stop, not think about it Not think about hi after dinner, when he'd made slow love to her When he'd touched every inch of her skin so reverently She should have known

Nikita had said it She just had refused to believe it Girls like her were for fucking, notShe was trash That's what Nikita had meant Evidently, Joshua had read that in her as well Bastien was a good ht past her to Molly Molly wasn't like her, the type of woman one fucked and then threay

She tried to jauratively into herit into herwith the silent screa

We're close We're co out of the water to the place near the road where I think you can get us a ride Gatita sounded elated

They'd h Sonia Even with the leopards on them, they had outsmarted the males Well, Gatita had outsmarted them She had planned an escape route just in case

I learned from you, Sonia You always have a plan for us You're always prepared

She hadn't been prepared this tiuard Thank you, ent Gatita I don't knohat I'd do

without you

Gatita swah, walked out of the water Every step was slow, and she padded a distance froator didn't spot the out of curiosity