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Then I ran three long steps before I hurtled over the creek.

Desperation pounded with it. My spirit urging.

End him.

Fix this.

Save her.

I’d already let this scumbag’s brother get to her. Allowed her to be tormented and traumatized. I couldn’t bear for her to suffer a second longer.

Wasn’t I responsible for that, though? For this thing that raged between us? The energy that called me back to her like I was her home.

I wasn’t even sure there was a possibility that I could sever it.

The rest followed, and grunts of exertion filtered through the thick, anticipatory air that urged me along.

The need to destroy.

“Someone’s in a hurry,” Brody complained in jest as we basically crawled up another ravine, this one so steep we had to use branches to haul ourselves up.

“Just want this bullshit over,” I rumbled.

We crested the saddle, and every single one of us instinctively slowed to a stop.

Crouching low as a roll of dark energy washed over us.

Through the dizzying maze of trees and brush, I could barely make out the shape of a building in the distance.

A cabin tucked so deep that it was a wonder that anyone knew it was there. No question, it was the reason it took so long to uncover this sleaze.

Silas knelt at my side, his voice held low as he took stock of the area. “Looks quiet.”

My gaze raced.

Taking in every angle. Every edge and every detail.

Still.

It was too fucking still.

Unease crawled across my flesh.

“Too quiet.”

His nod was slight, and his attention was just as severe as it hunted. “You think this guy is waiting for us?”

I inclined my ear, but it was that sixth sense that was really engaged. The prickles of awareness that lifted the fine hairs at the nape of my neck.

“Not sure, but something isn’t right.”

“You got suggestions on how to handle it?”

My chest squeezed in a fist. Grateful that Silas respected and trusted my opinion, hating that he couldn’t trust the rest of the reckless decisions I’d made.

“We stick to the plan and nail this motherfucker.”

Silas gave a clipped nod, and he pulled out his phone and sent the text to let the other team know we were ready. Then he swept a hand through the air, gesturing to our group to get into place.