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Colin snickered. “We might be stupid, but at least we’re not back-stabbing pussies.”

Jericho stifled a groan. Every time Colin opened his mouth, his chances of survival dimmed. It was time to draw Adam’s attention from Jericho’s suicidal partner. “What are you doing here, Adam? The Council has been informed about your involvement with Zion,” he lied. “A wiser male would be halfway around the globe.”

Adam’s sunken eyes widened with panic. “There’s nowhere to run,” he groaned. “No place to hide that Zion won’t find me. Your little whore ruined everything, and yet Zion blames me. Even now, he has men closing in on my location.”

The traitor tightened his grip on the gun. “I told Helen it wouldn’t work. That Victor had recruited a sympath to ferret out her secrets. I told her we should call the whole fucking thing off, but did she listen?” Rage cut harsh lines across Adam’s face. “Fucking Helen and her schedule. The greedy bitch thought that capturing Victor’s favorite soldier would impress Zion and move her up the ranks. She said she had everything under control. Then, thanks to Alex’s last-minute warning, Marcus Steele survived the explosion.”

Marcus survived? Jericho met Colin’s eyes. Colin gave a slight shake of his head, seeming just as surprised.

Adam narrowed his gaze on Jericho. “And you,” he spat, voice dripping with acid. “You were supposed to kill the redheaded bitch and then slash your way through the city, bringing shame to Victor and his miserable band of fuckups. Instead, I lost five good soldiers. Helen swore she injected you with the drug, so how the hell are you lying here in front of me? And why isn’t Alex dead?”

Jericho was careful to mask his relief. Adam didn’t know about Alex’s transition. Hopefully, that meant Zion didn’t know, either.

Jericho tilted his head at a mocking angle. “You haven’t heard? Guess you’re out of the loop. I’d imagine, as far as Zion’s concerned, your usefulness has come to an end. It won’t be long before we’re pulling your rotting carcass out of the river,” he goaded. All he needed was one opening, one slip.

Adam’s gun didn’t waver. “Fucking Slade. It’s his fault Zion believes I turned on him.” Veins popped in his forehead. “I should have known that demon prick was following me. When the others didn’t report in, we suspected something had gone wrong. Before I could clean up Helen’s mess, Slade led Colin and Liam to you. Thanks to that nosey bastard, Zion thinks I gave the warehouse’s location away. That I was playing both sides.”

Adam’s right eye twitched. “I figured if I tied up some loose ends, Zion might let me live.”

“Huh, that’s funny,” Colin sneered. “’Cause it sounds to me likeyou’rethe loose end.”

“Enough stalling,” Adam snarled, shoving the barrel closer to Colin’s face. “You think I don’t see what you’re up to? Where is she?”

Jericho narrowed his eyes. Adam wouldn’t live long enough to lay one finger on his mate. “Alex isn’t here,” he answered, deceptively calm. “Victor locked her in a holding cell.”

“Don’t fuck with me. I know you have her,” Adam roared, spit flying from his lips. “Alexandra!” His finger flexed on the trigger. “Maybe if I shoot her friend here, she’ll make an appearance.”

“Please, don’t hurt him,” Alex’s voice drifted from the loft. “I’m here.” She moved from the shadows to stand at the railing.

Adam’s head snapped upward, and the gun barrel dipped. Finally, an opening. Jericho tensed to attack—

A silver streak launched from the ground.

“Titan, wait!” Too late.

The hellhound’s powerful jaws clamped around Adam’s arm, and he belted out a screech.

The rifle fired—off target. Colin leapt from the floor. He barreled into Adam and took him to the ground.

Jericho intercepted Alex’s flight down the stairs, pulling her to safety. Her slim body trembled in his embrace. “I can’t separate them. They’re one whirling sphere of mayhem.”

“Let Colin handle this,” he commanded, knowing there was no need for her interference—or his, for that matter. Adam’s death was a metallic gleam in Colin’s eyes. Titan’s eyes held a similar light. Adam had threatened his pack, and the hound’s devotion ran deep.

Pain-filled screams mixed with Titan’s inhuman snarls.

Adam staggered, blood pouring from the wounds on his arms and chest. Working in tandem, Colin and Titan circled like two warriors who’d been fighting side by side for centuries.

Adam’s eyes took on a homicidal gleam, and he dropped into a fighting stance, taunting with a flick of his fingers. “Come on, pretty boy, give me your best shot,” he demanded, spitting blood. “You and that butt-ugly mongrel too. Either way, I still win. It’s a far better death than what Zion had planned for me.”

Colin’s smile was pure menace. “Far be it for me to deny a male’s last request.”

* * *

Alex buriedher face in Jericho’s chest, away from the sight of Adam’s torn flesh. Just because the traitor deserved it didn’t mean she wanted to watch him being ripped apart.

“It will be over soon.” Jericho’s arms tightened around her. Even with her eyes closed. The sickening sounds of battle left little to the imagination. Fierce snarls. Grunting. Fists pounding flesh. Bellowed pain. The metallic tang of blood saturated the air.

Then silence.