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The longer she stayed silent, the angrier Zahava became. But as fast as it built, the anger disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“But I can’t blame you for everything. I learned over the years how to manipulate people to get what I want. If you hadn’t left me alone, then I never would have learned to go after what I want in life without consequences.”

Neri ignored her blame. “Then you met your husband, and you fell in love—”

“No, I didn’t love him. He was a means to an end. He was my first introduction to immortals, and I realized the power I could have by controlling him and the shifters who do my bidding. I succeeded because of my hard work and brilliant plans. But that asshole obsessed over the dark-haired woman and got himself killed. I had control over Nightfall by that time, manipulating the rest of the shifters, and they followedme.”

“So you want to kill me…”

Hunter growled at her words but didn’t move from his position on her right side, his hand brushing against hers now and then.

“… And then what?”

“I’ll kill every one of your new friends until Ghost remains, and then I will force him to give me control of Dark Company.”

“The contract will end with Ghost’s death. He can’t transfer it to anyone, human or immortal, so the contract between the government and Dark Company will be severed,” Hunter said.

Neri said, “And you’re not a shifter or an immortal. How are you going to kill the assassins with a group of subpar shifters who have no enhanced abilities including speed and hearing? We took out your two shifters in the living room.”

Zahava glared. Instead of answering, she tilted her head to the side and listened.

Neri heard running footsteps outside. Only when they arrived in the yard did Zahava hear them, too.

“Damian!” Zahava shouted.

In a flash, a huge black haired shifter close to seven foot tall, appeared behind Zahava and wrapped his arms around her.

“And now I know all I need to. Thanks, Neri. Be seeing you soon.”

And with that threat, they disappeared.

Shit, Thalia is outside and in sight of those assholes. Let’s go!

Hunter led the way outside and when they arrived in the front yard, they came face-to-face with seven shifters.

“Snowfall Police. What is going on here?”

Neri flicked her eyes over to two men who stood at the gate. There stood one dark olive skinned man with black hair, piercing chocolate eyes, and fit, who looked to be in his thirties. He wore a blue windbreaker with Snowfall PD on the corner pocket with worn jeans and thick, black combat boots. The other man, blond, over six foot and dressed like his partner.

Fuck. That’s the detective who helped mom find me.

“Tajo?” Thalia’s voice came from around the side of the house.

A growl erupted from one shifter and Neri snarled louder in return.

“Leave my mother alone or I’ll cut your balls off and shove them down your fucking throat.”

“Neri?” Detective Cortez asked.

“Yeah, that’s me. Thanks for being there for my mom while I was missing.”

“Um, yeah. No problem. Do you mind explaining what’s going on here?”

Neri glanced at her mother and Thalia gave her a nod, letting her know she could trust these two men.

“Well, Detective Cortez and Detective O’Connor. These gentlemen work for a woman who has been trying to kill my mate and his family for over four years. They are shifters, which means they can turn into an animal, so is my mate, Hunter right next to me. I’m half shifter and half vampire and I’m about to rip apart these seven shifters for threatening my mother.”

Silence grew between the odd group gathered in the front yard. Neri stood with the knife Reaper had given her in her hand, ready to use it. Hunter stood tall, his arms crossed in front of his chest, but his nonchalant appearance not giving away the simmering fury she could sense pulsing through his body. Thalia had edged toward the two detectives and stood inside the fence next to them. While the two new arrivals held their guns pointed at the seven threats, their mouths agape, their senses were alert and scanning the area.