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“I need you to track the shifters and find their base of operations before you report back to me and we come up with a plan to eliminate them all this time.”

Jade nodded.“Just me or is Gunnar coming?”

She could sense the human bristle, but she didn’t understand if he didn’t want her in charge or didn’t believe she could find them.

“Noah will be working with you.He has a personal stake in this and he knew they were holding him in a place south of here.”

“Won’t they know he escaped and try to snag him again for another go at a transition?”

“Doesn’t matter.Noah’s ex-Navy SEAL and knows he’s taking a risk, but he’s willing to help us with this op.He knows about us.And I trust him.”

Jade nodded.She was reluctant to let a human to go on a mission, but she knew she would protect him with her life.She didn’t say it aloud, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate the sentiment.

When Ghost had first brought her into the fold, the other assassins doubted her abilities as well.That brought a smile to her lips.

“Stop that.Save it for Anzu’s crew.”

She nodded.

“You’ll take Noah to Kai’s and for the next couple of days, they will train him before you two set out.”

“I’d prefer if we left now.”Noah’s voice came out deep, as though he didn’t speak much.“And I’m not sure I trust this tiny woman to be able to handle herself.”

Jade bit back a growl, knowing that Ghost wouldn’t like it if she scared their only source of intel.But she watched as Noah crossed his arms over his chest, widened his stance, and straightened to his full height as he tried to intimidate her.

“Jade, no.”

“You should listen to your boss.You don’t want to get hurt.”

A growl escaped her throat at his taunting words.But she could feel her body warring between her curiosity of the man who made all of her senses flare and the desire to punch something hard.He moved into a fighting stance and at the moment, Jade blinked and turned to Ghost in confusion.

Ghost stepped in front of Noah, almost blocking him from her view.

“Let me explain a little about why Jade is here and not another assassin from my team.Jade is an expert tracker.She can find anyone in the world within seventy-two hours.She may be the smallest and the youngest of my assassins, but she is the deadliest.But what she has never done in her existence is kill or hurt a human unless it came as a direct order from me.She would never do anything to prove her strength because you challenged her, but I would recommend you not do it in front of the other assassins.While they won’t kill you either, they will make you hurt…a lot.And if you want to be part of this mission, I suggest you stash your resentment and listen to my orders.”

Jade watched Noah and his face remained passive during Ghost’s speech, but nodded his understanding.

“I’m sorry for growling at you.That was out of line.”

“And I’m sorry for coming across as a sexist, pompous asshole.”

Jade giggled, almost disgusted with herself, but it was covered by Ghost’s booming laughter.

“I’ll meet you at Kai’s later.”

Knowing a dismissal when she heard one, Jade walked toward the door and out of the office.Noah closely followed on her heels and she turned toward him when he pressed the down arrow, calling the elevator.Jade brushed her shoulder against his arm and a shiver of pleasure ran through her.

She swallowed as they stepped into the waiting elevator.Being alone with the man unsettled her.

“Did you drive?”

Noah shook his head.“I dropped off my rental car.I was told I wouldn’t be needing one.”

She nodded and pressed the button for the lowest parking floor in the building.When she pulled her hand back, her skin brushed against his and this time, she heard him suck in an almost inaudible breath.

Was he as affected as I am?

It was too early to get the answers to those questions.Instead, she shivered in excitement as she thought about driving up to Kai’s.Although she made quite a lot of money working for Dark Company, she liked to live frugally.She bought her small cottage in the mountains, filled it with books and made the space as welcoming as possible.She spent most of her time with Silas and the others either at Xander’s sprawling house or Kai’s.But her only splurge was an Aston Martin DB11 in Divine Red.The car drove like a dream.