Page 22 of Stryker

“What are you doing?” he asked, glancing over my shoulder at her.

“They tried to kill her.”

“Did you get clearance?” He snarled and shoved a shaking hand through his hair. I could smell the fury rolling off him. He left both hands on top of his head. “Who the fuck am I kidding? You didn’t get clearance.” He turned away from me, shouting at the trees. “Ugh, what the fuck are youdoing?” He turned around, his face twisting in anger.

I said nothing but stood between him and Kat, ready, in case he did something stupid out of anger. I knew the rules. The people we protected were made to sign waivers and legal documents demanding their silence. She’d done none of that. But I knew she was safe.

He advanced on me and I settled into a fighting stance.

“You know what they’ll do to you when they find out you’ve betrayed them?” He shouted the words at me, and the birds flew out of trees. “Fuck, Stryker, goddamnit!” He threw his hands down off his head and walked right up to me, chest to chest like he was about to start some shit.

“I liked you, fucker. Now I have to turn you in.”

“Turn him in?” Kat snuck up behind us, quiet as a kitten. She’d be more sneaky if she didn’t smell like sex and panic.

Draco’s expression was knowing as he glared at me. “Was it worth it?”

I swallowed hard. “She’s not a threat to us.”

“I swear I’m not a threat.” She crept right up to our sides and peered up at us both. I wanted to tell her to get inside. I wanted to tell her that she wasn’t safe, that Draco and I were pretty evenly matched. Among humans and bullets, I could protect her. My dragon brothers, though, we were all pretty evenly matched. Fuck.

He didn’t even dignify her with a shred of attention. “You got her killed. Remember, you did this.” He poked a finger into my chest and shoved me back a half step as I faltered under the weight of the knowledge she was in more danger than I knew.

I expected to be punished. I hadn’t even considered they’d hurt her. She was a human. “She’s an innocent.”

His eyes narrowed. “There are no innocents. There’s good and evil.”

“How are you so sure she’s evil? You’re losing it, brother. The Doubletaps are getting into your head.” I put a hand on his chest and shoved him back. “Losing that girl is fucking you up.”

“Don’t you fucking dare go there.” His voice rose to a roar and I noticed Kat didn’t flinch. “You’re supposed to be helping me look.”

“You’re supposed to be helping him find someone?” She tilted her head at me, a disappointed look in her eyes that sliced me to the bone.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eyes, then remembered the danger and glared at Draco again.

But his lips curved into an almost mocking smile. “Ah.” He glanced at her, an evil look in his blue eyes before they slid back to me. “So that’s it.”

“What’s it?” I didn’t know Draco’s skills. Our personal skills were generally our own secrets because we never knew when we’d need them. I wasn’t kidding when I told Kat we’re very private. He didn’t know about my uncanny sense of smell that almost allowed me to see a few seconds into the future at times, but I also had no idea what kind of skills he had, either.

Not mind reading, obviously.

But he wasn’t answering me. Instead, he took a step back and turned toward Kat.

She retreated a pace, looking very much like a tiny little mouse in the face of a rattler out for her blood.

“Did you know he wasn’t supposed to save you?”

Her eyes never left his face. “I didn’t know it was against any rules, but I did know that I wasn’t on his list or whatever you guys have.”

“And what did he tell you about us?”

I stepped forward, but he held out a hand, warning me not to get close.

Her lips parted as she stared up at him. “That you’re the good guys. That you protect people That you save lives.”

He nodded.

“But now I know he’s wrong.” Her eyes narrowed and his shoulders straightened as if she’d surprised him. “You’re not the good guys. You’re not brave. You’re a bunch of scared little schoolgirls hiding under your desks while the bad men best you left and right.” She gave her head a little shake. “I’m sorry you’re so afraid that you’re taking the path of evil.”

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