Page 63 of Finding Her Panthers

“Do not move, or I will slit her throat. Scotty get any weapons they have,” he instructs. Scotty looks around, overwhelmed.

He expects this idiot to do anything?

James and Blue separate from Jax, stalking in opposite directions to surround everyone. Ames is truly insane if he thinks he will make it out of here alive. I have too many powerful allies on my side now.

Scotty freaks out and runs like a coward, sprinting to the door, trying to save his ass.

“This is pathetic. I wouldn’t run if I were you,” Ryker yells after him, shaking his head.

James sees his prey, locks onto him, and bounds after him. We chose to ignore the crunching sound that follows.

“Stay back!” Ames screams at Jax, seeing him advancing towards us.

“What are you going to do?” Jax’s eyes are more black than blue right now. I stare into them, mesmerized.

“I’ll do it,” he says.

“You have a panther directly behind you. If your hand even shakes, he will be on you before you stop. The vampire is just looking for a fight. Let’s not forget Kerian. He doesn’t look too happy with you. James is snacking on Scotty. He’s no help to you.” He laughs.

“Don’t forget about you, mate,” I say helpfully.

“Baby girl, I appreciate the reminder. I didn’t forget.” His burning gaze travels over me, taking stock of all the damage they did. “Everything that he did to you, I will do to him.”

“Maybe not all,” I interject. His head tilts in question. “He licked the blood off my face. Also, he touched my chest just a little. I doubt you would want to do that.”

“He did what?” His voice has a dangerous tone.

“Cindy! Do something!” Cindy stands frozen in fear in front of me, still staring at Ryker.

“She won’t help you. She’s not capable,” Jax scoffs.

“I just wanted a family. My own family. Maybe we can work something out. You can have Harmony and Cindy, too,” he offers desperately.

Jax throws back his head, laughing uproariously, his chest shaking. He looks humorously at James, who walks back in, licking his lips, naked, beautifully naked. “He offered us Cindy.” He shares. “We wouldn’t be with her before all of this, and now you think we would find appeal in that?” He waves his hand towards Cindy.

The snarl coming from Blue is the only answer he needs.

“This is truly entertaining, but I was promised some murder and mayhem.” Ryker gives me a wink and then takes one slow step forward with his eyes on Cindy. She panics, and suddenly a knife is in her hand. She lunges towards Jax, as he was distracted by Ames and comfortable in the idea she isn’t a threat. I growl menacingly. She wants to take my Alpha from me.

Just as her knife pierces his skin, I use all my strength, bring up my legs, wrap them around her neck and squeeze. I’m not thinking of anything but getting her away from my mate. I guess I should have been concerned about the knife at my neck, but the suddenness of the movement causes Ames to drop it. The snap of a bone is as loud as the screams that follow.

“Baby girl? Let go now. She’s gone. You did it.” Jax slides his hand around my waist, supporting me.

I look from him to Cindy, her head at an unnatural angle. I release my grip, and she falls limply to the ground. I don’t look away from her as Ryker tears the chains from my arms, and I land safely into Jax’s arms. I wished she would have run like Scotty. I feel sad for the little girl that went through so much, but I don’t regret protecting my mate.

“Baby girl, it’s over. I need you to go with James.” His words break my trance, finding his face close to mine.

“You came for me. You got the message?”

“James figured it out. We will always come for you,” he says softly.

“I almost had them. I could have escaped myself.”

He chuckles, “I know you would have. You did amazing.”

“But it’s nice to have someone to rescue me for once.” I lean in and kiss him with a sigh of relief.

“This is certainly touching, but you may want to stop Blue from eating the old man. Kerian looks like he needs some answers.” Ryker ruins the moment.

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