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"Yeah, yeah I’ll be careful," Arel called, disappearing into the darkness

Niko moved to shut the door and reset the alarm, then headed to the back of the house to check the locks Stepping into the kitchen his instincts were on full alert

Dylan

The scent of her filled the air

On cue, the slender female still dressed in black stepped out of the pantry and offered hiht Arel would never leave"

"Dylan" He clenched his hands at his side His weapons were upstairs, but it didn’t matter He could kill as easily with his hands Or even a well-placed kick "How did you get past the security systeloith an eerie crimson heat as she strolled forward, one hand held behind her back

A hidden weapon?

That was the unpowder or theof a blade

He would no doubt find out soon enough, he conceded with an explosion of frustration

Goddammit

Why the hell couldn’t this female simply accept that she was raceful, strong, intensely intelligent and beautiful in an exotic fashion

Everythingthe property when dear Arel was kind enough to punch in the codes so I didn’t have to waste ti to sneak past the ca-tastic

"What about the alared "I set it off with a delayed explosion"

Ah Of course

"Clever, but a waste of your time," he said, his voice steady and his expression carefully devoid of his seething fury

She strolled forward, a s her lips "There’s no need for us to be enemies, Niko Give me the female and I’ll walk away No harela," he said fro to happen"

"Then I’ll take her"

He shifted,between the crazed bitch and the door

"It won’t do any good She can’t help you"

Bitterness flared in the crimson eyes "Oh, I think you would be surprised what people can accomplish when they’re desperate"

"So you’ve proven," he pointedly re up the sound of the shower being shut off overhead Oh Christ Don’t coela "You betrayed and murdered your own family And for what?"

"For a life beyond the prison walls"

His brows snapped together "Valhalla has never been a prison"

She hissed in anger "Not to you"

Niko shook his head He asting his breath Dylan had convinced herself that her life had been some sort of torture at Valhalla How else could she excuse the murder of those who’d offered her only kindness?

"And you believe if you can pass as a normal human your life will be filled with endless happiness?" he instead sneered

Her chin tilted, the slits of her flat nose flaring in anger

"Endless happiness? No But fleeting happiness? Maybe," she ground out, taking another step closer "Why shouldn’t I have the opportunity to fall in love? To have children"

He barely listened to her whining He could s he couldn’t identify

Which orrying the hell out of him

"If a man loves you he doesn’t care about your appearance," he said in absent tones

"Don’t insultyour scientist if she looked like a monster?"

Niko didn’t even have to consider "Her looks have nothing to do with aze "Believe what you want, Dylan, but be very clear on one thing"

"What’s that?"

"I’ll kill you if you lay a hand on Angela"

A slow smile of anticipation curled Dylan’s lips as he widened his stance and squared his shoulders