“Hello, Vanessa,” Tony stated softly, his voice sliding over her senses like a venomous serpent.
She froze, pure fear taking her hostage even as her brain screamed at her to run, to fight, to dosomething.
He looked the same as he had all those years ago. Tall and imposing, his hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks. He was dressed in a black suit, his persona of a nine-to-five business man firmly intact.
As he stepped through the door, his eyes locking onto Jasper, three men crowded into the teahouse behind him, each one muscular and intimidating, wearing similar black suits. Tony’s enforcers. Tattoos covered their hands and necks, their gang insignia proudly displayed at the center of their throats.
Tony flicked his attention away from Jasper, his cold, cruel gaze settling on her. Years of pain, anguish and heartache rose to the surface, threatening to destroy every ounce of strength she’d built up over the years since her escape. “Did you miss me, pet?”
“J-Jasper,” Nessa whispered fearfully. Her knees shook, the world around her swaying in and out of focus as panic enveloped her.
Tony had found her. After all this time, he’d finally tracked her down. He was going to kill her. Jasper, too, if she didn’t do something.
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
They needed to get the fuck out of here!
Nessa willed her legs to move, willed her mouth to open, desperate to scream at Jasper that they were seriously fucked. But no words escaped, only one small whimper of terror falling from her throat as black dots crossed her vision. She grabbed onto the edge of the counter for purchase, lightheaded.
Breathe! You’re stronger than this.
But she didn’t feel strong.One second in Tony’s presence and she was weak.
Useless.
“Who the hell are you?” Jasper barked, his muffin falling to the ground with a dull thud and rolling across the tiled floor. He squared his shoulders, placing himself directly in front of Nessa, cutting her off from the four extremely dangerous men blocking the nearest exit.
“Deal with that one,” Tony instructed, not even sparing Jasper another glance.
Nessa knew what that meant, and her body kicked into overdrive, her fight-or-flight instincts finally making an appearance. She couldn’t let them hurt Jasper. Couldn’t let them hurt either of them.
“Guns!” Nessa shouted, right as two of the enforcers reached for the weapons concealed beneath their jackets.
Jasper rushed forward, his fist flying right at Tony’s face. He struck the gang leader hard.
Tony bellowed in pain, reeling backward. He careened into one of his men, both of them toppling over into a heap of limbs.
“Kill him and take her!” Tony screamed to the others, his calm facade disappearing to reveal the angry, violent man she remembered all too well.
“Nessa, get out of here! Run!” Jasper bellowed, lunging at one of the armed men. He knocked the gun from his hand, kicking him hard in the chest. The enforcer flew back, hitting the front door. The glass cracked from the impact.
Spurred into action from the sound, she bolted, sprinting out from behind the counter and heading for her office.
Her gun was in her purse, just a room away. She could get there—
Three soft pops sounded behind her, followed by a pained, surprised groan. Dread hit her like a battering ram, taking the air from her lungs as she swung back around, terrified of what she’d discover.
Tony pushed furiously to his feet as Jasper stumbled backward, still facing their assailants. Jasper clutched his chest, and directly in front of him was one of Tony’s enforcers, his gun aimed right at the bear shifter.
Jasper dropped his hand limply to his side. Bright red stained his palm, more of it dripping from his fingertips to land on the tiles.
He’d been shot. Murphy’s brother, her friend, herfamily… He’d been—
No.
No!
Nessa whimpered in despair, her body shaking as he lunged toward the gunman, his steps uncoordinated. “Jasper!”
