"No fucking way," Ace said. "You are out of your God damn mind, girly!"
Jill stood in the Larsen's living room, the setting sun shining through the glass windows and doors. Dereck had left the day before, and she knew she had to act fast if she was going to put her plan into action.
"You said it was a good idea not ten seconds ago."
"It is, but your boyfriend would wear my balls as a necklace if I helped you."
Jill crossed her arms over her chest. "I didn't take you as a coward."
"You can't use reverse psychology on me, sweetheart. Besides, I like to think of me not taking you into the woods to be stalked by a serial killer as self-preservation. I make my living doing jobs for supernatural creatures. Word gets around that I've pissed off a whole group of them, my livelihood goes out the window. Something has to keep me in brews and babes."
Jill rolled her eyes. "This animal shot Dereck. He's skinned a dozen or more shifters alive. Wouldn't taking him down also boost business?"
"You got me there," he deadpanned.
"Come on, Ace. We draw this guy out and talk to him. You've got my back, right? We'll be fine." She placed her hands on the table and leaned forward. "If it helps, I'll tell Dereck I went off on my own and you tried to stop me."
After a moment's hesitation, Ace stood up. "Let me grab my bag."
"Don't you have a gun?"
"In my bag."
"What's else is inside?"
He stopped at the base of the stairs. "First rule of working with me, babe. Never ask about the bag."
Jill scoffed. "You think you're so cool."
Ace slid two fingers across the brim of his hat. "Oh, I don't think it. I know it."
He disappeared up the stairs.
"Cheeseball."
Jill set her phone on the table since she wanted to keep her hands free in case she needed to shift. She wore her running shoes; black work out pants and purple tie-dye tank top. She'd tossed her hair up in a messy bun, as though she really was just heading out for a jog.
Ace was right about Dereck. He would want Ace's balls if he knew she'd convinced him to let her be bait, but Jill wasn't willing to sit on the sidelines when people she loved could be hurt.
Ace's feet pounded on the stairs as he came back down, an army green duffle slung over his shoulder.
"You ready?"
Jill ran in place for several seconds. "Ready."
"Don't get too far ahead, alright? I'll stay downwind."
"You got it."
"I mean it, Lone Ranger. If you're cocky, you end up dead."
Jill didn't want to admit that for all her bravado, she was terrified.
She took a deep breath, hopping from foot to foot. Then, she opened the back door and took off into the woods. The steady drum of her feet on the snow sounded like the backbeat of a song. The cold wind whipped against her face as she weaved around the trees. She passed by the place Dereck had been shot and kept moving. Pushing the memories of the man she loved helpless and bleeding on the ground.
Jill stumbled a bit when she realized what she'd thought. The man she loved. She loved Dereck.
Which made what she was doing all the more important.
Then she smelled the bear. The musky aroma of the shifter.
Come and get me, bastard.
A shot rang out behind her and she tripped over a root, falling flat on her face in the snow. She groaned as she pushed herself up, rubbing her nose. She checked her body for holes and blood, but there was nothing.
The hunter had aimed at something else.
Oh no.
"Ace!" she screamed. She climbed to her feet and raced through the woods, ignoring the pain in her foot. Jill found him, his duffle on the ground next to him. He lay sprawled on his back, his stomach a mess of gore and guts.
"Fuck, my new shirt," he said.
Jill placed his arm up on her shoulder. "I'll get you out of here, just hang on."
"No worries, sweetheart, it's only a flesh wound." He dropped his arm from around her and lifted his tattered shirt to show her his wound. "Perks of being unholy demon spawn. Not much can kill me"
To her surprise, Ace's stomach was already piecing back together. Much faster than shifter healing time.
"We need to get out of here."
Ace's gaze landed on something behind her and besides a flick of apprehension across his pale eyes, he showed no emotion.
"Run," he hissed.
Two seconds. That was how long it took for his words to sink in.
But it was too late. A hand came around with a cloth to her face, and a strong arm lifted her by the waist straight up into the air. She screamed against the rough fabric, breathing in something harsh. Jill saw Ace struggle to climb to his feet, but a booted foot kicked him in the face.
Jill's arms and legs went limp before her eyes closed and she sank into nothingness.