“Damn it,” Angus muttered, his head hanging and his eyelids closing. He inhaled and then slowly exhaled, the muscles in his arms vibrating. Finally he looked up and nodded. “All right. But don’t really die on me.” Without warning, he flipped her around and lifted her by the neck with his hands, turning to face Lassiter. The metal of the cuffs dug into her skin. “Henry? I don’t think the game is going to end the way you think it will.”

Lassiter paused in sharpening a knife. He turned his head and his eyes blazed blue. “What are you doing?” He tossed the knife on the table and strode toward them, tripping in his haste, but quickly regaining his balance.

“She’s mine,” Angus said, tightening his grip.

Nari panicked and grabbed at his hands. Her legs hung free so she could kick back, but she forced herself to dangle.

Lassiter smiled. “You wouldn’t kill her. Give me a break.”

Angus tightened his hold even more, and Nari coughed, her breath cut off. She struggled, her legs slipping uselessly against his.

“No,” her mom cried, grabbing at Angus’s arm.

Angus dropped Nari and she landed on her feet, wobbling. He roared out and swung, hitting her mom in the face with an elbow. Her mom crashed into the bars and went down.

Nari turned toward her, and Angus grabbed her again, lifting her up easily. God, he was strong. Tears flowed down her face; she couldn’t see her mom.

Lassiter laughed, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. He wrung his hands. “You won’t kill her.”

“She’s mine,” Angus growled, his voice feral. “I won’t let you touch her. Hurt her. No. If she’s going to die, it’s going to be on my terms.” He shook her, his grip unbreakable. She clawed his hands, and darkness edged in from the outskirts of her vision.

“No!” Lassiter cried, running past the chairs for one of the Tasers. He rushed forward and pushed the button.

Nari’s mom jumped up, right in front of them, and took the shock from the Taser. She screamed and her body convulsed. Then she fell.

“Mom,” Nari whispered, beginning to lose consciousness.

Lassiter howled and fumbled with the lock, opening the door and rushing in headlong, spittle flying from his mouth. Angus dropped Nari to her feet and kicked Lassiter in his bad leg. The man hissed and flew sideways. Grunting, Angus rushed him and manacled him in a headlock.

Lassiter punched Angus in the eye and flipped backward.

Nari wobbled, trying to get breath back into her lungs. Unconsciousness still lingered right at the edges, and she had to suck in air to stay on her feet. Her ears rang, and tears still poured down her face.