“Got rid of it myself. Had it crushed. He said it was at my discretion, and having been around you, I knew you’d go looking for that piece of junk just out of some misplaced feminine crap independence.”

She was so going to kick him for that. Evangeline stomped out of the bedroom and down the hall toward the front door. Ted just stood there, his hand wrapped around the doorknob, a grin on his face.

“Don’ you pretend you didn’t get rid of my car just so I won’t kick you, because you did.” She’d heard the ring of truth in his voice.

“I’m with the boss on this one. That car wasn’t safe.” He opened the door. “We’ve got to get moving if you’re going to bake. The kid is meeting us there. He took his motorcycle.”

They all called Jeremiah “the kid.” Once Alonzo and Elijah were aware she knew Jeremiah was a shifter, he had moved into one of the small rooms over the garage. He liked being around Timur and Gorya, although she wasn’t certain why that was. Not when every time she turned around they were boxing with him and beating the crap out of him. Still, he was a male and a shifter, so maybe that was her answer.

Ted opened the door to the backseat and slid in beside her. Ralph opened the door on the other side. Max turned in his seat. “Ralph, would you check the garage? The boss doesn’t like it if it isn’t locked at all times and I was in such a hurry I think I forgot.”

“It’s that kind of morning,” Ralph said good-naturedly. He closed the door and turned away.

Afterward, she would never know exactly what it was, the scent of Emilio, a note in Max’s voice, or the quiet snick of the locks, but she flung herself at the driver just as he turned, gun in hand pointed right at Ted. He pulled the trigger as she hit him. The bullet tore through the back of the seat beside Ted’s head, burning his cheek as it flew past.

Evangeline was strong, using her leopard’s strength. Gunfire erupted outside the car and she caught a glimpse of Ralph sinking into a crouch, firing his weapon toward the double gates. She twisted the gun from Max’s hand and hit him on the side of his head very hard with the barrel. Max slumped down in the seat, blood pouring from his temple.

“I’m going to cover you, Evangeline,” Ted said grimly. He had his weapon out as well as his cell phone. “Get into the safe room and don’t come out until Alonzo gets back.” He punched in numbers and frowned as it went straight to voice mail. He texted frantically with one hand as he looked up at her. “Are you ready?”

“Ted,” she hedged.