“It’s impossible. Your wolf—”

“Killed her?”

Wheeler patted Naya’s side and her panther growled. The sound was acoustic and deep, rattling the bones of anyone within ten feet.

Delgado backed up a step.

“Wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Wheeler said. “You know what’ll happen if you run from a predator, and don’t think your puny little door will hold her back. If you were smart, you’d have steel doors with guards inside and out. But you send in Beavis and Butt-head to clean up your mess?” Wheeler clucked his tongue. “Not the brightest marker in the box, are you?”

“You want your freedom? Fine,” Delgado began, trying to smooth out the nerves that were shaking up his voice. “I’ve made a substantial profit tonight. I offered Naya a chance to work with me, and she was foolish enough to screw me over. I hope you have more intelligence than a stripper. There’s enough money to go around if you choose to fight for me. I can set you up with your own room, your own bank account, and we can partner in on this.”

Wheeler kept his eyes on Delgado, savoring how easily a man could be broken without a whip or cage. Naya’s cat rubbed her head against his side and he stroked her face, feeling the length of her canines when his fingers grazed over her mouth.

Delgado’s breathing picked up when he looked down at the panther.

Wheeler cracked a smile. “Don’t worry, Delgado. It’s not her you need to worry about. I told someone a long time ago that I wanted to put you in the ground, and maybe it didn’t mean so much back then, but it sure as hell does now. You put my woman in a cage. No one makes my woman a slave,” he growled through clenched teeth. Wheeler glanced down at Naya, knowing her animal would only understand his tone. He pressed down on her nose. “Stay.”

Wheeler heard the footfalls when Delgado took off, so he ran after him and glanced one last time over his shoulder. “Stay!” he shouted, holding out his hand. The confused panther paced in a circle and growled at him.

He sprinted down the hall, bounded up a short flight of stairs, and flew into an opulent living room. The shocking change of scenery took him off guard for just a moment. The only remnants remaining from the party were empty glasses and ashtrays on the marble tables. The ceiling lifted so high that he could see the second floor, guarded by an ornate iron rail. The house looked more like a hotel with its crystal chandelier and expensive décor.

A shot fired and pain seared through Wheeler’s right shoulder. He stumbled, blood trickling down his chest and back.

Delgado stepped into sight on the opposite end of the room, standing in front of a giant window with the drapes closed. “You didn’t really think you’d walk out of here, did you?”

Wheeler glanced around. “You only have two guards? That’s real interesting.”