As they set out to move, the rogue leader—who Avery had mentally dubbed the "Rogue Lord"—made a decision that filled her with a fresh wave of anxiety.
"Hold on," he commanded, raising a hand to halt their progress. He eyed Avery's mates with a mixture of suspicion and cunning. "The girl stays with me. Just in case you four get any ideas."
Shane, Sean Cruz, and Romeo exchanged tense glances, their protective instincts flaring. Shane took a step forward, his muscles tensed. "You can't separate us. If you want our help, we need to stay together."
The Rogue Lord sneered, clearly enjoying the tension. "That's where you're wrong. I don’t need all of you together. In fact, I think you’ll behave much better knowing your precious lady is within arm's reach of me." He grabbed Avery's arm roughl
