He also finally understood.
Why his brilliant little sister had trusted this woman enough to make her the key operative aboard this nightmare of a ship.
The Panacea's combat capabilities...
Were terrifyingly far beyond what he had originally assumed.
Jerrick stared at her pale, stunning profile.
An unbidden image of Serena, his sister, flashed through his mind.
The brazen defiance. The reckless arrogance.
That lazy, careless exterior that perfectly masked a mastermind pulling every single string...
They were incredibly similar.
So similar that an inexplicable, deeply rooted sense of familiarity washed over him once again.
Noticing Jerrick intensely staring at Serena without saying a word, Jasper's eyes narrowed sharply behind his mask.
He flexed his tingly wrist and let out a sarcastic tsk. "Well now, Mr. Fenris. Cat got your tongue? Or are you just completely dumbstruck by the lady's skills?"
Jerrick dragged a frigid, intensely oppressive glare over to him.
But Jasper wasn't remotely intimidated.
He just chuckled lightly, scanning Jerrick from head to toe with pure judgment. "I mean, look at him. He's got 'anger management issues' written all over his face." "You've really got to be careful teaming up with a brute like this. What happens when you disagree on a plan and he throws a tantrum?"
He paused, intentionally dropping his gaze to the needle still stuck in Jerrick's arm.
The smirk in his voice thickened. "Oh, wait, I almost forgot. He can't even land a hit on you. No wonder he's relegated to playing a glorified mall cop on this ship."
Jerrick gritted his teeth.
A vicious, murderous aura began to radiate off his massive frame.
This masked punk was practically begging for a beatdown.
If they weren't in the middle of a high-stakes extraction, he would have instant slammed this
loudmouth into the steel deck and wiped the floor with his face.
Completely ignoring the very real death glare directed at him, Jasper leaned lazily against a nearby crate. He tilted his head at Serena with a charming, persuasive smile. Unlike this glowering meathead, actually brought something useful to the table."
His voice dropped to a coaxing purr. "If you're looking for a competent partner, you should seriously consider me."
"Why settle for a brooding bodyguard with zero interpersonal skills?"
He spoke with total arrogance, stepping even closer to her into her personal space.
"My skill set easily matches his."
"I'm vastly more pleasant to be around."
"And most importantly..."
He bent down slightly, bringing his silver mask mere inches from here face His voice dripped with velvet. seduction: "I take orders very well."
Jerrick's eyes turned into absolute ice.
His fists clenched so tightly at his sides his knuckles popped.
If Serena wasn't standing right there.
He would have snapped this smooth-talking bastard's spine.
Jasper definitely felt the lethal intent pouring off the larger man.
Instead of backing off, he shot Jerrick a wildly provocative look. "What's wrong, Fenris? Afraid I'm going to steal your spot?"
"Or just terrified she's going to realize I'm a massive upgrade?"