Excerpt
The Ripper pursed his mouth in a pout, grotesque with all that blood around it.

"Both of you do me a grave dishonor. I have no intention of harming either of you, for the time being. As for the city, I enjoy our little game of bait and chase too much to leave. No, I believe I will draw out the sport a while longer."

Hatred flared at his insolence. Beth's trigger finger twitched. "How can I make this clear to you, Stephen, or whoever you are? I have the gun pointed right at your rotten, evil heart. All I have to do is fire."

Sam moved in front of her.

"I told you, get out of the way! This is a job for a trained professional." This is a job for Superman, her mind supplied.

"Not the time for lectures, sweetheart. Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"It isn't your place. I'll handle this."

The Ripper shook his head, making a clucking sound with his tongue. "Do not begin a lover's quarrel on my account. Let me solve your dilemma. I will simply take my leave."

Beth's eyes widened as the madman jumped straight up to land on the warehouse roof. No human had the strength to make a leap like that, to defy gravity to such an extent. Then what was the Ripper if he wasn't human?

Too late, she fired her gun at his retreating back. The Ripper disappeared, as if he'd gone up in smoke. She kept firing, the shots thundering in her ears, the acrid smell of gunpowder burning her nose, until the pistol was spent.

Sam reached out to take the gun from her hand, then pulled her into his arms, holding her, sharing his warmth.

She pushed out of his embrace. "Don't touch me. Damn it, you didn’t do what I said."