James did not intend to kill her. Not yet, anyway. He wanted her information, first. After he got that, he'd decide what to do with her.
For now, though, he was ready to fight her. A hard, fast kick to her stomach was all it took to get started. She was ready to fire upon him. He was not willing to get the guns out yet, but if he was going to fight her and incapacitate her, he needed to lure her back into the shadows.