Page 95 of The Stalker Snafu

The binoculars fell to the ground, and my feet moved before my brain could catch up. I sprinted toward the back door like a bat out of hell. It wasn’t a huge backyard, but I still had some ground to cover until I could reach the porch.

“What the hell⁠—?”

Ten yards away.

I flew across the grass.

Five.

My eyes narrowed on the sliding door.

Three.

I glanced up at the window—Noah still focused on his book.

A meteor hit me from behind, knocking the wind out of me as we hit the ground hard and kept going. We rolled twice before my attacker flipped me over and pinned me to the grass by my wrists. The weight of a boulder settled on top of me. Everything hurt, and it took my lungs a beat to remember how to breathe.

Dark brown eyes glared down at me as I waited for the world to stop spinning.

“Are you trying to screw this up for us?” Rafe made a noise scarily similar to a growl. His eyes burned, and the heat of his fury radiated off him. His grip dug into my wrists, pulling a stifled yelp from me. “Or does it just come naturally to you?”

“I’m sorry,” I spat between angry breaths, but it didn’t sound very sincere. “I know I promised, but I feel like I’m about to explode. I’ve been worried sick about that idiot, and he’s reading a freaking book? Are you kidding me?”

I could practically feel the steam coming out of my ears, and I was ready to spit fire as I bucked against Rafe’s broad chest to get him off me. But his body was solid muscle, and he didn’t budge.

“Get off me,” I said with my own attempt at a growl, fighting to wiggle free. His eyes only narrowed.

“You’re not getting in that house, kitten. We can’t be seen here.”

“Do you hear yourself right now? It’s not like your little cartel buddies are around the corner⁠—”

“Shut. Up.”

My mouth snapped closed at the bite in his tone, but the storm brewing in his eyes only darkened.

“Rafe,” Adrian barked, breaking the glaring contest between me and the brute pinning me down. I glanced up long enough to see Adrian focusing over his shoulder. He pointed at the gate before turning back to us with a grave expression. A car door slammed on the other side of the fence just as Rafe’s weight lifted off me.

My anger popped like a balloon, quickly replaced by shame.

We weren’t alone anymore.

CHAPTER 37

A Shed

“Someone’s here?” I asked softly, wondering what could’ve spooked a big guy like Adrian so easily. I’d just been joking about the cartel being nearby.

“Come on. Hurry,” Rafe said through a clenched jaw before hauling me up. He ran toward the bushes, and I did my best to keep up, but he dragged me most of the way. We followed Adrian to the shed, where he tried the door.

“Locked,” Adrian whispered. Another car door slammed, and voices approached the gate. “Shit. We need to hide.”

Okay. This wasn’t good. My heartbeat jumped into a gallop, and I rubbed my chest.

“Over here,” Rafe said just as quietly. He pulled me behind him into the narrow gap between the side of the shed and the privacy fence.

Rafe barely fit and was standing mostly sideways. I easily fit after him, with Adrian squeezing in just behind me.

“Stop pulling me,” I bit out when Rafe yanked me further back. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wrenched my arm out of its socket.