Page 118 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

“Time’s ticking.” It rolls off my tongue before I do something irrational. “Did you do what you had to do?”

He nods, glancing at the door, then back to me. “He’ll meet us in a day or two at the next step.”

My eyes open wide, my eyebrows shooting up as a creepy smile takes my lips, and I squeal in delight.

Kai’s smirk widens, a satisfied glint in his eye as he steps closer.

But Kai moves past me, opening the door a sliver to peek out. “All clear.”

I swallow hard, the weight of our predicament pressing down on my ribs. Being out in the open with Kai by my side twists my stomach.

Mistakes equals death.

“Five steps behind,” he whispers and lets me lead the walk out.

As I push the front door open to get out, a shadow slips off to the side of the building.

Shit.

Kai’s eyes narrow, and a cold pressure builds in my abdomen. Then, his gaze flicks to the top floor of the exterior parking lot, where my car is waiting for us. In the underground level.

He wants to drag the shadow out in the open.

Okay.

I nod to the side. We need to lose him. I hope this isn’t going to morph into a shootout.

We arrive at the top floor, five stories higher than our escape vehicle. But no shadows can hide here.

Thank you, summer sun.

Kai moves to a random car and dips his chin so that I can go to the stairs. I’m not sure I want to leave him alone. Sure as fuck, I don’t want to be alone against a Kwunaru bounty hunter. But I listen and stride to the stairs.

One step down, and my stomach prepares for a shit storm. Clings and dull footsteps bounce off the concrete walls.

My full cardiac system goes wild when I reach the third floor. An arm wraps around my waist, and a hard hand smacks my mouth shut.

A cedar scent hits my nose in time for me to recognize the black patterns on the man’s arm.

Kai.

He pulls into an alcove just as heavier footsteps resonate above us. My heart pounds louder. Kai halts abruptly, pushing me against thewall and pressing a finger to his lips. His hot and ragged breath fans across my face.

Someone is coming.

The rasp of shoes against cement, slow and menacing, rises from the stairwell above. Kai’s eyes flicker with calculation as he places himself between me and potential danger.

Protective. Deadly.

I grip his arm tighter, seeking reassurance in his solid presence. The footsteps grow louder, each a ticking bomb counting down to our discovery. Every muscle in Kai’s body is coiled and ready to unleash violence.

The rasp stops. Silence is deafening.

Kai inches forward, peering through the gap. His expression shifts from tense focus to something darker, more frightening. I see it in his eyes—a lethal edge that promises retribution.

He pushes me back to the deep end of the alcove. “Stay here,” he whispers.

Before I can respond, he slides out of the alcove, leaving me alone in the dark. My palms are slick with fear as I clutch my bag tightly to my chest, trying to ignore the pounding in my ears.

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