Page 124 of Stealth Mission

I’m almost back to my assigned corner when a beam of light slices through the bathroom window startling me.

I duck, and dive toward the corner, my cheek pressing to the wet floor, my pulse flying as I clutch the stupid bottle of WonderLustLemon shampoo like it’s a weapon.

Someone’s moving around outside. The light is coming from the motion-detector activated floodlight on the corner of the house. The light Evan installed.

Breathe.

Impossible.

Get in the corner and wait. Evan’s coming back for me.

I scoot further into the darkness, but can’t resist the urge to move. To raise up on my knees because my imagination has convinced me that I might need to help him.

With my bottle of shampoo…

I tilt to the left, trying to see through the sheer curtain as I cup my ear.

Please be safe.

That’s when I hear pounding feet. Unmistakably men running.

But I can’t see anything.

An engine roars. Not a truck or car. The noise is high pitched and odd.

A chainsaw?

The door to the bathroom rattles. I slap my hand over my face to stop the scream in my throat.

Chapter Forty-Five

The door knob is cool beneath my sweat-damp palm. It’s locked.Good.She listened.

“Mari, it’s me.”

I sound like hell. Probably look like it too. I’m filthy, my feet are hamburger, and I’ve been sweating buckets.

A few seconds later the door rips open. A shampoo bottle bounces at my feet as Marianna launches herself into my arms. “Oh my god. Are you okay?”

Her hands fly all over me, like she’s kneading dough.

“Just angry.” I try to squelch her wiggling by pulling her tighter against me. “Babe, what are you doing? I think we might have to save a massage for later.”

“Checking you for holes.”

I grin. “None that I didn’t have earlier.”

After patting my bare chest and back down and looking at her hands she finally seems satisfied I’m not bleeding. “Whew. That’s better. I can breathe again.”

“I’m fine, sweetheart.” I jerk her to me and bury my nose against her neck. “Are you okay?”

“I wasn’t, but I am now that I know you’re safe.”

Ooof.

Talk about hitting me in the gut.

Damn.

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