Page 40 of Twin Deception

“Dammit.” I shuffled to the side toward the stairwell and stampeded down the steps.

First, that fight with the man in the alley.

Now, this stupid stubbed toe that had no right to hurt even worse than the lucky punches that man had gotten in on me before I killed him.

Down and down I went, cringing and wanting to roar at Isabel for daring to take off again.

What if someone else was after her?

What if she ran further and gave me hell about facing me again?

What if?—

I shut those thoughts off as I slammed to a stop on the first floor. Punching open the door, I ran out and scanned the scene. The revolving door at the entrance was already locked for the night. Next to the sliding glass door, the valet man yawned.

Not that way.

I pivoted and sprinted out the rear doors that led to the beach.

Brilliant streaks of lightning crashed down in thick bolts of white over the ocean. Thunder boomed, rolling from one to the next as the storm passed over. The rain had slowed to a steady sheet, but now, it was back and forth, sprinkling then raining harderin bursts. Palm fronds blew to and fro with the increase of wind, but I wouldn’t let any of that stop me.

It didn’t stop Isabel, either.

With the next burst of light streaking down from the clouds, her red dress was lit up just enough for me to make out the shape of her sprinting over the beach. Her long, black hair streamed behind her as she pumped her arms. Barefoot and desperate, she ran and ran.

Found you.I gritted my teeth, charging after her.

I told her that I’d find her. I warned her. She had plenty of clues about what would happen.

But as I got closer, she looked over her shoulder, and the sight of her face tricked me.

She didn’t look panicked, but rather, determined. Her eyes narrowed not in fright of being chased, but in something that almost looked like excitement.

Damn if she wasn’tenjoyingthis… if she wasn’t riled up by the challenge of me chasing her down…

You’re playing a dangerous game, sweetheart.

I dug in my feet, running harder to close in on her. The tips of her hair flew almost within my reach. Her elbows shot back with her stride. Sand kicked up from the pushes of her bare feet over the beach.

She… was… right… there.

Racing on adrenaline and keeping a tight rein on both my anger and desire for her, I picked up my feet just a little faster, and with one more lunge forward, I had her.

She cried out as I gripped her upper arm, hauling her to the side and breaking her stride. As she toppled over, I did too, but it wasn’t clear who went where as we fell to the sand. I grabbed her fully, hugging her to me as I rolled, taking the brunt of the drop. She slammed her hands out, thrusting her arms to either shove me back or break the fall to the sand.

It didn’t matter.

I had her.

I had this feisty, stubborn woman in my arms and I wasn’t letting her go.

“Miguel!”

Oh, don’t start.Tossing my name out like that… She was only making me burn hotter for her. That sassy, Latina voice full of indignation. She’d push and I’d pull. We’d already made it clear that was how we worked together, clashing and colliding.

On the final rotation of our roll in the sand, I secured her beneath me, trapping her to the sand. Pushing her down hard, I glared at her as she wheezed and caught her breath.

“I told you.” I shook my head as she bucked up, trying futilely to get free again.

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