Page 79 of Shielding Aubree

Ruben didn't have any idea what he was looking for, but once he saw it, there was no doubt what the SWAT officer had seen.

A mountain lion was creeping toward the car, the killer, and Aubree.

Ruben's faith was already tense and strained.

Putting a wild animal into the mix?

He closed his eyes and opened them back up again.

A mountain lion?

Aubree was convincedthat she was losing her mind.

Birds chirping in the cool hours of night.

She had no idea what kind of bird would be calling out at this time of day.

Or why they'd be doing it.

And she had no idea how she was going to get out of this danger.

Earlier in the day she'd been thinking of Ruben and spending time with him away from prying eyes.

Away from the constant waiting for an attack.

Now, she was on her back in the dust, her neck aching from this man's painful grip. And Ruben?

Where did he think she was?

What did he think she was doing?

She fought off the painful stab of panic at the idea that she might never see him again.

No, she didn't want panic.

She needed to stave it off.

The last thing she needed was to be locked down in full panic mode.

She had to keep her wits about her.

So she could go home.

Something moved in the darkness. There was still a hint of purple in the sky

"What are you looking at?"

Aubree didn't know if she could explain it, because she didn't understand it, not really.

A mountain lion.

Moving through the shadows on its way toward her.

Or rather, toward them.

Hoyt.

The sniper.

---