Page 30 of Devil's Tulip

“You need to pull yourself together, Gianna Cabello. You can’t go crushing on the first hot guy who’s nice to you.”

I’ve barely made it a few feet from the house when something cold and wet lands on my nose. I frown, tilting my head up?—

And the sky opens up.

Heavy, icy rain drenches me in seconds.

“Of course. It has to fucking rain again tonight.”

Fuck Seattle.

As if the universe itself wants to rub salt in the wound, a flash of lightning slashes across the sky?—

And strikes the ground right in front of me.

I let out a choked scream, my body jolting backwards as thunder roars, swallowing the sound.

My heart skitters, and for one brief, humiliating second, I consider just turning around and running back inside like a coward. Maybe Michael hasn’t noticed I’m gone. I could just slip back in, pretend this never happened.

The thought tempts me.

Hard.

But I banish it and press on through the downpour, the rain soaking into my clothes, my fingers already numb. I swipe at the water dripping into my eyes, blinking furiously to keep my vision clear.

One foot in front of the other. I don’t stop.

I won’t stop.

Then, finally—the gates. I pick up my pace, hope swelling now that I can taste freedom—only for it to crash right back down when I get a good look at them. These aren’t like the moretraditional ones at my uncle’s compound. No keypad. No manual lock. Just an impenetrable metal with a built-in scanner. No getting through unless I’ve got a registered face or fingerprints.

“Fucking Michael,” I grumble under my breath. Who the hell needs this much protection? It’s a house, not a goddamn government facility.

Fuck, what do I do now?

I bite my lip, glancing at the ridiculously tall fence that stretches endlessly in either direction. Can I scale it? I doubt it. But I start walking towards it anyway, determined to at least try.

“Don’t even think about it.”

I scream. Not a little yelp—a full-body, heart-in-my-throat scream. I spin around so fast I nearly slip on the wet ground.

Michael is standing there in a black trench coat that billows in the wind, water streaming off his frame.He looks like an avenging angel.

Even in the dark night, and heavy rain, he’s still handsome as sin, damn him. I glare at him to hide how he affects me. “Must you always sneak up on me? Do you get off on startling people?”

He ignores my indignation, his gaze flicking to the fence. “It’s electrified. You touch it, and you’ll get the shock of your life. Literally.” His lips quirk, arms crossing over his chest. “But if you don’t believe me, go ahead and try. It’d be entertaining to watch.”

I believe him.

“I knew it was too easy,” I mutter, dragging a hand down my soaked face. I start towards him, frustration burning hot in my chest. But somewhere inside me—not quite as deep as I’d like—there’s a stupid little thrill.

He came to find me. He cared enough to stop me before I fried myself on his fence.

Shit.Stop it.I shouldn’t give a fuck about him or what he thinks about me.

When I reach him, I slam my shoulder angrily into his chest—not that it does anything. He doesn’t even budge. I glare up at him just as lightning splits the sky, the flash illuminating his electric blue eyes. My heart jumps for a completely different reason this time as I now stare, mesmerized.

My lips part, and his gaze drops to them, sending my heart into overdrive when those blue eyes darken, vivid with desire. He licks his lips, his head tilting the slightest bit towards me.

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