Page 33 of Corbin
Heart beating hard at the chance of being caught, she paused and took a good look up and down the rear access road to the shops. Over an hour after conventional lunchtime, all seemedquiet. Convinced she could get down without being spotted, she swung a leg over the short wall and descended the ladder.
She’d have to travel on foot to her secret warehouse, then the same way on to her apartment. Ivarson had not been happy when she told him she wished to walk home for some fresh air. He’d expect her to be home before dark.
If nothing slowed her up, it would still be a tight timeline.
She took in the wooded natural area on the other side of the road and jumped the last four feet to the ground. She’d barely entered the tree line when she sensed being watched. Pausing to take in the quiet back street, she saw no one near the dress shop delivery door.
She asked Pixie,Am I jumping at shadows, or do you sense anyone else out here?
Yes, you are tired, but I am not at ease with you being here alone.
Her wolf was never at ease about a lot of Eirene’s actions, but she was always ready to help. Stepping into the woods ten feet, she swung around to peer at the back street.
A delivery van drove by and continued past the restaurant.
That was it. Nothing else stirred.
Pixie said,If we are going to do this, sooner would be better than later.
Agreed, Eirene sent back, but she couldn’t risk anyone following her on this run.
Chapter 8
Parked next to a dumpster behind an empty shop space he’d noted had a For Lease sign, Corbin watched to his left where two cars sat at the back of the dress shop. He wanted to stay ready to roll and seriously doubted anyone would notice the front edge of his tire poking out.
Much farther down than he expected, Givenchy descended an old fire escape ladder attached to a building next to the shop she’d entered.
Givenchy looked around and raced across the road, stopping at the edge of a wooded area.
What had caused her to pause? He heard the engine sound of a sport bike rolling down the main road. Had she spotted him following her on a motorcycle?
She disappeared into the foliage.
Damn. He cranked his bike and raced close to where she’d entered the trees and parked quickly, shoving his stand down. Having strapped his helmet to the rear seat moments ago, he already had his hat and dark sunglasses on.
He entered the woods ten yards back this side of where she had gone in, then ran what he hoped was parallel to her path. Could she be meeting someone involved in eliminating her security?
Was that why she’d requested human guards only?
A sickening thought. He couldn’t align that image with the reserved girl he’d known in high school. Had she turned into an adult who was willing to harm—or kill—another person?
Then again, he’d never gotten the chance to learn much about her, had he?
He slowed, listening.
There. He caught the sound of her moving quickly, not seeming to worry about the noise she made, and smiled. He’d guessed correctly and was now in his area of expertise. Moving with purpose, he began tracking her, moving closer as he determined her direction. Small trees and thick undergrowth might slow her down, but this was easy terrain compared to places in which he’d had to hunt a target.
The moment he realized she’d turned in his direction, adrenaline gave him a surge of energy. So did the satisfaction of catching her. He raced ahead of her and made a move he hoped would intersect with her path.
Steps pounded closer and closer to the tree he hid behind.
He stepped out. She was closer than he’d anticipated.
They collided.
Her body went flying backward. He lunged to catch her arms to keep her from hitting the ground. Her feet slid out from under her—now beneath his legs spread apart.
Worried he’d knocked her for a loop, he asked, “Are you okay? I didn’t expect you to run into me.”
