I go down hard, bringing him with me.
An elbow plows into my solar plexus as he scrambles up.
Double fuck.
I’m losing precious seconds as I force pained air back into my lungs and roll. He’s leaping over me now, sprinting into the house.
I’m back up before my body’s ready, but there’s no time to adjust. Just a mad flight after him up multiple flights of stairs.
He’s heading for the second-floor balcony.
The door snaps open so hard the glass shakes.
Then he’s pounding down the stairs to the garden, looking for his escape.
So the asshole’s not willing to stand his ground and fight. I wonder if it’s the Hera Egg he’s after at all, except no pettyjewelry thief should be that good at sniffing at perimeter security or throwing me to the floor.
I pelt after him, a ground-eating run, shooting down the hall and passing a very confused Cleo emerging from her room.
Predictably, she screams bloody murder.
I’m lucky she didn’t walk out a second or two earlier, or she’d have barreled into the invader.
I barely register her, hoping she knows to stay put. I can’t bother with that, not until the house is secure and this fuck goes into custody.
There’s no way around trusting Cleo Blackthorn. It’s up to her to console Kit, too, if the commotion wakes her up.
Fuck, I should’ve given her a quick self-defense talk, a practice round or two, never mind how muchcontactthat would’ve meant for us.
On the other hand, there never should’ve been a need for that.
Knowing this ninja got past my frontline defenses has me panicked and sick.
The plan to protect her, to protect this house, wasn’t supposed to have these vulnerabilities.
And as I plow outside, stumbling back a foot every time I’m almost close enough to grab him, I’m grossly aware that I’m leaving them alone in the house.
If there’s someone else—
No, none of the sensors went off. I’m certain. Whoever entered the property went straight for the basement first, almost like theyknew.
They never made it to the other floors, short of Speedy Goonfuckass bolting off like a startled rabbit.
It’s early dawn now, thick grey mist blowing in from the ocean.
The intruder pulls ahead, just a broad shadow, flanking a second man who leaps out of the hedges.
Two of them.
Goddammit, there aretwo—and they’re moving rapidly.
My knees pick the perfect time to mutiny.
Not the usual ache.
A sharp, blindingcrunch, pain ripping up so hot and sudden it’s almost blinding.
Fuck me.
