But what?
Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.
Run!
Except where could she run?
She was parked in the driveway.
The person at the front door was closer to her car than she was right now. Even if she ran out the back and to her car, they’d be closer to the driver’s side. And they’d easily be able to get her license plate, if they hadn’t already.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
She was going to have to face them. Whoever they were.
The sound of the key turning felt like it was taking forever.
The truth. She was just going to have to face whoever was on the other side of the door and tell the truth and hope they didn’t call the cops. Maybe whoever it was would know Grace.
Fuck, she hoped they knew Grace.
It felt like her entire world was sinking into her stomach as she clutched the food bin to her middle, standing in the kitchen and staring at the front door. Waiting for the final sound of the key turning. It felt like a rock had been chucked into her stomach when it finally did.
The door creaked as it opened, and Yasmine’s mouth went dry with fear. There was a huge, hulking figure standing in Sarah’s doorway, backlit by the sun. Bald head, broad shoulders, very tall… a man. She couldn’t see his features at all.
Danger! Get out, you dumbass!
Except it really was too late to run.
The man stepped inside, and she was finally able to make out his frowning face as he stared at her in confusion. Bald and muscular, he filled out his jeans and white tank top very nicely. Despite the lack of hair on the top of his head, he had a neatly trimmed dark brown beard and mustache that emphasized his jawline. Two black leather cuffs wrapped around his wrists, which did not match the brown leather belt threaded through the loops of his jeans, and he wore a silver earring dangling from his left ear.
All in all, he looked dangerous. And stern.
“Hi!” Yasmine squeaked out the word before he could say anything. Please don’t murder me. Please don’t call the cops. “I’m Yasmine. I’m a friend of Grace who is a really good friend of Sarah’s.”
The man stared at her for a long moment, his head tilting to the side as he studied her. A rush of awareness went through Yasmine at the way he was looking at her.
It has seriously been too long since I got laid if this stranger-danger guy just looking at me is making me tingle.
Yes, he was hot. That didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. Even if the air between them was zinging with attraction.
“Hello, Yas.” His voice was a deep rumble.
Even though Yasmine never let anyone shorten her name, somehow, she didn’t mind that he did. Even though she definitely should. Maybe it was the fear talking. He could call her Yas as long as he wasn’t about to murder her and bury her in Sarah’s backyard.
“I’m Sarah’s next-door neighbor, Zeus.”
Chapter 5
Earlier That Morning
Zeus
Jogging along the street, Zeus slowed when his dog, Tiger, pulled on the leash. Some people thought it was odd to have a dog named Tiger, but with his burnt-orange coat and black brindle stripes, he did vaguely resemble one. Plus, when Zeus had gotten him from the shelter, that had been his name, and he answered to it. Zeus hadn’t seen the point in changing a name the dog was already used to. Enough about Tiger’s life had already changed.
He’d gone from living with a family who had loved and trained him to ending up on the street to Zeus’ house. At least, Zeus supposed Tiger had been with a family who had loved and trained him because he was well-trained, and he showed all the signs of a dog who had been a pampered family pet. Sometimes, Zeus wondered what had happened to change his circumstances. He wished he could tell whoever had trained the dog that he was still loved and well cared for.
They were almost home, but Tiger liked to walk the last block and sniff at his usual places. On his own, Zeus would have done a light jog home, but walking was fine when Tiger got in this mood. Weighing in at about fifty pounds, Tiger was made up of a lot of lean muscle. Zeus could force the issue, but he preferred not to if it wasn’t necessary.
