Page 104 of Beguiled

I’d learned from the mugging of a year before that in trying to survive, sight and sound were usually muddled, which was the case. It seemed as if time was flying by when in fact, my guess was that only a few seconds passed.

I pressed my face to the door, fighting terror and anger, both emotions threatening to consume what was left of my rational mind. Just when I was certain the asshole was standing right behind me with a weapon pointed at my head, the door was flung open.

“Stash!”

CHAPTER 23

Stash

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

My reaction to the beautiful woman close to hysteria and falling into my arms was done out of training.

I fired off several shots, immediately pulling back into the shadows with her protected behind me.

Who would dare attack her?

An instant sweep of possessiveness erupted along with weeks of intense training. Without thinking, I dragged her against the wall inside my house, shielding her body with mine, and sprayed several bullets from one side of my yard to another.

I saw movement and fired off three additional shots.

The asshole used the layout of my property as an advantage, hiding behind the thick layer of trees surrounding my house.

While my security system had sent an alarm to my phone, if I’d been in bed, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to react so quickly. That had likely saved her life.

Certainly not something I was interested in sharing. At least right now.

Questions rushed through the back of my mind, but all that mattered was hunting and killing the fucker.

“Stay down,” I hissed, backing away just as the perpetrator fired several shots.

I did the same.

Pop! Pop!

My aim was off because of my need to protect Saige.

Whoever the assailant was, he backed into the shadows, getting away. Damn it. Did the fucker honestly believe he could kill someone in this neighborhood, even using the cloak of darkness?

Was it possible he had no clue who owned property here?

Her soft whimpers brought me back inside the house to the woman in my hold, clinging to me while shaking violently.

“Are you okay?” I hovered in the darkness, keeping her protected while using the outside light to search for any injuries. She appeared unharmed, just terrified.

“I’m fine. He followed me.”

At this point, particulars didn’t matter. I had no intention of allowing him to walk away.

My security system was such that even before she reached the driveway, I’d known someone had been approaching on foot, doing so quickly. That had allowed me to grab my weapon and head to the door. Hearing her voice wasn’t the only reason I’d thrown it open.

“I’m going to hunt him down. You need to stay here.” I pulled the door in front of us, the unusually thick slab of exotic wood providing limited protection. But if the asshole wanted to kill her, he’d need to go through me first.

“No!” she moaned. “Don’t go. He’s out there. He chased me. He killed her. I know he was the one who killed her.”

“Whoa. Hold on. Killed who? Who are you talking about?” I realized I was shaking her. She was in a full panic whether she realized it or not.

Saige tugged on my sleeve. “He’s not finished. He saw me.”