AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The lights were attached to a delivery truck similar to the one I’d tampered with a few nights ago. That one was still sitting hood-up right where I left it, but this new vehicle seemed to be in fine working order.
At least, for now.
When the truck stopped in front of the building, the garage-style door to the shipping area whirred upward. A few scruffy young men emerged from inside and heaved open the back of the truck.
One of them hopped up inside and began to hand boxes down to the others, who hauled the cargo into the shadows inside. I couldn’t make out any details on the sides that revealed what the boxes might contain.
I’d messed with the goons’ vehicles. Maybe next time I’d need to target their merch.
If I could figure out a way to get to it without getting myself caught in the process.
I lowered the binoculars with a frown, debating my next steps. Then a hand dropped onto my shoulder so unexpectedly that a squeak burst from my lips as I jerked away.
As I spun around in a defensive stance, I found Rafael glowering at me, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What are you doing out here?” he demanded, pitching his voice low.
Shit. I could have sworn he’d been fast asleep when I’d snuck out. How had he found me?
I knew better than to ask. He wouldn’t want to give away his secrets and make it easier for me to sneak off on him again.
Instead, I glowered right back at him, rubbing the rings I’d been tempted to drive into his face before I’d seen who he was. My voice came out hushed but harsh with irritation.
“What the fuck areyoudoing, other than trying to give me a heart attack? You’re lucky I didn’t brain you with the binoculars. If I’d wanted you to come along, I’d have invited you.”
“You’d have to try awfully hard to get in a decent blow with those things,” Rafael said without a hint of concern or amusement. “And in case you’ve forgotten, myjobis being wherever you are, making sure you don’t get yourself into even more trouble than necessary.”
“And here I thought I got to make the decisions about what’s necessary in my own life, not you.”
Rafael’s jaw tightened. “You know what I mean. Why the hell are you taking off on your own in the middle of the night—without even telling me?”
“Why should I have to tell you?” I retorted, my temper rising at his insistent tone. “I’m the most dangerous thing in this town other than you. If I want to go out for a late-night strollon my own, you have nothing to worry about.”
Rafael snorted. “You’re obviously not out here just to stroll.”
“How’s it your business either way? Is it so horrible that I want to do one or two things without you hovering over me?”
His voice took on a growling note. “It is when those things involve messing with a gang of idiots you can’t be sure won’t shoot you by accident if not purposefully.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve dealt with plenty of men with guns before.”
“But you don’t need to be dealing with these ones. Come on, let’s go home. You need to get some sleep.”
He turned toward the ladder that had given us access to the roof, like he assumed I’d just go along with him.
My pent-up frustration boiled over. I planted my feet firmly on the concrete surface. “Don’t tell me what I need to be doing, Rafael.”
My bodyguard’s head jerked around, his eyes flaring for just an instant before settling into a darker smolder. “Someoneneeds to tell you, because you’re not doing the best job of taking care of yourself.”
My teeth set on edge. “You’re not my mother, thank the Lord, so you sure as hell don’t need to start acting like you are.”
Rafael grimaced. “That’s not—just tell me what you’re up to. What’s so important about these pricks that now you’re spying on them at three in the morning?”
I balked automatically at admitting the full truth. Imagine how much more overprotective the man in front of me would get if he found out how the gangsters had started harassing me directly.
“All you need to know is that it’s important to me,” I said. “And I’ve been handling it just fine on my own, or it wouldn’t have taken you this long to notice.”
Rafael’s eyes narrowed. “This long? Whatelsehave you been up to that you haven’t told me about?”
