Page 2 of Romeo

He mutters an obscene remark that I can’t even focus on as I turn to make a mad dash to the closest exit—a window my grandfather left open after I’d come in and insisted he air out his office tonight.

The killer tackles me to the floor, and my head hits the corner of a table on my way down.Pain radiates through the side of my head as warmth trickles down.I’m nearly blinded as blood slides down over my eye, but I turn and slam my foot into his face.

He releases me again, and I waste no time as I rush toward the window and climb out onto the ledge.After wiping my hand over my eye, I slide further onto the ledge and take careful half-steps to put myself out of reach of the window.I just need to buy enough time to find a safe place to fall?—

The attacker is leaning out the window, the gun he used on my grandfather in his hand.

Without much choice, I leap from the balcony.

A bullet whizzes past me.

I hit the top of my grandfather’s car with a heavy thud then roll off.

“I will find you!”the stranger bellows.“You can’t hide from me!”

Adrenaline in my system is my only saving grace as I sprint toward the estate’s sprawling gardens, even as every inch of my body aches from the impact.

The security building at the gated entrance.I just need to make it—another bullet whizzes past me.

Tears burning in my eyes, I have to keep wiping them—and the blood—away from my face so I can see.I know these grounds better than anyone.Most of my childhood was spent playing hide-and-seek with my grandfather.

Which means—I veer to the right into a group of trees.

Breathing frantically, I find the space that has been my victory spot since I was seven years old.And if my grandfather couldn’t find me, then maybe—just maybe—it will be my salvation.

Doing what I can to avoid leaving a blood trail, I drop to my knees and slide into a large tunnel that leads up into the trunk of an old tree.Then, just as I did when I was a kid, though with a lot less space than I had then, I reach through and pull a bunch of old leaves toward the hole so it doesn’t look disturbed.

And then, with the horrific image of my dead grandfather on the floor and the echo of heavy boot steps just outside, I stay quiet.

Quiet as the dead.

Otherwise, I’ll be joining them.

Chapter2

Riley

“Oh, Romeo, Romeo, where are you, Romeo?”I grin as I jump around the trunk of a large tree.“There you a—” But my service dog is not there.“Hmm.Getting better at hide-and-seek, are we?”I ask, tone amused.

How else am I supposed to spend a Tuesday morning than playing hide-and-seek with my best pal?

A low bark signals that I’m not even close, so I turn and run through the trees.After jumping over a fallen branch, I leap down the embankment toward a low spot in the creek.

Romeo barks happily, his fluffy tail wagging back and forth in absolute delight.“Hah!You shouldn’t have given yourself away!”

He lunges forward, and I let myself fall back to give him the victory.Both paws planted on my chest, he stares down at me happily, his long tongue hanging out of his mouth.

“You’re the best boy, Romeo.Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”The German shepherd has been with me for the last five years.Each of my four brothers has his own dog as well.While our dogs are from two separate litters, they do share the same dad, who gave them all the same long fur and sharp ears.

The shrill sound of my ringtone cuts through the silence, and Romeo steps back and sits, going into what I like to call “alert mode.”After checking the screen and seeing my oldest brother Bradyn’s name on it, I answer, “What can I do for you, big brother?”

“Are you at home?”

“Nah.Romeo and I are out for some partner bonding time.”I rub his head as I get to my feet.“We’re headed back, though.”

“Great.Swing by here afterward, please.I have an assignment for you.The client is en route.Should be here in forty-five minutes.”

A spark of joy surges through me.Ilovethe job.Everything about it.Hunting bad guys, returning good people to their homes—helping deliver monsters to justice.“On our way.”After shoving the phone into my pocket, I look down at Romeo.“You ready to do some running, boy?”

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