Page 67 of Heroes & Hitmen
I don’t hesitate. Ditching my beer in the sand, I shoot to my feet and grab her wrist, already planning our exit as I pull her up with me and growl, “Come on.”
CHAPTER 22
Ares
Excitement thrumsthrough my veins as Miley and I tear across the beach, her hand locked tight in mine. Our shoes sink with every step, sand dragging at our heels, but we keep moving, fast and reckless, determined to outrun trouble.
Funny how it always manages to find me somehow.
It’s not the first time I’ve been in a situation like this, caught somewhere I shouldn’t be. Probably won’t be the last. Luckily, I’ve gotten damn good at slipping through the cracks and coming out unscathed.
“Stop!” the voice behind us booms, closer than I’d like. The flashlight beam wobbles wildly as the security guard– or cop, or whoever the hell he is– tries to chase us down, but if he thinks he can best a shifter in a foot race, he’s sadly mistaken.
Miley’s fingers thread through mine instinctively as we sprint for the dark line where the beach meets a jagged stone retaining wall. She’s faster than I expected, light on her feet, and I only have to tug her off-course twice to keep us from faceplanting in the sand along the way.
When we reach the ledge, I swing her up onto it with barely a pause, only letting go once I’m sure she’s secure. Behind us, the flashlight beam jerks and stutters, too far to illuminate our retreating figures but close enough that I can hear the sound of boots thudding in the sand. I vault the wall, the side of my leg catching on the chipped concrete edge in the process, a line of white-hot pain ripping up my calf.
No time for that.I grit my teeth and ignore it, grabbing for Miley’s hand again just as the flashlight beam manages to land on us.
“Last warning, I’ll call backup!” the voice bellows, but the sound of it fades behind us as we jump down from the wall and hit the street at a full sprint.
The soles of our shoes smack against the pavement, hearts hammering in tandem. I risk a glance behind us– no flashlight beam, no flashing blue lights. Just the far-off echo of a pissed-off security guard shouting into the night.
We’re not completely in the clear just yet, though. Cutting between two parked cars at the curb, we dart up the first alley we see, footsteps echoing in the narrow space. The alley dumps us out on the neighboring street, and we chase half a block up before ducking into another alley. This one’s dark, narrow, quiet– great for cover.
The two of us slow and I finally let go of Miley’s hand, bracing against a dumpster and doubling over to catch my breath. My lungs burn, but not nearly as bad as my calf. Must’ve caught that wall worse than I originally thought.
When I rise to my full height and look over at my partner in crime, she’s looking back, wild-eyed and flushed. More beautiful than I’ve ever seen her. A giggle bubbles up from her throat as she collapses against the brick wall, the light, lively sound of it echoing through the alley.
“Oh my god,” she gasps between breaths. “I haven’t run that fast since fifth grade.”
The high of the chase still hums under my skin, sparking down my arms, buzzing in my fingertips. I can see it in Miley, too– that wild, electric afterglow. Adrenaline blazing through her veins, lighting her up from the inside out.
She looks alive. Unstoppable.Irresistible.
Pushing off from the dumpster, I close the gap between us in a single heartbeat, grabbing Miley’s face in both hands and crushing my lips against hers.
To my surprise, she doesn’t pull away or even hesitate. She surges into the kiss, mouth open, hands fisting the front of my t-shirt like she’s desperate for something to hold onto. Her tongue greedily seeks mine, tasting every corner of my mouth like she’sbeen starving for this as much as I have.
When we finally break apart, we’re breathless again for a whole different reason. I rest my forehead against hers, chest heaving, pulse refusing to settle.
“Fuck,” I whisper. “You’re amazing.”
She lets out another laugh, warm and winded against my lips. “We almost got arrested.”
“Worth it,” I murmur, grinning.
Miley’s prim and proper, a rule-follower through and through. She’s clearly not used to this kind of chaos, but she didn’t back down when trouble came knocking, either. I’d venture to say she even enjoyed that little brush with danger.
She keeps finding ways to surprise me, and I’m beginning to wonder if there’s anything this girlcan’tdo. She’s fucking perfect.
A distant shout echoes from the direction of the beach, dragging me back to alertness. My grin fades as I glance toward the sound, scanning the alley like the shadows might suddenly morph into a threat.
“We should probably keep moving,” I sigh, pushing off from the wall and reaching for her hand.
Miley stops me short, brows knitting together in concern. “You’re limping.”
“What?”
