strong enough I managed to catch the fact long hair was floating from the hood in the wind.
I froze in position as the person turned just slightly. There was no doubt in my mind whoever was standing in the shadows was watching me studying them. The intruder lowered their binoculars just as a bluster of wind forced the hood to tumble toward their shoulders.
For a split second, I was able to clearly see the face of the person before she disappeared into the trees.
Angelina.
What. The. Fuck?
My legs felt heavy as I rushed back inside, my fingers fumbling as I attempted to close the door, locking it then willing my legs to cooperate as I ran toward the front door. I resisted slamming my hand against the arming device. Once accomplished, I took long strides away from the door while I reached for the weapon. Hell, no, this wasn’t about some freaking coincidence. She’d been in on this game that was being played.
Why? Why? Why?
I was stupid as shit. I should have realized that she’d tried too damn hard to get Rafael and me together. What the hell had I been thinking? I moved into the center of the house, knowing that a very powerful set of binoculars could allow her to see several feet inside of the house. At least my stepfather had taught me a few things.
As I went through the house closing every blind, I tried to keep some level of rational thinking. Angelina had to be working for someone else, which would likely mean this Calleja person. If she was casing the place, I’d just broken our cover. I had no doubt she was on her phone calling her contact. Dear God. What the hell had I just done?
I headed back into the bedroom, shoving my feet into my shoes then peering out the corner of the blinds. There was no additional sign of her. I stood in front of the hidden room for a few seconds before reaching behind the picture and turning the knob, allowing the door to slide open. At least I had an escape if someone tried to break in.
I walked to the doorway of the kitchen thinking that if anyone attempted to break the glass, I would definitely hear it from the location. Now all I had to do was wait.
Rafael had been gone almost two hours. While he hadn’t mentioned where he was going, I doubted that he’d allow me to stay alone if he had to go an extreme distance. Everything would be fine. He’d simply take me to another safe location.
Then another.
And another.
What if there wasn’t a way to feel safe again?
I moved the Glock from hand to hand, playing out every detail since I’d arrived in this country. Everything seemed to stem from the sex trafficking ring that I’d almost been forced into. The wrong place at the wrong time.
Groaning, I closed my eyes briefly until a moment of lightning shot into my mind, my entire body tingling. Wait a minute. Wait a fucking minute. I was still shaking as I took long strides back into the office, fighting once again to unlock the little drawer while flipping on the light. I no longer gave a shit who knew I’d been snooping, jerking at the false bottom until I was able to grab the picture.
Him.
Fuck.
Why hadn’t I noticed before?
I ripped at the back of the frame until I was able to yank the photograph itself under the light. I wasn’t wrong. A wretched instinct crawled into my system as I jerked open every drawer until I could find a pen. I flipped it over, writing on the back.
Maybe my asshole stepfather was useful after all. The note would remain even if something happened to me.
I took several deep breaths, turning off the light and placing the picture under the keyboard with only a portion remaining in view. I prayed to God I was wrong.
In the next several minutes, I checked every window, peering outside. While I didn’t catch sight of her, I knew Angelina was hovering somewhere. Waiting.
Watching.
Anger swelled within me, burning into my very soul. I could barely calm my nerves or my rage. When I heard a sound, I bristled, backing against the hallway wall, the Glock firmly planted in both hands. I’d been right. Some asshole was coming to take me away.
I heard nothing for a few seconds then a knock on the door. My entire body began to seize, my legs shaking to the