Earth-shatteringly frightening.
World-rockingly frightening.
I watched, my breath held, as the guard I never knew Mace kept firmly in place faded clean away.
“Babe,” he murmured fiercely. “I can.” That’s when I slid out of my pain, out of my panic and I saw them, clear as day, dancing malevolently behind his beautiful eyes.
Demons.
Mace had demons.
And they were far worse than anything I could even imagine.
Sinister tingles slithered down my back as a savage, steel-toed boot hit me straight in the gut. It was so savage, my body jerked with it and I sucked in breath, staring speechless at the open torment in Mace’s eyes.
Before I could say anything (not that I knew what to say), the phone rang and the buzzer went on the door.
The moment was lost.
The guard slammed down over his features and he stepped away. Snatching the phone off the counter, he stalked to the door.
What was THAT? My brain asked me.
I was stil trembling, now for a different reason.
I have no idea, I told my brain.
Juno bounded in before Hector and Mace muttered, “No comment,” into the phone again while I watched.
What are we gonna do? My brain asked.
I swal owed, more scared now than when bul ets were pounding in the dirt al around me. More scared than I’d ever been in my whole f**king life.
I have no effing idea, I answered.
Chapter Eleven
First World Tour
Stella
I had no time to figure it out.
Juno butted my calf with her nose with such strength my whole body shifted to the side, tel ing me in no uncertain terms it was breakfast time.
I’d already left her in the clutches of an unknown, but hot (not that “hot” factored in Juno’s choice for companions, stil , it must be said), Hispanic guy for her morning bathroom break. I was heading for Worst Doggie Mom of the Year if I didn’t at least take care of the bare necessities.
“Al right, baby,” I murmured, jumping down from the counter.
Juno knew what my motion meant. She wagged her tail in response and her whole body went with it.
“We gotta rol .” I heard Hector say as I nabbed Juno’s bowl from the floor.
“Yeah,” Mace replied. “Give me a second.” I looked up to see him coming my way.
I straightened and backed up two steps stil in the throes of a jumble of strong emotions, none of which I could process at the moment considering my dog was starving.
“I got things to do,” Mace told me, stopping close and I tilted my head back to look up at him.