Bound By Blood (Bound #1)(22)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Hey! Stop!” the same voice shouted behind her a few moments later. A sharp pop blasted through the air and the trunk of one of the trees lining the street splintered. The pop sounded again and Eve felt a gush of air rush past her face. Someone was shooting at her!

Taking a sharp right, she darted across the Hawkins’ lawn. Even though they had an incredible house their security was shit and she knew they had an opening in their wrought iron fence in the backyard. If she could just make it.

Her leg muscles strained and for the first time in years she was thankful for her daily jogging routine. Pumping her arms and legs, she cleared the edge of the house. A spotlight on the side of the house flipped on—likely motion sensors—but she didn’t pause.

It almost felt as if someone was breathing down her neck, but she knew it was fear and adrenaline surging through her. Then she heard a muttered curse farther behind than before. At least they weren’t stil shooting. Probably because whoever it was didn’t want to draw more attention to themselves. She needed to make it to the opening and hoped no one saw her slip through. Her car was on the next street over. Her heart pounded that erratic tattoo against her chest as she dove over a cluster of bushes lining the back fence.

Blood rushed loudly in her ears as she began to slowly crawl toward the opening.

When the phone started ringing again, her chest tightened. They were trying to track her using the sound. She silenced it again then slid the back casing off. She’d only have a few seconds to do this. Sliding the SIM card out, she put it in her pocket then left the phone lying in the dirt. As she continued crawling, she pul ed her gun out. When she reached the smal gap in the fence she shimmied under it. Ignoring the dirt coating her hands and the underbrush caught in her cap and clothes, she shoved up and ran through the neighboring backyard.

After risking a brief glance behind her, she saw she wasn’t being fol owed. She al owed herself a smal measure of relief but didn’t stop running. Even if they were stil looking for her, they weren’t going to find her.

Unfortunately she couldn’t go home. She hadn’t recognized the voice but she couldn’t be sure whoever had been chasing her hadn’t identified her. That left one couldn’t be sure whoever had been chasing her hadn’t identified her. That left one place to go. Macklin wasn’t going to be happy to see her, but Mr. Tal , dark, and too-sexy-for-his-own-good would have to deal with it. He was one of the few people on the planet she would trust with her life.

* * *

Mac paused as he ran a towel over his damp hair. Then he heard the sound again. Someone was banging on his front door. Insistently. He glanced at the watch he’d left on his bathroom counter. It was almost ten. Normal y he’d be in bed by now and so would most of his men, but they’d had trouble with some of the cattle getting out after a section of one of his fences had been intentional y knocked down. By drug smugglers no doubt. They were getting worse in this area and he was fed up with it. Without bothering to put on clothes, he headed toward the front door. That’s when he heard the one voice that had the ability to make him go rock hard in seconds.

“Macklin Quinn, I know you’re in there! You better open this door right now!” Eve’s shouts were fol owed by three more bangs.

For such a petite woman she had a loud knock. Shaking his head, he jerked the door open.

“Damn it, Mac…” She trailed off as she stared at him. Unabashedly her eyes tracked down his bare chest to the damp towel hanging on his hips.

Her peaches and cream complexion often gave away her emotions and now was no different. Those dark eyes of hers flared with momentary interest as they reached the top of his towel. When her gaze landed on his growing erection, her cheeks tinged an adorable pink and she quickly looked up. “Uh…do you have company?”

“No.” The only company he wanted was her. In his bed. But that wasn’t going to happen. So why was she here?

She sighed and visibly relaxed. “I need a place to stay tonight.”

Mac wouldn’t mind accommodating her but he knew her wel enough that she wasn’t looking to jump into his bed. If only. He frowned as he took in her appearance. “What the hel happened to you, Eve?” The question came out harsher than he intended. Her hair was hidden by a dark cap and she wore al black, like some sort of cat burglar. Dirt smudges covered her face and…were those leaves sticking out of her col ar?

She bit her bottom lip and eyed him nervously. “Aren’t you going to let me in?”

Sighing because he couldn’t say no to her, he stepped back. When he shut the door behind her she wrung her hands in front of her stomach. “I did something stupid tonight but I’m not going to tel you what it is if you’re going to give me a lecture.”

Oh, shit. If the stubborn woman was actual y admitting she’d done something stupid, he’d no doubt need a shot of whiskey. Stepping further into the foyer, he motioned with his hand. “Come on. Let’s go to my office.”

Once they reached his office she tugged the cap off her head and al those gorgeous strawberry blonde waves fel around her face and shoulders. He resisted the very real urge to reach over and run his hands through her hair. To cup her head tight, pul her close, and—

“Can’t you put on a shirt or something,” she muttered as she sat on the cushy chair across from his desk.

He stiffened at her words. Instinctively he rubbed a hand over his left side and al the hideous scarred skin. It didn’t hurt anymore and most days he forgot about it but now…he wished he had put on a shirt. He didn’t like her seeing this deformed side of him.

Before he could respond she continued. “Don’t get that hurt look on your face. You know I didn’t mean it because of your scars.”

“Then why’d you say it?”

Her cheeks flushed again as she found a spot on the wal behind him to stare at.

“Because I can’t think with you half naked.” The way she spoke through gritted teeth told him she meant it even if she didn’t want to admit it.

It shouldn’t please him, but it did. Probably too much. He bit back a grin because it would only annoy her. Eve was one of the few women he knew who didn’t focus on superficial stuff. And she’d been one of the few people who hadn’t acted like she felt sorry for him when he’d moved home injured, scarred and pissed off at the world. No, she’d told him to get over himself and be thankful he was alive.