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She lost the battle seconds later, falling backward. Her back smacked into the hard floor with a sickening thud. The tray, filled with dishes, flew into the air and landed feet away with a loud crash.

Dishes scattered, some breaking into pieces and others sliding across the floor. One bowl wobbled in circles before it finally came to a stop.

A hush fell over the crowd as the mishap startled everyone.

Paige winced when she straightened. “Oops, sorry.”

The waitress glared at her, and the man who’d taken her order narrowed his eyes before shouting over his shoulder, “Finish that last order up pronto.”

“Let me help,“ she said to the waitress who struggled to rise to her feet and collect the contents of her tray.

“No, thanks,” she spat.

The man at the counter jabbed a finger at a chair in the corner. “Why don’t you take a seat before you do any more damage?”

Paige shoved her glasses farther up on her nose, stalked to a seat, and sank into it. Her chin fell to her chest as she eyed the cleanup efforts. Pizza sauce splattered the light oak floor, grease stains pooled under overturned plates, and jagged ceramic pieces were scattered everywhere.

Paige puffed out her cheeks as she checked the time again. Hopefully, the blunder could at least expedite the pizza order. She drummed her fingers against her thigh, licking her lips as she waited. The waitress shot her another glaring glance after hefting the loaded tray up onto her shoulder. Paige offered an apologetic smile.

The woman wrinkled her nose, shook her head and, with an emphatic huff, spun on her heel and disappeared into the kitchen.

Within ten minutes, they’d loaded her up with her order and sent her on her way. Paige pushed through the door with three steaming boxes in her hands and a two-liter wrapped in a bag dangling from her wrist. Cool air caressed her skin, turning it to gooseflesh after being inside the hot pizzeria.

She darted down the street and hurried into the intersection. As she crossed the small side street, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The gash on her back began to throb. A shudder snaked down her spine and her throat went dry. She lowered the boxes, figuring her load bothered the large scratch.

She approached the curb on the opposite side when a vehicle roared toward her. It seemed to have come out of nowhere.

The tires screeched as it aimed for her, its engine gunning. Heat washed throughout her body and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her muscles stiffened and her heart thudded against her ribs, threatening to explode from her chest. She sucked in a sharp breath, holding it while her lower lip trembled.

A pair of headlights blinded her, and she squinted, frozen in place for a moment. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted one terrifying feature. Behind the headlights, two red eyes peered at her.

CHAPTER 13

With the car showing no signs of stopping, Paige leapt onto the curb, nearly toppling over. One of the pizza boxes slid from the stack and landed intact on the sidewalk below.

“Whoa!” she shouted. “Watch it, you maniac!”

The car’s tires squealed as it tore away, running the red light. Another car screeched to a stop, sliding sideways to avoid a collision.

A passerby on the street collected the pizza box. The hoodie-clad man slid the box onto the stack still in her hands. “Are you okay?”

Paige nodded at him, scrunching her nose to inch her glasses up on her face. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks. I don’t know where that car came from.”

“That side street,” the man answered, pointing toward an alley down the street. “Must have been in some hurry. He shot out of there and never stopped. I thought he was going to hit you for sure.”

“Thank goodness he didn’t,” Paige said. “And thanks for the assist.” She lifted the boxes at him with a smile.

“You’re welcome. You take care now. People are crazy.”

“I’ll say,” she answered. “Thanks again.”

She continued along the sidewalk, the incident playing over in her mind. Had she really seen red eyes in the car? Or had she merely imagined it in her moment of panic?

She abandoned the thoughts, concentrating instead on hauling the food the remaining three blocks to the library. She puffed with exertion, carrying the load. The dangling bag swung from side to side as she tried to keep a fast pace.

“Should have had them deliver,” she mumbled to herself as the library finally came into view.

She darted down the side alley toward the back entrance. As she approached, she realized her lack of a free hand.