Page 56 of To the Chase

Tore,

If you want me, you’ll have to find me first!

-Bea

Holy hell.

Blood flooded south as I tucked her note in my pocket.

How was it possible this woman kept getting more perfect?

Tipping my head back, I shouted, “I’m coming for you, Beatrice.”

Heart thrashing, I set off, ready for the chase.

Chapter Twenty

Bea

WhatwasIdoing?

What in thehellwas I doing?

I had no clue, but sweet baby lizards, it was fun. My blood hadn’t pumped like this since…ever.

Ditching my heels to go stealth mode, I tiptoed along the dark, empty hallway upstairs, searching for a hiding spot. I couldn’t outrun Tore. I wasn’t built for speed. Come to think of it, I wasn’t built for crawling into small spaces either.

Oh my god,whatwas I doing?

I chose a door at random, and it turned out to be a bedroom. Of course, there was no furniture inside. Trying to conceal myself behind the curtains seemed a little obvious.

“Bea?”

My name echoed through the cavernous space. He’d discovered I was missing.

Goose bumps prickled my flesh as I desperately searched for a hiding spot. Somewhere that would take him time to find me. Build his frustration to the boiling point. Excitement flooded through me, pushing me toward a closet.

“Bea? Where are you?”

I shoved myself into the farthest corner, my chest rising and falling in rapid waves. What would happen when he found me?

More importantly, what did Iwantto happen?

The next time he called out, it was different. Animalistic. A threat.

“I’m coming for you, Beatrice.”

He’d found my note. The game had truly begun. I had nothing to be afraid of, but I was terrified. I bit my inner cheek to stop myself from squealing as his feet pounded on the stairs.

Hiding in the closet suddenly didn’t seem like a great idea. It would be the first place he’d look, and the game would be over.

Heartbeat thrumming in my throat, I crept out just as Tore called, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” He was gettingsoclose, there was no time to waste.

I lurched for the first door, hoping to find a new hiding place and not some secret tech server room full of blinking lights and webs of wires. I’d found the en suite bathroom. Thank goodness.

I threw myself inside and closed the door as quietly as I could, locking it with a softsnick.

“Keep running, sweet Bea. You’ll only make it worse when I catch you.”