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T here was only one thing I could do.

Hide.

The only problem? There was nowhere in the garage to hide. If I hid in his truck or Eve’s car, he’d probably spot me. So instead, I dashed back into his house, closed the door, and hustled to the pantry.

It wasn’t a very large space, but there was just enough room between the shelves and the door for me to fit. I had to suck in to close the door completely. The shelves dug into my back, but I held steady as I heard a door open. I prayed he wasn’t the kind to look for a snack as soon as he got home.

Those same heavy footsteps thudded through the house after the door slammed.

A deep sigh filled the quiet. I settled my breathing as best I could, then took out my phone to switch it to silent.

My hands shook so badly while doing it, I was glad it hadn’t slipped out of my hands and dropped on the floor.

The footsteps started up again and were lighter this time. I assumed the person was barefoot now. The fridge opened. I heard a loud pop, like a can opening. Loud gulping. Then silence.

“What the fuck?” a deep voice growled. It was definitely James.

His feet thundered through the house, and it sounded like he’d slid the patio doors open. It was now or never. If I could make a run for it now, I might be able to sneak out through the front door.

I cracked the pantry door open and looked to the left. He wasn’t there. Pushing it open wider, I looked toward the kitchen and saw the top of James’s head on the other side of the kitchen window.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” James hissed.

I stepped out and bolted for the front door. My hands shook violently as I fumbled with the locks.

“Hey!” he shouted.

I swung the door open, ran out as fast as I could, and didn’t stop until I made it to my car.

I yanked the door open, climbed in, started the ignition, and reversed out of the cul-de-sac just as James came storming out of his house.

He glared right at my car, despite my headlights flashing forward.

He may not have seen my face, but he knew exactly who I was.

I swear the menacing scowl on his face was constructed by the devil himself.