Why the hell was she laughing?
We were being overrun by rodents, for fuck’s sake. Scurrying little vermin were in my apartment.
My gaze went back to the mice. Then I frowned. They hadn’t moved. One was still under the cushion, its ass peeking out, the other sitting in the middle of the seat. Perfectly still.
I stood, staring. Something wasn’t right. Raven’s laughter grew louder, and I glanced her way then at the mice.
And spied the thread attached to them.
I snapped my head in her direction, glowering at her. I thought about how chummy she and Leo were when I arrived at the coffee shop earlier. Laughing and joking when I walked in, talking about something amusing.
That fucker had sold me out. Told her about how much I hated mice.
“Think you’re funny, do you?” I asked.
She could only nod, her laughter still loud.
I reached down, pulling the mice off the sofa. Fake, stuffed mice. It hit me. At the store by the pharmacy was the pet aisle. There had been a display of toys. She had distracted me. Twice.
Played her funny little joke. Now it was payback time.
I glared at her, holding up the mice. “You are going to pay for that little stunt, Raven.”
She scrambled off the sofa, standing behind it. “Nope.”
“Yes.”
“I had to. It was too easy.”
I stepped closer. “Catching you will be too.”
Her eyes widened, her gaze roaming the room, looking for her escape. Except she didn’t have a chance. Her gaze gave her away, focusing on the route she planned to take. She lunged to the left, and I was behind her instantly, still holding the damn mice. She had one in her hand and turned, flinging it at me, half laughing, half scared. I caught her before she could get far, throwing her over my shoulder, swatting her behind. “I warned you.”
“Put me down.”
I carried her to my bed and flung her on the mattress, following her down, pinning her to the bed.
“Gotcha.”
She giggled and held up another mouse, tapping it on my nose. I had to laugh. “I can’t believe Leo told you how much I hate mice.”
She nodded. “I had to bribe him.”
“With?”
“Cookies.”
I laughed. The bastard had a major sweet tooth, and his wife only allowed him a treat on occasion. Of course he couldn’t resist the lure of cookies.
“I found it hard to believe,” Raven mused. “The man who chases after bad guys, makes me feel safer than I ever have, and seems larger-than-life, is frightened by mice?”
“I’m not frightened. I just dislike them.”
“You looked as if you were going to pass out when you saw them.”
I slid my hands down her arms, tossing the mouse in her hand over my shoulder. I entwined our fingers, lifting her arms over her head and lightly holding them in place.
“I was startled.”