My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 393

Chapter 393

“What-how did you-

“You forgot,” he interrupted calmly, barely out of breath, “I built the fucking trails.”

My mouth dropped open then before I could even think, I shoved him backward hard and tried to run again. Raphael caught the back of my dress this time.

The fabric stretched tight and I looked back over my shoulder.

Raphael stood there, one fist wrapped in the back of my black dress while he stared at me like he was seconds away from losing every bit of control he had left.

And somehow, instead of being scared, I smiled.

Raphael’s fist stayed tangled in the back of my dress while both of us stood there breathing hard beneath the trees.

“Got you,” he said quietly.

Heat rushed through my stomach but then another terrible idea sparked in my head. Which meant I absolutely loved it.

I let my expression soften suddenly, letting my breathing shake a little harder while I looked up at him through my lashes.

Raphael’s grip loosened just slightly, “Finally behaving,” he murmured, stepping closer.

I swallowed hard and took one tiny step toward him instead of away.

His eyes darkened instantly, “Good little girl,” he said softly.

The words hit me like a shot straight to the chest. For one dangerous second, I almost forgot the game completely. Then I reached up slowly like I was about to touch his face and shoved both freezing cold hands straight under his shirt.

Raphael jolted so hard he cursed loudly and I burst into laughter immediately.

“You little DEMON-”

That one second was enough.

I ripped myself free from his loosened grip and sprinted away again while he was still trying to recover from the freezing attack. My laughter echoed wildly through the woods.

“Oh my God,” I gasped between laughs, nearly tripping over roots while running blindly forward again.

Behind me, Raphael laughed once too but it sounded darker this time.

“You are making this so much worse for yourself!”

I looked over my shoulder while still running, “You’re the one who let me go!”

Big mistake.

The second I looked back forward again, a thick branch blocked my path. I yelped and ducked under it badly, the branch catching in my hair hard enough to yank me backward.

“OW-”

Á sudden beam of light flashed across the trees ahead of me. I slowed slightly, confused. One of the motion- triggered floodlights. I darted directly beneath the hidden light and spun around dramatically just as he came charging through the trees after me.

The floodlight exploded on above us, bright white light flooded the woods suddenly.

Raphael stopped short.

And I burst out laughing again because he looked genuinely offended by the spotlight hitting him like some criminal documentary interview.

“There you are!” I shouted dramatically, pointing at him. “Caught in 4K!”

“Gianna,” he warned.

I could barely breathe from laughing, “Oh my God, your face-”

Then suddenly his expression changed and my laughter weakened immediately.

“That look is concerning,” I admitted.

Raphael started walking toward me slowly through the bright light, “Keep laughing.”

My heartbeat instantly sped up again.

I backed away carefully.

Then turned and ran screaming into the darkness once more while his laughter chased after me through the