She surprised me further by breaking my hold with a strange move as she attempted to knee me in the gut, which I blocked. She was laboring, and her movements were slowing just enough for me to know she was going to weaken before I did. Grabbing her arm again, she flipped us onto the floor before jumping to her feet and sprinting like a bunny for the crowbar once more.

I snatched her pant leg, and she fell with a hard crash. She made a little noise as all the air was driven from her lungs with the fall.

“Oh, I do like you,” I said, licking my lips.

Kirby scrambled on the concrete floor, legs kicking at me until I let go of her ankle. Releasing her on purpose, I smiled.

“Run,” I whispered, and run she did. Kirby leaped out the door like her ass was set on fire and took off into the night.

“You can run, but you won’t get far,” I called out the door and smiled as I pulled myself to my feet. I rolled out my shoulders, cracked my neck, and counted to ten as the excited energy built in my body.

It had been a long time since someone had surprised me like that. I tossed the coat that had ended up draped on me onto the workbench.

“Ten,” I said as I bolted out the door after my prey.

“Shit, she is quick,” I mumbled as I watched her race along the driveway. That path took her deeper onto the property when she veered off into the trees.

I knew she was quick. I’d been running in the mornings with her, even though she didn’t know it, to test her endurance and speed. I knew she’d be tough to catch, but the thought of the chase had made me giddy with anticipation, and I hoped she’d try and run. She just continued to check off all my boxes.

I’d never felt this kind of exhilaration at any time in my life, and with each pump of my arms and legs that brought me a little closer, I knew that no one other than her would make me feel the same way again. She burst from the cover of the trees and ran right past Abel’s house, but I almost stopped and laughed as she slowed to see my brother sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch. How confusing that moment must have been for her. I could almost see the expression on her face as she ran under the tall yard light.

“Run, little rabbit, run,” Abel cheered her on as another bug zapped itself on one of the twenty zappers he had hanging around his porch like fucking decoration. She sped up again and hopped over his pink fence like she was running hurdles and stopped to try the doors of Abel’s taxi.