Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“I am careful.”
“No matter how careful you are, someone will remember you, and the minute I’m reported missing, my friends will paint your face across the media.” She was pleased with how steady her voice was. Inside she was quaking like a leaf, but she forced herself to appear calm.
How far away was the sidewalk? The giant bushes would muffle much of the sound, but if she started screaming her head off, surely someone would hear.
“I’ll be out of the country before they even realize you’re gone,” he promised. “Now move. The car is behind you. Don’t think I won’t shoot you. I will.”
He was lying. Oh, he sounded like he meant business, but something about the way his eyes didn’t quite meet hers told her that he wasn’t going to pull that trigger. Why? Did the “boss” want to kill her himself? Her dead body wasn’t good enough? He needed to see her pain?
She saw a shadow move behind her would-be attacker.
Steph caught her breath as Sadie turned the corner. Quietly and with purpose, the receptionist moved across the grass. There was something in her hands, but Steph couldn’t tell what. She shook her head, silently pleading with the other woman to run. She couldn’t get Sadie killed. She couldn’t handle more blood on her hands.
“Don’t shake your head at me,” the man commanded. “Move. You’re going to get in that car on your own or I’ll drag you there.” He shifted his gun slightly down. “You can get into the car without a bullet in your leg or with one. This is your choice. You have five seconds to make it.”
“Hey!” Sadie yelled.
The man turned instinctively, and Sadie tossed two massive travel cups of coffee right at his face. The man screamed, dropping the gun and covering his scalded skin with his hands.
Steph decided right then and there that she wasn’t even going to help him. New rule. When someone tried to kidnap her, they gave up all rights to her skills as a doctor.
Sadie pushed the screaming man, making room for Steph to run her way. “Let’s go.”
She had no idea whether or not one of his cohorts was about to show up or if they would leave him behind. She started jogging, gripping Sadie’s hand.
“Thank god the run was for the boys,” Sadie said, glancing back over her shoulder. “The women like Frappuccinos and iced coffees in the afternoon. That wouldn’t have worked as well. Oh, no. Duck.”
A shot cracked and Steph felt something burn and sizzle over her left bicep.
“Stephanie!” A booming masculine voice shouted her name.
“I’m here!” They were almost to the end. Almost out. If he was going to shoot her now, there would be witnesses.
And apparently someone was looking for her.
She clutched Sadie’s hand, her arm burning as they ran around the side of the building and back into the bright afternoon light.
Which was suddenly blocked when a massive figure stepped in front of her.
Brody Carter frowned down at her. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in, luv?”
Her head started to spin and Steph wasn’t surprised when her vision receded and the world went dark. Just before she slipped to the ground, strong arms picked her up and she was safe.
She let the darkness take her.
* * * *
Brody managed to get an arm around her before her body fell to the concrete.
What the hell had happened to her? He shoved his gun into his holster and hoisted her up. “Steph?”
Liam was already taking charge. “I’ll go in the front. Brody, get her and Sadie upstairs. If the police get here, they’ll want to take her in for questioning and we’ll lose control. I’ll handle the police when they show up.”
“He shot at us,” Sadie said, her eyes wide. “I think Steph got hit.”
Brody felt bile rise. Had he been too rough with her? He hadn’t seen any blood. What if he was making it worse?
Liam was already moving into the narrow alley formed between the bushes and the wall.
Tucker examined her arm. “It’s a graze. It barely burned her shirt. We should go. Those sirens are almost here. Unless you want to turn everything over to the police.”
Tucker knew damn well he wouldn’t do that. She hadn’t gone to the police. She’d come to McKay-Taggart.
She hadn’t come to him.
It didn’t matter. He had to get her inside and away from prying eyes. Luckily, it seemed despite the chaos of moments before, the men and women in the building had gone back to their regularly scheduled afternoon evacuation.
“Come on,” Sadie said. “I know a back way. We’ll take the freight elevator. I know the code.”
“What happened?” It seemed surreal that she was in his arms. So pale and fragile. She’d gained a bit of weight and it looked good. Still, there was something delicate about her.