Even in the Darkness. Shirlee McCoy

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СКАЧАТЬ of voices, engines and the strident call of an elephant drifting on the air around her. When she reached the corner of the building, she paused. Once she stepped into the open, she’d be vulnerable again. Unfortunately, time was too limited for her to stand and think through her options. She’d have to round the corner and take her chances in the crowd.

      She took a deep breath, tensed to move and was pulled backward with one sharp tug on her sweater. She went fighting, fists swinging, mind blank of all but one thought—escape. An arm snaked around her waist and a hand slammed over her mouth, cutting off a scream.

      “Stop struggling.” The words were hissed into her ear, the grip never loosening.

      She responded by struggling harder, imagining a needle poised over her flesh, a stab, and then oblivion. That’s how they’d taken her before. It wouldn’t happen again. Not if she could help it.

      She twisted, trying to throw her attacker off balance. Pain speared across her rib cage, stealing her breath. Pinpricks of light flashed in front of her eyes, she swayed, and was suddenly being supported instead of restrained.

      “Whoa. No passing out, Red.”

      Red? Tori stiffened.

      “That’s better. Now hold still and be quiet. There’s company out there. Not the kind either of us wants to meet.” Noah didn’t loosen his grip as he spoke, nor did he remove the hand he held over Tori’s mouth. Her tense muscles warned that she was waiting for an opportunity to break free, and that was something he couldn’t allow. Not yet. Later, when he had her safely away from the men who were hunting her, he’d let her go again. See where she’d been heading before she’d almost walked into Lao’s trap. For now he’d stay close.

      She twisted in his arms, trying once again to break free as he edged them away from the building. He ignored her struggles, ignored the heel that barely missed his knee, but he couldn’t ignore her terror. Her body shook with it, her heart pounding so hard he could feel it in the pulse point near her jaw.

      That, more than anything, had him tightening his grip and leaning close to her ear. “You want me to let you go?”

      She didn’t nod, didn’t acknowledge the question in any way.

      He hadn’t expected her to. “I will, but know this—you scream, and there’s a good possibility we won’t live to see tomorrow. You run, and I’ll have you before you take five steps, then I’ll tie you up and gag you until we’re somewhere safe.” An idle threat, but she didn’t need to know that.

      With that he slid his arm from around her waist and eased his hand from her mouth, remaining close, not allowing her enough distance for a head start if she decided to run.

      For a moment she didn’t move. When she did, it was a quick spin in his direction, her hair flying in a cloud of burnished red. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

      “Noah Stone. And what I want is you on the plane that left for the States a few hours ago. Since I can’t have that, I’ll settle for putting some distance between us and the people searching for you.” That much was true. The rest would have to wait.

      “That’s no answer.”

      “It’s as much of one as I can give. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

      “And go where?” Her voice sounded raspy and dry, her eyes dark fire against pallid skin.

      “A place where we don’t have to worry about the bad guys finding us.” He reached down, picked up the hat that had fallen from Tori’s head during their struggle and handed it to her.

      “For all I know, you’re one of the bad guys.”

      “If I were, we wouldn’t be standing here talking.”

      “I can’t know that.” She stared him down, the bruises on her cheek and jaw an ugly reminder of all she’d been through.

      “And I don’t have time to prove it. The bus you were on made it to Mae Hong Son. The men who were following know you weren’t on it. Now they’re backtracking. It won’t take long for one of them to find us.” He grabbed her hand, tugging her farther away from the tourist stop.

      She didn’t resist, though he had no doubt she wanted to. She’d probably weighed the odds of escape and decided not to waste the energy trying. Good. Her cooperation would make their journey less difficult.

      Despite her obvious fatigue, she matched Noah’s stride, not giving in to the pain he’d seen in her eyes. Jaw set, hair a wild halo of curls around her face, the straw hat clutched in her hand, she looked both strong and vulnerable. An interesting combination and nothing like the hardened, experienced drug courier Noah had expected when he’d been asked to take this assignment.

      She must have sensed his gaze. She turned to meet it, the fear and anger he’d seen minutes ago masked by a calm facade. “I know you want the box. I don’t have it. I sent it to the States.”

      “Yeah?”

      “Yeah. So maybe you should head that way yourself.”

      “And leave you to wander around Mae Hong Son alone? I don’t think so.”

      She laughed at that, the sound harsh. “Your concern is touching, but I can manage just fine on my own.”

      He let his gaze linger on her bruises, then drop to the sleeves of her sweater where blood had tinged the white knit pink. “Doesn’t look like it to me.”

      Tori couldn’t argue with that. She knew how she must look—tired, bruised, defeated. But her appearance wouldn’t hinder her intentions. And what she intended was escape. She slanted a glance in Noah’s direction, wondering if escape would even be possible. Black hair gleaming in the sun, a dark beard shadowing his jaw, he seemed strong and confident, a man used to making decisions and taking charge. She’d known plenty of men like him—men willing to say or do anything to get what they wanted. Luckily, Tori had learned her lesson hard and well. No way would she trust Noah. Not when so much was at stake.

      An image of Melody flashed through her mind—fresh-faced, laughing, filled with the kind of spontaneous joy Tori had never been allowed. The thought of how easily that could change sent her pulse racing. She had to get to her daughter. Had to grab the box and run as far and as fast as she could.

      “Don’t even think about it.” His voice held quiet authority, his expression not changing as he tugged her closer to his side.

      “I wasn’t thinking about anything.”

      “You were thinking about running. Save us both the time and energy—don’t bother.”

      There was nothing to say to that, so she didn’t speak at all. Not that she had the energy to do more than keep up with Noah. He moved with a long, brisk stride, not slowing his pace as they stepped onto a narrow, paved road that led to the outskirts of Mae Hong Son. Rundown houses and faded buildings stood like weary sentinels to either side, their long shadows touching the road with darkness. In the distance, deep green mountains brushed the sky, shrouded in mist and mystery. A few people hurried along a cracked and broken sidewalk, too rushed to notice the strangers in their midst. Or maybe they noticed and chose not to show it. An odd thought, but one Tori couldn’t shake.

      Nor could she СКАЧАТЬ