Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,12

gave it a yank.

“Get down here, Maggs!” She stumbled to her knees. “Are you crazy? They have guns,” Fin hissed as he tugged her onto her belly like she was a child and unable to move herself. “Unless you’re Wonder Woman, I’m fairly sure you can’t stop bullets.”

Her movements were stilted, and her fingers gripped his hard.

“Now stay down and don’t move,” he whispered.

Her head had been turned away from him, but then she moved, and suddenly the breath lodged in his throat. Her brown eyes were wide, fear etched in every corner, and her face was white. She was shaking, tremors rocking her body.

“Hey, it’s okay. Stay down, it’ll be over soon.”

“Don’t let them shoot me, Fin.” Her words were raspy.

“They’re not going to hurt you,” He moved closer to her, so their bodies were touching. “Quiet now, and this will be over soon.”

She was shaking hard. Shock, he knew, and she’d be crazy not to be, but this was one hell of a reaction.

“I don’t want to be shot again, Fin.” She’d inched closer until her face was pressed into his shoulder. “Promise you won’t let them shoot me.”

Again?

He rolled slightly, pulling her under him, and then lay half over her like a blanket.

“Sssh now. I have you, and no one is hurting you.”

Lifting his head, he saw one man was still at the door, the other up with the teller.

“It’ll be over soon, Mags.”

She whimpered.

“This is going to be on the gossip airways for years to come. I don’t think this town has ever had a bank robbery,” he whispered. She didn’t say anything, just kept her face pressed into his shoulder.

“It’s okay.” He reached over her head and gripped her hands in his. They were trembling. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

As far as bank heists went, it was fairly uneventful. Not that he had much experience in that area, but still. Everyone behaved, the bad guys got their money, left, and suddenly the building seemed alive with noise and people.

“Everyone quiet down now!” Chief Blake had arrived. Fit, with steely determination, the man ruled the town of Ryker Falls with patience. When that didn’t work, he was a hardass. “No one leaves. I want all your names and any details you can remember.”

“Okay, it’s done now, Maggs. Up you get.” Regaining his feet, he lifted her to stand before him.

She mumbled something.

“It’s over, Maggs.” He pushed the hair from her face so he could look at her. She was still in the grip of something. “It’s safe now, sweetheart. You don’t need to be scared anymore.”

She clenched her eyes shut, dragged in a deep breath, then released it slowly.

“I-I’m okay. Thanks, Fin.”

She didn’t sound okay. Her voice was high-pitched. Her breathing was still rapid.

“When were you shot?” He gripped her shoulders, holding her before him.

“What?” She was looking around them, her eyes darting left and right.

“Maggs.” He took her hands in his. “Look at me.”

She did, and he still saw the fear.

“I’ve told you you’re safe now. I’ve told you no one is going to shoot you, and I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen. You can relax now.”

“Right… you’re right. Safe,” she whispered. “No shooting.”

He didn’t know why the hair on the back of his neck suddenly rose, but it did. Going on instinct, he stepped closer and pulled her into his arms.

“You’re all good now, sweetheart. Nothing to be scared of.”

She didn’t fight him; in fact, her hands went around his waist, and she held him tight.

“You take a few deep breaths for me now, Maggs, and calm down.”

Fin didn’t know how long he stayed like that with her, feeling her lovely body slowly relax and the shudders that rocked her ease. But he had to say, holding her brought back all those conflicting feelings he had for this woman.

“I’m all right now, Fin. Thanks.” She stepped out of his arms, and he was reluctant to let her go.

Her eyes seemed calmer, and she even managed a smile for him.

“I’m sorry about that.” She bent to retrieve her bag and hat.

Hers was a face a man couldn’t help but take a second look at. Soft pale skin, sweet little nose and chin, dark brows, and lips that were usually slicked in a bold color that had him wanting to nibble them. Maggie Winter was sexy, confident, and had rocked Fin back on his heels from the first moment he’d seen her. Some of the confidence had left now, but the sexy was