Midnight Hero - By Diana Duncan Page 0,73
adolescence, and come to Con’s aid a number of times tonight. But right now, it could take a nap.
For distraction, she fantasized about what would happen after the ordeal was over, and she and Con went back to his apartment. She imagined a lovely, endless night of tender lovemaking. Thought about how incredible it would feel to wake up in his arms.
Con possessed innate athletic confidence and grace, which made him superb at anything physical. He was also tuned in to constant awareness of her moods and feelings. The combination would surely make him a spectacular lover. Goose bumps of anticipation tingled over her skin. She sighed in longing. Both her body and her heart would be safe in his keeping.
“Heads up, cupcake!” The furious growl had her spinning around again.
A long, heart-shaking moment of ice-cold horror crawled by before she realized the voice had spoken over her headset. She flipped the switch to transmit. “T-Tony?”
“Who were you expecting, jolly old Saint Nick? Where’s my friggin’ chopper?”
“On the way,” she lied. Too bad Con hadn’t shared his stalling idea with her before he left. He’d thought they had plenty of time. “The storm caused a slight delay, but it will be there. They’re…deicing it now.”
“It better be. Where’s my hostage?”
She feigned innocence. “What hostage?”
“I’m getting real tired of this game, cupcake. The missing hostage. The pregnant one. Where is she?”
“Sorry, I don’t know anything about a renegade hostage. But, hey, look at it as one less problem to deal with.”
“Yeah, right. And I want my missing crew!”
“Did you misplace some men, too? Careless of you.” She forced her words to ooze nonchalance, though she felt anything but. “Another silver lining. Fewer ways to split the money.”
“You bitch,” he growled savagely. “When I get my hands on you, and whoever you’re working with—”
“Let’s not go there, because it won’t happen.”
“Unless my chopper and missing crew show up at the multiplex, and soon…” Tony sounded ready to chew the furniture. “I am going to start shooting.”
She covered her gasp by clearing her throat. “You don’t want to do that. You’ll lose the ground you’ve gained. Listen, how about I tell the police you willingly released the hostage? Gain you some goodwill.” Of course, she’d do no such thing. But the lie might chill him out some. “Nobody will give you anything, including a chopper, if you kill—”
“I don’t have to shoot to kill. Taking out Grandma’s kneecap would cripple her, though. And it might finally shut her up.”
She closed her eyes, fighting nausea. He was just a threatening voice on the headset. Con had everything under control. SWAT was outside, ready to storm in on a moment’s notice. “If you hurt anyone, the police will—”
Her words broke off mid-sentence as wide, masculine hands settled on her shoulders. The low, male voice rumbled, “Who are you talking to?”
Her eyelids flew open. She knew that voice. Recognized the familiar scent.
Onions.
Her stomach flip-flopped in terror. She didn’t want to turn around. Didn’t want to see him, and make the nightmare a reality.
Because if he was here, that meant Con was…Oh, my God!
Con! Her shattered heart cried out in agony.
Her thoughts whirling, body numb, she slowly turned.
Scratches marred Glacier Eyes’ angular face, and a diagonal cut gashed his right cheek. The greenish black bruises mottling both pale, emotionless eyes made them look even paler. Scarier. The big, black pistol rode in a scarred leather holster across his chest. He smirked. “I’m gonna rip your wings off, Fairy.”
Her brain’s frantic shouts finally kicked in and her stunned body moved. She took a step back. Then another. She pivoted to run.
“Don’t leave.” The robber grabbed her by the hair. Searing pain made her eyes water. The sudden jolt tore off her headset, and it dangled from her belt. “The party’s just getting started.”
Tony will think I hung up on him. The disembodied thought didn’t seem to belong to her. Strange how the mind reacted to fear by enhancing insignificant details.
“Where’s your friend?”
For a moment, she thought he meant Con. No. He knew where Con was. Anguish stabbed her heart, the only organ in her body with feeling. He meant Nan.
“She had to leave.” Even her lips were numb. Good. Then it wouldn’t hurt as much when he shot her. “She hates parties.”
“So, we’re all alone.” His harsh mouth twisted, and she read his intent in those bone-chilling eyes.
He was going to kill her. But he was going to hurt and degrade her first. No way could she stop