Angel in the Shadows by Amy Deason Page B

three-inch heels became her downfall and she tripped, her left ankle twisting sharply. The pain was razor sharp and immediate, making her cry out in a choked yelp. She went down hard, hitting her right knee solidly against the step, scraping flesh from bone. An ice-cold hand closed on her ankle yanking her down a few steps. Looking back over her shoulder, Jason was sneered up at her, victory on his face. Terror filled her to her very core yet a thread of survival instinct raised its head, making her react. Drawing her free leg up as far as she could, she kicked back hard, viciously, catching her attacker off-guard. The pointy heel of the shoe connected solidly with his face, ripping a long gash. Blood flowed as he howled; losing his grip and tumbling backward down the stairs.
    Not wasting a second more, she darted up the remaining steps. Topping the stairs, she risked a glance behind her when she smashed into someone, knocking her off balance. Strong hands reached and grabbed her, saving her from a nasty fall backward. She only caught sight of the man for a second then she opened her mouth to scream, cut short when a hand slapped across her mouth, silencing her before throwing her into a small, dark room just to her left.
    Madison fought to free herself from the man’s grip but his leather-clad hand was clamped tightly over her mouth, holding her in place. The heat from his palm sank into her face as she struggled to breathe. She was damned if she was going to give up now. Giving in to the feral nature that overcame her, she opened her mouth against his gloved hand, biting as hard as she could, feeling her teeth sink into the leather and through it. The coppery taste of his blood flooded her mouth almost making her gag but still she held on. Refusing to give in to her captor, she dug her teeth in even harder, grinding her teeth against the flesh of his hand.
    Abruptly, the hand in her mouth was ripped away. She was spun around, striking the wall solidly with her back. Though she couldn’t see, she sensed the stranger closing in on her and she tried desperately to bring her knee up where she thought it might have the best contact. It was easily swatted away.
    “Don’t do that, it only makes me grumpy,” her unseen captor said lightly. “Don’t scream and don’t try to run. If you do, he might hear you and then I’ll have to kill him.”
    Before she even had time to register what he was saying, the room was awash in dim light.
    She stared into the coldest, blue eyes she’d ever seen. No, it couldn’t be . . .
    “Don’t scream.” he repeated, his voice as icy as his eyes.
    Madison’s eyes widened and instinctively made a run for the door, her mouth open to scream. But he caught her around her waist easily, the muscles of her stomach flexing against his strong hands. She fought with everything she had but she wasn’t going anywhere. He pushed her against the wall, holding her there firmly, his hand on her mouth again. The black lace dress she wore suddenly felt too tight as she struggled to breathe. Her breasts strained against the material as she gulped air rapidly against the palm of his hand. She saw his eyes drop to her chest in momentary interest but then, just as quick, he adverted his eyes, swinging them upward to meet hers.
    “I told you not to scream. Don’t do it again.”
    The hard, flat edge in his voice took out any fight that she might have had left in her. She felt fear fill her veins and settle in the pit of her stomach like a block of ice.
    “Now be quiet and I’ll let you go, understand?”
    Not daring to believe that, Madison simply nodded slowly against his hands. The gripping pressure lifted as he slowly moved his hand from her face. Her breath was coming easier now that he no longer had her face covered and her eyes were burning with tears. Refusing to give in to that weakness, she blinked them back, letting her anger take over. That was much better than the tears. She didn’t want to die