To Claim Her by Renee Burke Page A

her usual independent self, she would do it. Even if it meant suffering through this unease feeling from being in her own skin these days.  As long as she had the independence of her home, she could tough it out.  Eddie was counting on her. 
    Light flooded the room through the front window of her home.  She eased to the edge of the drapes and peeled them back.  She could make out the brilliance of headlights and narrowed her eyes at the dark vehicle sitting outside.   
    A bolt of lightning stretched across the sky before she heard a sharp crack, different from the rolling thunder moments before.  Much closer and louder. 
    Time seemed to slow as she watched through the window.  A tree dropped closer. The room grew dark as the roof thundered and cracked, crashing through the roof.  She spun so it landed just inches to her right.  Smaller branches slammed her to the floor so hard her teeth rattled.
    She lay stunned, the breath knocked out of her, in a pile of rubble and glass.  If the kidnapper had returned, she was screwed.  She thought of him as a stranger but she couldn’t be sure.  How could she protect herself now?
    She was stunned and dizzy from the force of her fall.  She tested her arms and legs, not finding any particular area of pain.  The movement stung her skin as she slid across shattered glass on the floor.  The rain pelted her face, and she closed her eyes against the drops.
    Someone was at the door.   Her lagging brain considered the irony that someone would take the time to break through the door to kill her when there was a gaping hole in the front of her living room.
    She heard a loud retort, and the door crashed against the wall.  She tried to turn her head to see who was coming, but sharp branches jabbed her neck.  The pile of wood and drywall piled around her made it impossible to escape.
    “Lie still.  I’ll get you out.” Mark’s voice. 
    She wanted to cry in relief or respond with gratitude but didn’t know what to say.  She wasn’t even sure what she should say.  She couldn’t respond with her usual bold attitude because she was so obviously in need.  And he had come to rescue her even though he was incredibly angry. 
    The space beside her opened up as Mark dragged beams and furniture away from her body.  She whined when the branch lodged on her wrist was moved.
    “It’s okay, sweetheart.  We’re almost there.”  He cleared enough that he could lift her, painfully, free to sit in the area in front of the door.  The debris on the floor was scratchy on her bare arms and legs but her tank and sleep shorts at least offered some protection for her torso. 
    “Are you injured anywhere?”
    She held her arm protectively to her belly but shook her head.  Bits of glass and dust fell to the floor.  Sirens echoed in the distance.
    He gently brushed the rest of the particles from her face with his fingers.  “Let me help you up. Can you get up?”
    “I’m okay.  Just stunned.  How’d you get here so fast?” 
    “I called Landry to get an update and learned they weren’t sending a car.”  He closed his eyes for a moment and his lips thinned.  “You should have told me.”
    He had come back to protect her, even though he was angry with her.  Perhaps he had matured too. 
    “Dad called me on the way.  A tornado warning came across his weather radio.  I figured the lines were down but still wanted to check on you.   Getting here as the neighbor’s tree crashed into your living room was just luck.”
    She nodded.  “The power went out just a few minutes before you showed up.”  Red and blue lights illuminated the doorway.  “Police?”
    “I called 911 from my cell when the tree dropped.  My heart nearly came out of my chest when I saw where it landed.  Right on top of where you’d been standing.”  He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her.  He smelled of cologne and man and she tried not to lean in too close because the mingling