Twin Targets by Marta Perry Page B

Eloise,” she repeated. “Who is she?
    What do you want with her?”
    He ignored her protest. “You have a debt to pay.” He shoved her toward the door.
    She banged into it, making her head swim. The man caught the release bar and shoved it open. She stumbled as he propelled her out into the cold.
    “That’s right,” he said. “No fuss. We don’t want anyone else getting hurt, do we? We’ll just go for a drive so we can talk in private.”
    He steered her toward the alley. His car must be there—she could hear the motor running. Advice from a long-ago self-defense class echoed in her mind. Never get in a car with an assailant. Scream, kick, bite, do anything you can, but don’t get in the car, or you’ll be at his mercy.
    “No!” She screamed the word at the top of her lungs, swinging her free arm at him. “Help!”
    He struck her, hard, cutting off the cry, making her head spin. He grabbed both arms before she could react, nearly lifting her off her feet. He’d carry her to the car, she couldn’t get away—
    She struggled, kicked, tried to scream again, but he got his hand over her mouth, the leather of his glove cutting off her breath. No one would hear, by the time the women got help, it would be too late—
    A shout from down the street, the sound of pounding feet, sending a fresh burst of adrenaline through her. She fought, kicked, struggled—anything to make it harder for him, to give help time to reach them.
    He let go with one hand, reaching toward his pocket, maybe for a gun, but the footsteps were closer now, and the voice that rang out was Micah’s.
    “U.S. Marshals. Let her go. Put your hands where I can see them.”
    Cursing, the man threw her toward the building. She hit hard, dropping to the ground, bracing herself for a shot. It didn’t come. She caught a blurred impression of the man disappearing around the corner, heard the slam of a door and the roar of a powerful motor.
    Then Micah was there, lifting her gently, his hands strong on her arms, his breath fast. “Stay here.” He propped her against the wall and ran around the corner, his gun out.
    He’d be too late, she thought with what was left of her mind. The man had too much of a head start. Micah was back in a moment, his arm circling her, supporting her. “Easy,” he said. “Take it easy.”
    She took a breath, trying not to give way in front of him. And said the thing she’d never wanted to stay.
    “You were right. I can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous for other people.” She sucked in another breath on a sob she couldn’t stop. “I’ll have to go away.”
    When they reached Jade’s house, Micah left her in the truck while he did a quick check. It was unlikely the attacker had come here, since any vehicle would be clearly visible from the lane, but the man had already staged an attempt in front of a library full of kids. No use depending on him to act rationally. The house was empty and looked undisturbed. He returned to his vehicle to lead her inside. She looked numb. As if she was past feeling anything. She hadn’t spoken a word since those moments in front of the library.
    “Don’t worry,” he said, more to fill the silence than because he thought the words would actually do any good. “I’m checking you into a secure hotel in Billings. You’ll be safe there.”
    She shook her head but not in negation, more as if to shake off his words. “It doesn’t matter.”
    Her voice had lost its music. She sounded defeated. He’d been too relieved that she was actually letting him get her to a safe place to react to the pain she must be feeling.
    He didn’t know what to say. He watched as she dropped her jacket on the sofa. She looked around the room as if she’d never been there before.
    “I’m sorry.” He was, not that it did any good. “I don’t want to rush you, but if you just throw some things in a bag—”
    She nodded, walking toward the stairs. “It won’t take long.”
    “Take as much time