Free Tightly Wound by Mia Dymond Page B

“I’m just ready for this to end.”
    He leaned near, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke. “It won’t be long. The evidence is strong.”
    She squeezed his hand again. “I’m tired of hiding.” She lifted her gaze to his. “Something is going to happen today. I feel it, and it’s not good.”
    Shadow brought her hand to his lips and softly brushed them across her knuckles. “I won’t leave your side.”
    “It’s not me I’m worried about.”
    “Will you two stop?” Brett hissed. “We’re in court for Christ’s sake.”
    Claire turned and gave her brother a weak smile. “His touch helps.”
    “Hell.” Brett crowded her further with his big body. “Better?”
    “Yes.”
    Once the judge called the trial to order, Claire forced herself to relax. Shadow and Brett strengthened her shields and she kept the emotion was bay. Until she took the witness stand.
    Hate and rage burnt her like lightning bolts. Despair ripped her skin until she thought blood might actually drip from her veins. She answered questions as best she could, almost broken in two when the defense rested.
    She left the stand, her sole focus on the path out of the courtroom. Her head swam. Polka dots danced in her vision. Vertigo attached her equilibrium. Shadow caught her as she stumbled into a bench that lined the crowded sterile hall.
    She melted against him, her shields completely useless. “Everything is so different this time.”
    He lowered her to sit. “You’re the target.”
    She fought the impending darkness. This crazed idiot would not break her. He would not win.
    She clenched Shadow’s biceps in desperation. “I need some air.”
    “We’re almost done,” he assured her. “Brooks said five minutes.”
    Panic crawled her spine. Death wrapped its fingers around her throat and squeezed. “No,” she shrieked.
    Her cheeks heated when her outburst caused several people to turn and stare.
    “Sorry,” she croaked.
    He pushed her hair to one side and kneaded the tightly-clenched muscles at the back of her neck. “Better?”
    She struggled to force air across her vocal cords. Although she was now able to get a breath of fresh air, she knew it was only temporary. She gave him a brave smile. “Better.”
    “Liar.” He pulled her closer and buried her in his embrace. Tension dripped from her muscles and peace blanketed her body. She pressed her face further against the cotton of his t-shirt and inhaled. The masculine, wild, clean smell of Shadow filled her senses. Calm. Safe.
    “Gee-zus, Shadow.” Claire smiled against Shadow’s chest at the irritation in her brother’s voice. “Do you have to mark your territory everywhere you go?”
    Claire lifted her head.
    Shadow crammed her back against him. “We need to get her out of here.”
    The two men fell silent then she felt Brett’s thigh brush hers as he sat next to her and pressed closer. “Can you walk?”
    Claire slipped free of Shadow’s hold and glanced at her brother. “No.” As desperately as she wanted to leave, she knew her knees would buckle the minute she stood.
    “He’s here, isn’t he?”
    She swallowed the softball in her throat and rested her head against Shadow’s biceps. “I don’t know. There’s so much evil here.”
    She glanced at the row of prisoners who waited for their names to be called. Agony. Fury. Deep, dark, black ribbons of hatred streaked the hallway and rendered her helpless.
    Shadow kissed the top of her head. “We’ll wait until the place clears. That should give you some relief.”
    She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath to absorb the strength of the two men who completed the Claire sandwich. Warm fuzzies tickled her insides while cylinders of comfort wrapped her from head to toe. The ache in her head eased. Sleep beckoned. Surrounded by incredible security, she pushed herself deeper unconscious, interrupted only when Shadow nudged her cheek with his shoulder.
    “We have company,” he whispered.
    Claire lifted her