Free Capture the Rainbow by Iris Johansen

can’t fight these men alone. We’ll have to go for help.”
    But it appeared that no help was needed. Now that he was free, the bushy-haired victim seemed to be more than competent to handle the situation. He was holding the bearded man by the throat with a grip that was turning the man’s face a livid hue, while his elbow slammed into the man on his right. With an incredible swiftness for one so large, he whirled and lifted his knee in an agonizing blow to the loins of the man on his left, then with crushing force bashed together the heads of the other man and the bearded knife wielder. It was over so quickly that Kendra could only gasp as she watched the three men sink to the ground in various states of semiconsciousness.
    Their bruised and bloody Samson wasn’t waiting to enjoy his victory, however. He turned and took both women by the elbows and ran down the street half pushing, half carrying them along.
    Behind them they heard a dazed groan and a shout of rage just as they reached the jeep. They scrambled into the vehicle and Billie reversed, then made a screeching U-turn that almost threw Kendra out of the passenger seat and caused the fierce Arab in the rear to cling grimly to the seat in front of him.
    Then they were racing recklessly down the cobbled street. Kendra cast a frantic glance behind them to see one of their pursuers stop in the middle of the street, lift a furious fist, and shout what was obviously an obscenity at them. Billie turned the corner and they were once more back on a busy thoroughfare. Kendra sat back with a sigh of relief as Billie eased up on the accelerator.
    “I think we lost them,” Billie said breathlessly. “Damn, I was scared.”
    “You could have fooled me,” Kendra said dryly. “Do you often take on three murderous brutes like those or did you simply want to provide me with a little local color?” Suddenly she began to laugh. “I have to admit you’re right, Billie. I certainly found our little side excursion
sinfully
fascinating.” She glanced at the scowling barbarian in the backseat. “And just what do you intend to do with him?”
    Billie was frowning uncertainly. “I don’t quite know. I guess we’ll wait until we get to the outskirts of the city and let him out. I wouldn’t want those men to catch him again.”
    “Not after you almost got yourself drawn and quartered rescuing him.” Kendra chuckled, then shook her head wonderingly. “And you thought being a stuntwoman would liven up your life. At least I get paid for taking chances.”
    “Well, there really wasn’t anything else I could do,” Billie argued defensively. “I couldn’t let a helpless man be hurt, perhaps even murdered, could I?”
    “He didn’t look exactly helpless when he was wiping the streets with those three thugs.” Kendra raised a brow in skepticism. “For a while I was even feeling a bit sorry for them.
I
certainly wouldn’t want to run up against our friend in a dark alley. He looks like a cross between Mr. T. and Bigfoot.” Her gaze ran over the Arab’s white shirt and baggy dark trousers tucked into soft beige suede boots. “With maybe a little Bedouin bandit thrown in.”
    “I think it’s all that wild shaggy hair,” Billie said, gazing into the rearview mirror. “I’m sure he could be very civilized looking in Western clothes.” She shrugged. “Well, it’s not really important. Everything turned out for the best. Neither one of us was hurt and we managed to rescue Hercules here. We’ll just drop him off and continue on our merry way.”
    When they pulled over to the side of the road a few minutes later, it appeared that Billie was woefully incorrect. Judging by the heated exchange in Arabic between their passenger and Billie and the growing frustration on her face, it was proving a far from satisfactory confrontation.
    “What’s going on?” Kendra asked in a temporary lull in the battle.
    Billie ran her hand distractedly through her mop of coppery curls.