Free Her Dangerous Promise - Part 2: (Romantic Suspense Serial) by Ashley Stryker Page B

Mary into talking to him, had a decidedly different affect on him. As close as he pressed, he didn’t—wouldn’t—touch her, even if he ached to do just that. Swallowing, he remembered the reason for the tactic. Either due to denial or naïvety, Mary didn’t recognize the depths of her peril. He feared for her safety with every fiber of his being. He had to make her understand the danger. Softly, he murmured, “Then, when your guard is down and no one is around to save you,” he paused, letting the uncertain silence stretch, “he’ll come for you again.”
    Mary slumped against him, her head pressing to his chest. “I can’t.”
    Thom wrapped his arms around Mary. He rested his cheek on the smooth flow of hair on top of her head and inhaled her delicate scent. He rubbed his palms up and down the stiff fabric of the scrub top he’d scrounged from the hospital for her to wear. Man, she felt good, fitting perfectly, as if designed precisely for him. Thom’s muscles hummed with excitement wanting to press her even more tightly, and much more intimately, against him. “Trust me, Mary.”
    She sobbed, “I can’t. Please, don’t ask me again.”
    Thom leaned back, pushing Mary to arm’s length by her narrow shoulders and searching her face. “Why? Why won’t you tell me?”
    Mary refused to meet his gaze. “I can’t. I just can’t.”
    The cell phone on Thom’s belt chirped, breaking the moment. Thom ignored the first two rings while he watched Mary and struggled to understand what influence the attacker still wielded that forced her to remain silent even now.
    Giving up for the moment, Thom answered the phone. “Brady.”
    “The hospital told me you took the victim home.” Captain O’Neal launched into the conversation with his usual gruffness. “What has she given you?”
    “Hang on a second.” Thom carried his cell phone outside, leaving Mary to watch him go without a word. Let her stew in the juices of her own fear for a while, maybe that will bring her to her senses. He hated frightening her but he had to make her see the truth.
    Once outside, he closed the front door to ensure his privacy. “She’s not told me much, Captain. She doesn’t seem to know the guy, so that makes tracking him more difficult. Whoever he is put the fear of God into her because she clammed up. Although she hasn’t said it, I figure he threatened to hurt her if she cooperated with the police and she’s taking that warning seriously.”
    “If she isn’t cooperating work another angle. I know tomorrow is Sunday but I’ve called a nine o’clock meeting to go over the forensics.”
    Thom scanned the empty street. He hadn’t seen a single one of Mary’s neighbors since they’d arrived. “Do me a favor. Increase the patrols of Miss Seeton’s neighborhood. I’m not convinced this guy won’t come back.”
    “Will do.”
    Thom hung up. As he opened the door and stepped in, Mary rushed to him, breathless and pale. Her appearance immediately set off mental alarms. “What’s wrong?”
    “You don’t have to leave, do you?” She clutched his arm with her shaky hands. “Can’t you stay? For a while. Just for tonight. Please.”
    His scare tactics had worked. Good. She needed to understand the gravity of her situation. Her abductor might come after her again at any time.
    Apparently, his hesitation only compounded her worries. She jittered so violently she couldn’t stand still. “I’ll make you dinner,” she offered. “You can sleep on the couch.”
    Her anxiety reached a fever pitch. Even though he considered using her fear as leverage to pressure her for information, he couldn’t stand to see her squirm. Besides, if he stayed, he could keep her safe. “I’ll stay.”
    “Thank God.” Mary hugged him tightly and Thom returned the embrace out of reflex. Mary’s slim arms circled his neck so tightly her breasts squished into his chest and sent his blood pressure skyrocketing. He inhaled her sweet aroma,