Free Silent Pursuit by Lynette Eason

when—did Mario tell you to call Ian?”
    Gina blew out a sigh. It did sound bad when he put it that way. “It’s a long story, but yeah—that one. And he told me…”
    â€œLook, never mind. Where are you?” he interrupted.
    â€œI can’t tell you.”
    Gina braced herself for another eruption; then Ian took the phone from her hand.
    â€œThis is Ian. I’ll be taking care of the situation.”
    She watched, stupefied, as Ian smoothly handled her brother and his worried insistence that he come to help. In the end Ian won, reassuring Joseph that he had everything under control and saying he would call if he thought Joseph could help.
    Gina cleared her throat when Ian hung up the phone with a bemused smile on his face. She shrugged. “He loves me.”
    â€œTrust me, I know the feeling.”
    She blinked. “Huh?”
    He flushed as he realized what he’d implied. “I have a sister, too, remember?”
    Her face flamed. “Oh, right. Carly. Yes. Well. Um…”
    Ian grinned at her and she threw her hands up.
    And the laughter rolled out of both of them.
    When they caught their breath, Gina looked up at him. “It really wasn’t that funny.”
    â€œMaybe not, but I needed the laugh.”
    She sobered. “Yeah, better take it while you can.”
    Who knew when the next opportunity for a good belly laugh would present itself, given their current circumstances?
    Â 
    â€œGina.” The whisper and a rough shake of her shoulder jerked her out of a sound sleep. Terror shot waves of panic through her as a scream clawed to the top of her throat. A hand covered her mouth and blackness greeted her eyes. For a minuscule second she flashed back to the moment she’d stepped into her house and the blindfold had been slapped on her face. Now she struggled and tried to scream but nothing escaped the rough palm clamped over her lips, rough fingers digging into her cheek.
    She couldn’t breathe!
    Her heart fluttered like a butterfly held by one wing. Gathering her wits, she struggled against the grip, then whimpered as a large head descended toward her.
    â€œShh.” The whispered warning rolled from her like water from a duck. Fear overwhelming her, she continued her useless attempts to escape her captor.
    He said again, “Gina, shh. Be quiet.”
    His voice penetrated her fog of horror. Then she smelled his familiar scent. Peppermint.
    Ian.
    She ceased all movement and went limp against his hand. He moved it and said in a voice so soft she almost didn’t catch it, “Follow me.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Instinct made her whisper. Then she punched his arm—hard enough to make her wince at the pain that shot up from her knuckles. “Did you have to scare me to death?”
    â€œI’m sorry. I couldn’t take a chance on you screaming when I woke you up. Someone’s breached security. Nicholas’s taking care of things on his end, but I’ve got to get you out of here. Now, no more questions until we’re safe, okay?”
    The fear she’d felt only moments before returned in triplicate. “Right.” A quick glance at the bedside clock told her it was 3:00 in the morning.
    She slipped from beneath the covers, thankful she’d dressed in sweats. “I need shoes.”
    A sound outside the door had him hurrying her even faster. “No time.”
    So, once again, she would be making a run for it barefoot. “Why don’t I hear an alarm going off?”
    â€œIt’s a silent alarm. Now, hush.”
    She hushed and held tight to his warm hand, following closely on his heels. She had no idea how they would get out of the house without running into whoever had tripped the alarm, but she’d just have to trust Ian to keep her safe.
    He led her away from the door where they’d heard noise and out of the second door that led into the hall, gun gripped in his right