Free Silent Pursuit by Lynette Eason Page B

tied to me, remember?”
    She gave a watery, humorless puff of a chuckle that came out sounding like more of a grunt. The terror shuddered inside her in spite of Ian’s reassuring presence and highly trained skills. “That simply means if I fall, you do, too.”
    â€œJust,” he grunted, “give me one more second.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    â€œGetting you off that limb. Okay, I’m wedged in here, now start coming my way, inch by inch. Now that I’m off the limb, maybe it’ll hold for you.”
    â€œMaybe?” she squeaked.
    â€œMove, Gina, we don’t have much time.”
    She moved. Slowly, ever so slowly, she worked her way over to the sound of his voice. The limb gave another groaning creak and she froze.
    Ian’s whisper reached her. “Don’t stop now—you’re almost here.”
    She kept going—until she lost her grip. One hand slipped off and she dangled like a monkey, cramped fingers holding on for dear life, the other arm windmilling, trying to grab back onto the limb. A whimper escaped her.
    Then a hard hand clasped her flailing wrist and Ian hauled her the rest of the way over and up against his chest’s rapidly beating heart.
    She stood there, shivering, arms clasping the man who was determined to keep her safe and scare her to death all in one night.
    â€œReady?”
    They still had to get down the tree to the ground—then somehow get to the car.
    Suddenly, the cold air hit her and she couldn’t stop shaking. How would she make it down the tree? It seemed as if an hour had passed since they’d started this run for their lives, yet in reality she knew it had been only minutes.
    â€œOkay. I’m ready,” she gasped.
    â€œFollow me.”
    He started the trek down the tree, one foot gently placed, the other following. Slowly, they worked their way down. Just as they touched the ground, the balcony door opened above them and a uniformed body leaned over the railing. He paused, spotted them, then mimicked Ian’s initial move.
    He jumped for the tree.
    When he hit the limb, it gave another booming snap—and man and limb fell two stories to crash at the base of the tree.
    Ian grasped her hand and pulled her after him, her bare feet tickled by the rain-drenched yard and nearly frozen stiffas the cold wind blew across her. She looked back to see the man lying there, not moving. Was he dead?
    There was no time to find out.
    Ian led her to the edge of the moat and without hesitation, hit the water, yanking her after him.
    The cold wetness came to her waist and nearly sucked the air from her lungs. Her knees buckled but she pressed on and within seconds was out on the other side, dripping water and shivering like someone struck with a seizure. “Wh-wh-what now?” she stuttered.
    Ian pulled a set of keys out of his sopping pants. “Get in.”
    He’d moved the car. To the other side of the moat.
    â€œYou planned for this?” She crawled in, not worrying about soaking the seat; she just wanted to get away.
    â€œI used to be a Boy Scout.”
    Slamming the door, she grabbed the seat belt. Intuition told her this might be a rough ride.
    Ian started the car, backed up, put the vehicle in Drive—and came nose-to-nose with headlights. “Duck down!”
    Slamming the car into Reverse, he skidded backward, flinging the wheel to the right, then the left.
    Then back into Drive.
    Gina lifted her head as the wheels squealed on the concrete. “What about the gate?” she panted.
    â€œMy guess is it’s open—just in case they needed to get out quick. If not, I’ll have to figure something else out.”
    A minute later his guess proved true. The gates stood wide, beckoning them into the darkness beyond. Ian sped through.
    â€œThey’re behind us, Ian.” Her heart pounded in her chest, fear clogging her throat. “How did they know where we were? How did