Free Stolen Heart by Sawyer Bennett Page A

didn’t trust any man at this point, and Kieran couldn’t blame her.
    “Okay, Sheila.  Let’s shake a leg,” Annika said.  “I don’t want to take a chance of Monty coming back.”
    Sheila walked deeper into the apartment to get her bag.  Annika and Kieran followed her into her bedroom.  She had two large suitcases and a smaller duffel bag.  Annika took one look and started shaking her head.
    “I’m sorry, Sheila.  But we can’t take all of that.  The room at the shelter is very limited and we need to move quickly.  I need you to narrow it down to one bag.”
    “Oh, gosh.  Annika I forgot you said just one bag.  I was just so nervous when Monty left, I just started throwing stuff together.  Maybe this was a bad idea.”  Sheila was sounding panicky and Kieran noticed she was wringing her hands together.
    “It’s okay.  I want you to calm down.  It’s going to be fine.  Let’s go ahead and open your bags up, and choose what you need.”
    Tears welled up in Sheila’s eyes but she nodded.  Kieran watched Annika kneel down beside Sheila and they started repacking one bag.  He stood in the bedroom doorway, watching the women.  Annika moved swiftly and assuredly.  Sheila was a trembling mess of nerves.  He couldn’t imagine the courage it was taking for her to do this.  And he was beyond impressed with Annika.  She knew just what to say and what to do to handle the situation.
    Kieran went on alert as he heard someone sticking a key in the front door and rattling it.  Annika and Sheila heard it too.  He heard Sheila whisper fearfully, “It’s Monty.”
    They all heard the door open and then close again.  “Sheila!  Get your ass in here girl.” 
    Kieran eased the bedroom door closed and looked around.  The bedroom window had a fire escape.  “Annika. Take Sheila and get down the fire escape. Now.”
    “What about you?” Annika whispered.
    “I’ll be right behind you.”
    Annika crept to the window and slid it open. It didn’t any noise but the sounds of New York City poured in. Beeping cars, sirens, music.  Kieran stood by the door.  He heard Monty yell again for Sheila, and he sounded pissed.
    Annika got Sheila to the window and was pushing her out.  He watched as she started her way down the fire escape.  Annika stuck a leg through but before climbing out, looked at Kieran. “Come on.  Let’s go.”
    “On my way.”  Kieran started walking to the window and had just reached it when the bedroom door burst open.  An enormous black man stood there.  Kieran could only assume it was Monty.
    “What the fuck you doin’ in my house?” Monty yelled as he reached into the back waistband of his pants and pulled out a gun.  “And where’s Sheila?”
    Holding the gun on Kieran, Monty looked around the room then he bellowed. “Sheila!  You better get in here, you bitch.”
    Kieran held his hands out and to the side, so as not to look like a threat.  “Sorry, dude. But Sheila’s gone. And you aren’t going to get your mangy hands on her again.” 
    Monty’s eyes narrowed and he turned the gun sideways as he pointed it at Kieran.  Kieran supposed he thought it made him look gangster style or something.  What an idiot . Didn’t he know that messed up your aim?
    “You are so dead.” Kieran knew Monty was close to pulling the trigger so he fired up his magic and sent a wave of concentrated energy to the gun.  It heated up fast in Monty’s hand, the metal grip flaring red. 
    Monty screamed in pain as his brain processed his hand just took a major third degree burn and the gun fell to the floor.  Monty was now bent over at the waist, moaning and looking in bewilderment at the blisters that covered his palm.  Kieran used the opportunity to drive an upper cut into the man’s jaw and he went flying backward into the wall.  He watched in satisfaction as Monty slumped to the floor, unconscious.
    Stifling the urge to kick the bastard in the ribs, Kieran turned toward