Page 56 (1/2)

Frantic with the need to get free, she scissored her legs to peel the rest of the torn tape from her ankles Her wrists were still cuffed behind her, but move, move, move She squirmed to the end of the box and kicked the flaps The top burst open, and Gabi rolled out

Too ainst her On the wharf,toward the docks She turned her head Cesar sprawled on the dock near her Farther away, ures blurred, cleared

Marcus Aa thick

No, please, no She struggled to rise The blowhim back

In front of Gabi, Cesar pushed to his feet and drew the pistol fros under her and dove at Cesar Her shoulder slas buckled, and he yelled as he toppled backward

A ton of weight landed on her back, al her arms from the sockets Her knees scraped the concrete Mouth still taped, she struggled for air

"Bitch" Cesar rolled off, lunged for the pistol just out of his reach Sucking in air, she twisted and kicked his leg, sending him to his knees A e, he lurched toward her Oh God She rolled frantically away, over her bound arms

"Gabi!" Marcus yanked her to her feet and whirled her aside A pipe flew past her head Aout of the slip

Dizzy, Gabi staggered sideways She caught her balance and turned back toward the men Her breath stopped as Cesar pointed the pistol directly at her "You fucking cunt"

?Fucking cunt? Hands tearing her clothing, yelling horrible names… Gabi’s body froze as her brain went blank Marcus’s yell, "Gabi, down!" hit the surface of her mind and bounced away

A brutal shove knocked her to one side She hit the ground hard, breaking the paralysis Marcus blocked her view of Cesar

The sharp crack of a pistol shattered the air Marcus htly Blood, terrifyingly red, stained his light shirt Growing bigger

Nooo

Snapping sounds like a multitude of fireworks deafened her, and Cesar screa Men--many men--thudded down the dock

Marcus She tried to sit up, failed, tried again Oh please

Cesar lay, eyes open A uniformed cop stopped beside him, then kicked the pistol farther away Another , Marcus had his hand pressed to his shoulder, and blood in a nighters He’s hurt God no Gabi choked, rolled onto her knees, trying frantically to stand with legs that had no strength

So her No no no A tidal wave of terror took her, and she fought blindly, yanking her wrists, unable to scream

The hands released her She was free…and Marcus was there, his face filling her vision She blinked Not dreaers curled around her bare shoulder

"Easy, sugar It’s over You’re safe, sweetheart" His voice, like no one else’s, convinced her

Her heart still raced, but she could only stare at hi

"Bastards," he said under his breath, as he peeled the duct tape off her lips ever so slowly

"Sir, you’re hurt" A man bobbed at his elbow

"In aout of her es "There, now you can sass all you want"

As he touched her face with gentle fingers, soripped her ar to escape, but Marcus held her shoulders,her handcuffs She held still, barely breathing, ignoring the pain as he pulled away the o, sweetie" She knew that voice

As she brought her arony in her shoulders mattered not at all Free