page5 (1/2)

He didn’tquickened after she eased the glass out She covered the wound, the only one deep enough to still be bleeding, with a pad of gauze and taped it on Suppressing the urge to trace his skin again, she efficiently cleaned the already healing cuts on the rest of his back with disinfectant “There I don’t think I missed any”

Mick twitched his shoulders and turned toward her “I’ll do The last one will heal up on my next shift” He started to lift a hand, then stopped and shoved it in his pocket “You okay?”

She felt an odd flutter in her belly and had to work at keeping her voice steady “I don’t know But thank you for protecting me”

He didn’t say it Why would he? But she could hear the echo of his words froet added to that list, she wondered

Unable to hold his gaze or think about what it meant, Sophie stepped back and dropped her eyes to the phone he’d set aside on the dresser She needed some space As she stared at the phone, the face lit and the tones of A the Private Nu on the caller ID before she pressed Answer

“I expected you sooner, Sophie” The voice washer name that chilled Sophie to the bone

“Who is this?” she demanded

“For the purposes of this discussion, I’ you want, and if you do exactly as you’re told, I’ll consider giving her back in one piece”

Rage and terror ripped through her, coripped the phone, shoving back the tide, grabbing for the mask of professionalism

“How do I know you’ve really got her? I want proof of life”

There was a thu kicked over, then a low moan

“Sophie”

Liza Sophie’s heart thudded hard When she heard the kidnapper come back on the line she snarled, “You leave her alone you son of a bitch”

He laughed, and she felt her teh the broken s, Mick put a hand on her shoulder and rubbed The gale died down enough that she could hear again

“Temper temper, Sophie That will never do”