Читать книгу Explosive Alliance - Susan Sleeman - Страница 15

SEVEN

Krista fought hard. Her fists. Her elbows. Punching. Pummeling. Striking anywhere she could. She connected, catching the masked intruder by surprise and shoving him away. Scrambling, she dropped to the floor. Shadows clung to the wood. She groped around. Frantic, hurried movements, searching for her gun. Finally, she touched the edge of the cool metal.

Yes! Only an inch more.

A hand came around her ponytail. Jerked hard. Pain screamed through her scalp. He kept pulling, bringing her to her feet. His arm snaked around her waist. He dragged her toward the door as if planning to abduct her.

She couldn’t let that happen. Self-defense courses her father had insisted she take came rushing back. She threw herself back, hit him hard and unsettled him. He flailed around, trying to regain his balance.

She dived for the gun.

“Krista, are you all right?” a male called from outside the back door.

Cash Dixon?

“Cash, is that you?” she yelled, her mind racing to figure out her next steps.

Her attacker paused to listen for a minute. A perfect opportunity to act. She grabbed the gun and scrambled to her feet in front of the door. Lifted the weapon. Aimed.

The intruder held his hands up and inched backward.

“Stop,” she screamed, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

He kept moving.

She raised the gun higher. He suddenly turned and bolted down the hallway toward the back door. She held the gun at the ready but couldn’t shoot. Didn’t know if she could ever shoot another person. She stepped into the hallway. A wave of light swept in from the open door leading to the deck. She could see a man with a flashlight standing just outside.

Dear God, please let it be Cash.

Her attacker barreled ahead, plowing Cash to the ground. The light went out.

Terrified to act, Krista waited—the gun still in her hand.

“Krista, it’s Cash Dixon.” The worried voice came from the deck. “Are you all right?”

“I am now,” she managed to say.