Abducted Heart (Z-Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

around her, she fought to get free.
    “It's me, Casey. Calm down.”
    She looked up with tear-filled eyes and saw Lynch, then wrapped her arms around his neck, too relieved to care that the only thing separating her body from his was a thin piece of nylon fabric.
    “You're all right, Casey. I'm here. You don't have to cry.”
    She sobbed while he cradled her into his arms and lifted her out of the closet. He held her tight, whispering reassuring words until she became aware of him. The feel of his warm skin next to hers. He wasn't wearing a shirt and he smelled of sandalwood and pine. The scent stirred a fire in her belly. This was the man she'd loved from the moment she had met him. The man who said he loved her and then walked away.
    The thought hit Casey like an icy blast to her system.
    “Put me down.” She pushed forcefully against his chest until he placed her onto the bed. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, she asked, “Did you see anyone?”
    “No. But your back door was wide open. That's how I got in.”
    Casey shook her head. “No way. I always lock my doors.”
    “Did Brent have a set of keys on him when he was taken?”
    “Of course. You think the kidnappers took them? That it was them in the house? Why? What were they after?”
    “My guess is they didn't want to wait for the money. They came to get it. Which means, they've been watching your every move. Somehow they knew you'd gotten the cash.” He glanced around the room. “Where is it? Could they have found the money?”
    Casey shook her head again. “No. It's in a hidden safe, and only I know the combination.”

 
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Lynch stared at Casey, who sat fidgeting on the edge of the bed. His body instantly reacted to what she wore—or better yet, what little. The clingy, pale-pink nightgown left nothing to the imagination. Her pert nipples beckoned , causing a firestorm to erupt inside him.
    He blew out a breath and glanced around. The bedding lay in a heap off to the side of the bed, suggesting that whoever had been in the room was after Casey.
    He looked back at the woman in question.
    She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, her back ramrod straight.
    Lynch had no intention of telling her what he thought. She looked scared enough.
    “I'm going down to see if I notice anything out of place.” Lynch started for the door.
    “You won't leave, will you?”
    He turned back and shook his head. “No. I'm just going to check out everything below.”
    Lynch took the stairs to the lower level, searching for anything that appeared odd. Hell, this whole thing was weird. Brent's kidnappers were going to get the ransom tomorrow night. Why break in to take it?
    A bitter taste filled his mouth.
    He quickly checked each room, a sinking feeling growing in his gut.
    If the intruder came for the money, why wasn't a thing out of place? By all rights, the house should have been ransacked. Yet it wasn't. That in itself told him whoever was in the house had Casey in his sights. But why? What were they planning to do with her?
    Lynch threaded his fingers through his hair.
    No way could he leave her alone now. Not with this.
    So, how was he going to find out who kidnapped Brent when Casey needed around-the-clock protection?
    He might be able to take her with him in the morning, but then what if Brent's abductor called while they were out? Would they stick to their plan and contact her tomorrow night? Who could say?
    There was only one thing he could do. Call in reinforcements.
    He unclipped the phone from his belt, punched four on his speed dial and waited.
    “Hello,” a gravelly voice answered.
    “Zack, I need you to fly to New Orleans, and I need you to do it like yesterday.”
    “What's going on?”
    “I'll tell you when you get here.”
    “Be on the next flight.”
    Lynch snapped his phone shut and went to secure the back door he'd left open when he'd rushed into the house. He'd been too worried about Casey to care about