Shatter Read Online Free PDF Page B

snatched her up again, pulled her to her feet. A waterfall filled her ears. She twisted, struggled. Fisted her hands and flung them backward, beating off whatever restricted her.
    “Hali, stop .” The voice penetrated. Male. Distant. Angry. “It’s me. It’s Mitch.”
    Mitch. Mitch.
    Her heart thumped hard. Swelled with relief.
    He pulled her around, his hands gentle, arms strong. He swiped hair from her face, clearing her eyes, and gazed down at her with so much concern, a cold place inside her warmed.
    “Look at me, baby.” His voice had turned husky. Deep and sexy. He was breathing hard and held her so tight, but tenderly with one arm around her back, one hand behind her head. Those beautiful eyes shimmered in the strange lights coming from different angles. “Are you with me? Are you all here?”
    “Where?”
    “That’s what I was afraid of.” He released her head and gripped one side of her face tight, pressing his forehead to hers. His eyes drifted closed. “Damn, you know how to scare the hell out of a man.”
    She laughed. Or thought she did.
    “Honey, the neighbors are out. Sirens are coming. We have to get out of here.”
    He pulled her into a sitting position. Took her face, gently this time, in both hands. In the aftermath of the attack, the sweet gesture, his presence, his strength, urged her to lean into him. She relented, and sighed at the feeling of having someone to lean on. Finally.
    Finally.
    It had been so long.
    She covered his hand with hers. Color flashed in her peripheral vision and she glanced sideways. Red . . . on her skin. Blood.
    Have to get out of here.
    Urgency dribbled in. Uneasiness followed. His words—“baby,” “honey”—didn’t fit. But her brain hurt. She couldn’t think. And Mitch pulled her close, holding her forehead to his shoulder. Emotion pushed wetness into her eyes. She fisted the T-shirt over his rigid abdomen and took a shaky breath.
    “Tell me where the safe is and the combination,” he said. “I’ll get the research.”
    Ice slid down her spine. Then the gunman’s words pushed into her head.
    He’s fighting for himself, Beloi. Don’t think he won’t leave your ass in the dust . . .
    Betrayal cut like fire down the center of her body. She dulled the pain by calling herself stupid. Naïve. Foolish. And a dozen other nasty words for dragging hope from its grave.
    “It’s not there,” she said. “I lied to him.”
    “What?” he snapped. “Why?”
    She tensed and the sudden movement made her stomach roll. “I . . . don’t feel so good.”
    Mitch lifted her head from his shoulder. “We’ll get one of your neighbors to take care of the dog for a while—”
    “Wait, no.” She pulled away, closing her eyes when the street spun. “No one else needs to take care of him—”
    “Halina, we can’t take a dog when we don’t know—”
    “He comes with me. He always comes with me.” Why did she have to explain this? “I won’t leave him behind. Ever.”
    When he remained silent, Halina tried opening her eyes again. The warmth that had turned Mitch’s eyes such a stunning shade of golden-green just minutes ago had transitioned into irritation that made his irises bright green and as shiny as glass.
    He gripped her arms and pushed her back. The movement sent a wave of pain through her head, making her wince. “Nice to see you’ve developed a sense of loyalty over the years.”
    “Heather?” The voice of an older man came closer. “Heather, heavens, sweetheart, what happened?”
    She forced her eyes open and found Mr. Holland, a man in his seventies and her neighbor directly across the street, crouching in front of her. He was wrapped in a dark robe, his face creased in concern, gray hair in scraggly tufts.
    “Home invasion,” Mitch said, pulling away from Halina. “The other one got away. You should tell your neighbors to go back inside until the police get here.”
    “I’m sorry, who are you?” Mr. Holland frowned at Mitch. “We