Recon Marines II: Marine's Heiress, The by Susan Kelley Page B

the bonds into one thick loop. A nut the size of her
fist kept the links from sliding off the bolt. She knelt beside it
and wrapped both hands around the hexagonal metal piece. Months of
kneading bread paid off when the nut gave way to her strong
grip.
    “ I’m not sure you should
do that, lass,” Vannie said. “Let’s listen to Vin on
this.”
    Emma pulled free the chain links
connected to the unconscious man and then redid the nut to hold the
other man in his place. Once the chains were free, she saw the
clever way Vin had woven them to keep the bounds tight. Not that
restraints were needed on the injured man. Her concern of a serious
head injury grew with his continuing unconsciousness. Nothing in
her surgery could treat a cerebral blood clot or any type of brain
swelling.
    Worried that he might tumble from the
chair, Emma braced his shoulder with her one hand while she unwound
the chain that circled his chest and waist. Before she could set
the chain aside, the man exploded from his chair. He swung his arm
and caught her full in the chest. The blow threw her back against
the heavy metal workbench. Pain shot through her hip as she slammed
into the edge and then careened off it to land on the
floor.
    “ Son of a bitch!” Vannie
shouted. But he and Moe closed in quickly on the thickly muscled
thief while the other prisoner begged his friend to free
him.
    The escapee drove his shoulder into
Moe’s middle so the both of them tumbled to the floor. Before
Vannie could reach out and grab him, the man rolled free of Moe and
ran for the door. With a maniacal laugh he threw it open and
plunged into the night.
    Emma tried to catch her breath around
the pain shooting from her bruised hip. She needed to check on Moe.
Before she could push herself from the floor, Vin was there and
offered her a hand. She expected to see anger, but instead he
looked at her in that even, careful way he had. His warm fingers
gripped hers firmly, an aura of calm and control emanating from him
to surround her.
    Her racing heart slowed, and the fine
tremors of fear in her muscles stilled.
    “ Are you injured?” His
gaze swept over her, and when it lifted to hers again warmth
darkened it.
    The cool breeze sneaking in the open
doorway stirred her thin night shirt and alerted Emma that her robe
had been knocked open during her tumble. Vin still held her hand,
but it wasn’t his grasp keeping her so close to him. So close she
could feel his heat along the length of her body. All she needed to
do was rise slightly on her toes and touch her lips….
    “ Did he hurt you, Emma?”
Moe’s big hand landed on her shoulder. She hadn’t even noticed he’d
regained his feet.
    Vin dropped her hand and walked behind
the cursing prisoner where he checked the integrity of the
restraints.
    “ I’m fine.” Emma retied
her robe. “I’m so sorry, Vin. You tried to tell me.”
    Vin checked the gun and knife hanging
from his belt. More packets had joined the weapons, explaining his
reasons for going to the loft.
    “ What do we do now?”
Vannie asked. “If he reports back to the Underboss that we know he
was behind this, he might send enough men to keep us quiet. All
these incidents must track back to him.”
    “ The robber won’t get back
to the Underboss.” Vin strode toward the door. “I’ll bring him
back.”
    They hurried after him out onto the
street. All the lights except the one spilling from Vin’s open
doorway were out, leaving the long nearly straight street silvery
with starlight. The escaped robber struggled with the bar on the
north gate. Even from over a hundred yards away, Emma could hear
his desperate curses.
    Vannie snorted. “Vin set a bolt into it
today. It’s not so easily lifted as last time.”
    “ Let’s go get him.” Moe
started down the street.
    The man looked over his shoulder at
them and then started to scramble up the gate. Somehow he found
handholds and pulled himself over the top.
    “ Let him go,” Vin said.
“I’ll