Read Online Danger in Paradise by Katie Reus - Free Book Online

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    She’d taken many self-defense classes over the years, but having that knife added another sense of security.
    A thud sounded from behind them. Luke quickened his movements and she had no choice but to follow. When they made it to the stairs, he pulled out his gun, but kept her near his side. The carpeting muted their movements as they hurried toward his room.
    Once inside he slipped the lock into place and pulled a flashlight from the bureau. Enough light filtered through his window that she could make out his movements, but it was growing darker by the second. She hated feeling like a spectator. After years of therapy and self-defense training, she couldn’t sit on the sidelines.
    Keeping her movements slow, she walked up to Luke and pulled his head down to her so that his ear was inches from her mouth. “What’s going on?”
    “I don’t know. Break-ins aren’t common, but I’m not taking a chance with you here. There’s a jeep in the covered shed behind the rose garden. I needed to get the keys,” he whispered back into her ear.
    Okay, so they were leaving. That was fine with her. She hated that she might lose all her camera equipment but she wasn’t stupid enough to argue.
    He handed her his gun and slipped a cell phone into his back pocket, then grabbed another gun and a set of keys. She left the knife on the bed. Briefly she wondered if it was even legal for him to have a gun with him, then quickly discarded the thought. To hell with legalities.
    A loud crash sounded downstairs from the kitchen, like someone had run into a chair or table. Luke motioned that he was going out first. He swept the hallway with his gun before motioning that she should follow. She noted he didn’t turn the flashlight on.
    Trying to keep her breathing as normal and quiet as possible, she felt along the wall. They passed her room and were almost to the edge of the stairs when the hair on the back of her neck raised. Warning tingles snaked down her spine. Before she could motion to Luke that something was off, a pair of steely arms wrapped around her upper body.
    Body odor and tobacco assaulted her senses. The smell was disgustingly familiar, and a rage buried deep inside unleashed her animalistic side.
    She didn’t think. She reacted. Being small had advantages. In a few swift movements, she shoved her arms outward at the same time she bent her knees to escape the embrace. Her gun dropped, but it didn’t matter. In calculated, fluid movements, she pivoted and prayed her elbow connected with something. The crunch of bone reverberated through the air. A man screamed obscenities. She wasn’t finished, though.
    She could feel Luke behind her, but she ignored him.
    The intruder’s shadow was visible enough now that she was facing him, so she advanced. It wasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever done, but something primal took over and she just acted. She kicked at one of his knees and was perversely pleased when he crumpled to the floor, howling in pain.
    “Run!” Luke shouted.
    He jerked her back and out of the way, then yelled at her again to get the jeep. As he lunged for the other man, he threw something over his shoulder toward her. Keys clattered to the floor. Heart racing, she felt around in the semi-darkness for a few seconds before her fingers clasped around the jagged metal.
    She wanted to stay and help but had no doubts about Luke’s ability to defend them. Not to mention his order to retrieve their getaway vehicle. If there was more than one person in the house she and Luke needed a way to escape. Grunts and the sound of fighting trailed behind her and she sent up a silent prayer for Luke.
    She raced down the stairs but paused when the lights flooded back on. Beads of sweat ran down her back and face. She had no idea why the lights were back on, but she assumed it wasn’t good. She flung open the front door, and all the air whooshed from her lungs.
    A blond-haired man dressed in all black stood on the porch.