Read Captive Heart for Free Online Page B

white top. You’ll stick out like a sore thumb out there.”
    At first she nodded dumbly at his command, picking up the bag as she quickly followed him, but his next words made her stop in her tracks.
    “You want me to do what ?” she asked incredulously. “I don’t want go topless out there, and this isn’t the time to be pulling this sort of crap, you horny bastard.”
    “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Day closed his eyes for a second, leaning his head back against the wall. He lifted his head up and looked at her sharply. “Look, you daft female, these guys aren’t it. There’s going to be more of them out there, and chances are they’ve got the road covered. So we’re going to have to go across country, through woodland. You go out there wearing that and you may as well wave a damn flag saying, ‘come get me.’”
    She opened her mouth then snapped it closed as if she couldn’t find a retort. Instead, she turned to rummage through a closet and pulled on a dark jacket. It was too big for her, but it would do the job well. She zipped it up to her neck and rolled the sleeves twice. Once again he realized just how much bigger he was than her.
    “Does this work?” she grumbled like a petulant child seeking approval.
    “Better,” he rumbled, sparing her another short glance before turning his attention back to the scene outside. All was quiet, but he knew better than to rely on that. Even now, they were probably moving into position for a second assault. It didn’t help that she looked cute as all hell wearing his jacket. Like a kid playing dress-up.
    A kid with curves in all the right places.
    He clamped down on that thought. He needed all his wits about him. “How fast can you run in those things?” He flicked a glance down at her feet, clad in the ridiculously heeled boots. She could roll the sleeves up on his jacket and make fit, but footwear was a different matter.
    “But these are Prada,” she protested, but obviously relenting to practicality, she sat down and discarded the boots. Besides, they looked hopelessly ruined from their trekking earlier and her attempt to escape.
    “You wouldn’t happen to have size six and a half boots around here somewhere would you?” she asked him, hope in her tone.
    He shook his head. “Not into women’s fashion. You’ll have to go as you are. When I say three, you hit the ground running and don’t stop. You got me? See that fallen log? Head for that and into the woods. Keep going. I’ll catch up.”
    ***
    Rollie shook her head. She’d have to go barefoot, which would be hell but a whole lot better than trekking in wilderness with high heels. Breaking an ankle because of a stiletto wasn’t exactly a good thing while trying to get away from a bunch of killers. “What if they’re waiting for us out there?” she asked, hesitating.
    A muscle in his jaw jumped, his gaze scanning the surroundings again. Not idly, she realized, but there seemed to be a specific pattern to it. As though he was trying to catch movement out the corner of his eye.
    “They will be. You let me deal with that. You keep running, and if anyone tries to stop you, you shoot them. Understand?” he asked, holding his hand out for the backpack.
    She had to trust him. She had no other choice. She handed over the backpack. After a deep breath, silent words of self-motivation, and a quiet prayer heavenward, she positioned herself by the door and calculated the time it would take her to reach the log and then disappear into the woods.
    She’d gone camping before, so she wasn’t a stranger to the wilderness. But then again, she hadn’t been on the run from ruthless ogres trying their best to kill her. And right now, the very forest she was about to head was most likely teeming with a bunch of them.
    He pulled the backpack over his shoulder and switched the rifle from one hand to the other in a motion that spoke of long practice. Finally, he looked at her. “Okay, on three.