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doorknob.  She managed three inches of sunlight before his palm above her head slammed the door shut.  His other hand gripped the doorframe, imprisoning her between his body and the door.  “Where th—”
    She threw her head back and her skull connected with his chin.  Pain shot into his jaw, accompanied by her low grunt.
    “Sonofa—”
    A sharp elbow to his ribs on the left side forced the air from his lungs and sent him back a half step.  She pushed against him with her body, reaching for the door handle again.
    “Dammit, stop!” Trent closed his arms around her, banding them tight to avoid any more vicious jabs.
    She tossed her head and kicked at his shins.  Pinning her head with his cheek against hers, he growled in her ear, lifted her off the ground, and used his weight to press her against the door.  “ Stop .”
    Their labored breathing mingled in the sudden silence.  Trent became aware of his heart pounding in his chest about the same time her camouflaged curves registered.  The frumpy, baggy clothes concealed a slim body that was a lot stronger than he ever would’ve guessed.  Right now, with her firm, rounded derriere pressed intimately against his front, a twinge of physical response took him by surprise.
    Tamping down on the inappropriate reaction, he relaxed his hold the slightest bit while shifting his hips.  “I’m not going to hurt you.”
    Her breath caught on a half-laugh, half-sob.  Guilt mushroomed, magnified by his forceful restraint.  He sought to reassure her the only way he knew how.  “Trust me, sweetheart, you’re safe with me.”
    This time, she outright laughed, minus any humor.
    “Trust you .  With your kidnapping, and car chase, and talk of murder .”
    “I understand you’re scared.”  He took a deep breath and admitted, “So am I.”
    She gave an unattractive snort.  “Shain West isn’t scared of anything.”
    A flash of annoyance overrode his guilt.  “Shain’s just a character and you know it.”
    “Aw, sorry, sweetie .”
    Her pointed sarcasm hit home and he really wanted a drink now.  “Can I let you go?”
    “Dumb question.”
    Another growl rumbled from his throat.  “If I let you go, are you going to try to run again?”
    “Smarter question.”
    He liked her better when she was silent.  She hadn’t looked like she’d be this much trouble on the sidewalk next to the lake.  His clenched teeth made his tender jaw ache worse and a headache began to throb at his temples.
    “I’m not kidding around here.  I’ve got a lot of shit to figure out and I don’t have time to keep running after you.”
    Another humorless laugh.  “Then don’t.”
    Trent abruptly dropped her on her feet, grasped her shoulders and spun her around.  With her back pressed to the door, he leaned in until their noses almost touched.
    “You think I’m enjoying this?  There’s a hell of a lot better things I could be doing right now than keeping your ungrateful ass safe.”
    She shrank into herself. Her audible swallow reached his ears.
    “I didn’t ask for any of this.  I just want to find my brother and sister and go home.”
    The waiver in her small voice hit Trent smack dab in the chest with a force greater than her head butt on his chin.  His anger vanished on a sigh.  “I know,” he said softly, eternally sorry this innocent bystander had been dragged into his nightmare.  “And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that happens.”
    She stared past his shoulder, blue eyes alight with a shimmer of tears.  “I still don’t trust you.”
    He lifted her chin with a crooked knuckle and offered a smile that’d never failed him before.  “Hey, remember back in the car with the Carabinieri ?  You trusted me then.”
    She pulled away with a jerk.  With her chin raised, her blue gaze met his and held.  “Yeah, stupid, gullible me.”
    Trent frowned.  “What?”
    “They were nice guys.  They seemed trustworthy.  You could’ve told them