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battered face disgusted him.
    The knife ripped through one thread, and he rubbed her right ankle. The bruised flesh was raw. Blood, from several tiny cuts, dribbled along her foot. He pulled on her toes, and was grateful when she winced. There was no damage to her mobility. He cut through the string around the other ankle. He was about to repeat his examination of her freed limb when the foot shot up, the heel whacking him squarely in the eye.
    “Damn!” Reeling backwards, Chase automatically clamped his hand over the eye she had hit.
    She leapt from the bed, took off through the open door, and bolted up the stairs.
    “Laura!” He sprang after her.
    He had to catch her. To get off the dock, she would run past the office. With Chase’s luck tonight, Mac had a sudden urge for rounds, and there was no plausible explanation for a half-naked woman running from Madre.
    Chase caught her as she reached the top step. His arms clenched around her waist.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” he whispered. If Ron and his friend were nearby, Laura remained in danger.
    “Please, no. No,” she cried.
    Her back pressed against his chest, Chase lifted her slight form. She was practically weightless. Her feet kicked at air. Sensing she was about to scream, his hand clamped over her mouth.
    “Laura, damn it,” he gritted through clenched teeth.
    She wrestled and attempted to bite the palm covering her mouth. Chase held her tight, dragging her down the steps and back into the cabin. His right foot pushed the door closed. His arms grasped tightly around her, he let her struggle. Being the stronger of the two, he waited until she expelled all her energy and ceased thrashing. Moaning, she slumped against him.
    “That’s my girl.” Now he could tend to her injuries and get some answers. All was calm. Chase sighed, ready to take his hand from her mouth.
    “Ah, damn it!” he yelped, feeling her sharp, well-manicured nails dig into his bare wrist.
    Laura wiggled and twisted. She screamed against his palm, squirming frantically while her nails dug into his exposed skin, piercing his flesh. Chase maintained his grip despite the pain. Laura’s free hand jolted upwards punching him hard in the same eye she had attacked previously.
    “Bitch!” The ache pulsing through his head, he dropped her to the floor.
    She landed on her buttocks and rolled over. On hands and knees, she scurried forward. She was inches from the door. He reached out and grabbed a fistful of her golden hair.
    “Ouch!” She cried out.
    Clamping an arm around her waist, he lifted her lithe form. With a quick swing, he scooped her up and dropped her on the bed. Laura landed face down, arms and legs sprawled hap-hazardously. She turned her face, offering her uninjured cheek. Chase belly-flopped on top of her. His legs straddled her, and his hands pinned hers to the mattress. Her body shook again with sobs.
    “Oh, damn it,” he groaned.
    Her cries crushed his insides. Not knowing what else to do, he pressed his coarse, unshaven cheek against her soft one. Her tears streamed down her face, dripping onto his, stinging his skin.
    As a little boy, he had often found his mother weeping in her bedroom. Whenever he would ask what had made her sad, she replied that sometimes a woman just needed to cry .
    So Chase let Laura cry.
    He held her, cheeks pressed, fingers entwined.
    “I-I c-can’t fight anymore. Please be quick and get it over with,” she muttered.
    “Get what over with?”
    “Whatever you plan to do before you kill me.”
    “What the hell — ” Chase closed his eyes, easing his body from hers. His words, the ones he’d spoken to Ron and his partner rushed back, stinging Chase’s ears. With a silent curse, he berated himself. He had aimed at avoiding any conflict or confrontation. He had wanted to be rid of them quickly. In doing so, he now realized, Laura assumed he was equally depraved. He had only succeeded in terrifying her more.
    “Laura, listen to me.