Craze by Anne Conley Read Free Book Online Page B

What the hell was happening to her? Confusion warred inside her. She didn’t want to like her damn captors, for fuck’s sake.
    Anger spilled through her, finally. She was being held against her will by people she didn’t know, who undoubtedly worked for Ed Lowe. The man had money, and had obviously paid these people to bring her in. Where she was, she had no clue besides a physical address. But she didn’t know these people, and not knowing was worse than almost anything else. She embraced the anger, letting it overshadow the unknown, hoping it would help her somehow.
    He led her to an office and knocked once before entering. It brought back memories of the last office she’d knocked on before entering. Krista couldn’t stop the relief that flowed, dwarfing her anger, when the door opened and Mr. Lowe and the other man were not there.
    “Ryan, Ms. McLanaughan, have a seat.” A nice-looking man wearing a suit sat behind a desk in front of a large window. Ryan led her to a cushy chair across the desk from the man and sank into the one next to it. Gratefully, she managed to lower herself before her knees gave out. She didn’t know what to think anymore. She was lost, confused. All the smiling faces and nice-looking people trying to offer her things, like she was a guest and not a kidnapping victim, only made it worse.
    Miriam came in a short time later with a tray full of coffee cups. She handed one to Krista and she took a tentative sip, grateful for the sweet warmth in spite of herself.
    Finally, she found words to speak. “Do you guys work for Mr. Lowe?”
    The man behind the desk looked at her over interlaced fingers. “Well, that is yet to be determined. He’s given us a deposit to look for you, but I haven’t spent it yet.” He inhaled deeply while confirming her suspicions that he worked for Mr. Lowe. “Something was off about the transaction, so I suppose that all depends on you.” He held out his hand. “I’m Simon Pierce, of Pierce Securities. You’ve met Ryan.” He gestured to the man-candy sitting next to her. “Can you tell us what sort of information you stole from Mr. Lowe last night?”
    A glint of light from outside passed over her eyes, just a flash, blinding her momentarily. She squinted in response and her hand reflexively rose to block it out. She watched something register in Simon’s eyes and everyone reacted in a simultaneous frenzy. Ryan’s enormous body tackled her, pinning her to the ground while Simon ducked behind his desk with a grunt.
    “Quinten!” A spiderweb of cracks spread over the massive window and an ear-splitting crack sounded in the next second.
    Ryan rolled on top of her, bundling her on the opposite side of the desk from the window while yelling, “Shooter!” Two men raced in, handguns drawn, taking cover behind chairs, turning over a table, and aiming out the window. One sprinted back out the door, presumably to go outside. Krista’s mind raced, desperate to find answers, but it was futile. Her sleep-deprived mind couldn’t put the pieces together.
    Ryan’s breath was hot in her ear, his body heavy on hers, holding her to the ground. When everything was quiet, he whispered in her ear, “You okay, Honey? You’re not hit, are you?” His hands started wandering over her as he lifted himself off her slightly to examine her for injuries. Of their own volition, her fingers grabbed at his t-shirt, unwilling to let him off her. His body on hers was a sudden shield of safety, comfort, and Krista was reluctant to let him go. She realized now the fear she’d felt earlier was misplaced. Ryan didn’t want to harm her; he was protecting her.
    But who had just shot at her?
    Adrenaline hummed through her body, and she at once wanted to throw him off her and pull him closer. His fingertips were a riot of sensation across her skin, and she writhed a little with her indecision before gathering her wits about her. This was not a sexual situation, and any writhing would be