Resurrecting Charlie's Girl by Debra Kayn Read Free Book Online

neck.
    "Unless
you want your friend to come in here and be sprayed against the wall in little
bitty pieces, you'll shut up and do exactly what I tell you," Jared said.
    A
moan of regret deep down in her belly ended the moment Jared's hand tightened
across Charlise's mouth. Too many people had died because of her. She didn't
want any more people hurt.
    Jared's
voice rasped in her ear. "Now, we're going downstairs, and you can
introduce me to your new boy toy." He yanked on her hair and arched her
neck back. "You've been bad and have made me angry."
    Jared
pushed her through the door, one slow step at a time, and descended the stairs
without letting her go.
    Charlise's
eyes darted around in her search for Tom. Without a voice to yell, she only
hoped he saw Jared before her ex-husband drew his gun on him. Please, Tom,
run. Run far away.
    Her
foot hit the bottom step, she stumbled, and the arm around her tightened. She
cried out. Stars danced in her vision from Jared cutting off her air supply.
    Click.
    "Let
her go, Blatwell." Tom's firm command came from behind her captor.
    Jared's
body stiffened against her back, and his hold on her mouth slipped down around
her neck and threatened to cut off her oxygen supply. She gasped.
    "P-please
Jared, take me with you." Charlise hit at Jared's arm around her. She'd do
anything to distract him from Tom.
    "Hear
that, lover boy? She wants to go with me." Jared laugh was evil and
brought bile to her throat. "I guess that shows you the moves you put on
my wife out on the beach didn't seem to work, huh? She's made her choice."
    "I
have a problem with that Blatwell. You see, I don't believe the lady really
wants to go with you." Tom's voice stayed level, low, and in control.
    Without
warning, Jared spun around, putting Charlise between the two men. She struggled
to get her feet under her to relieve the pressure on her neck.
    "Unless
you want to hurt my wife, I'd think about putting that gun down and backing
away." Jared used her as his weapon against Tom.
    Tom
wouldn't harm her to get to Jared. That's what made him different from Jared.
    Charlise
understood the indecision that flashed over Tom's face. She closed her eyes.
She didn't want her desperation to influence him in any way. She wanted Tom to
live to see another day, and for that to happen he needed to let her go with
Jared.
    Tom
blew out a breath and Jared jerked her backward toward the front door. She
opened her eyes, and gazed at Tom. She ached at seeing the torment on his face.
    He'd
shown her a part of herself she'd lost long ago. An important piece she
desperately wanted to find again and for that kind of gift, she thanked him.
Tom made her feel special and that life should bring hope, love, and happiness.
    Jared
walked her down the sidewalk. She stared at the Tom, standing on the porch,
helpless and wanted to tell him she understood. He'd given her more in the last
twenty-four hours than Jared offered her their whole marriage.
    She
better understood what a true friend could be. Thanks to Tom, she'd learned how
much her life meant to her again.
    Jared
opened the back door of the black sedan. She struggled anew. If she entered the
car, everything she'd lose everything she'd fought for the last couple of
months.
    "No,
Jared. Let me go." She hit out with her fist. "You have to let me go.
We're not married anymore. You promised!"
    The
giant who worked for Jared moved to subdue Charlise. She held her breath and
pushed against Jared's arm. The blood rushed to her head, and she feared she'd
lose consciousness.
    Bang!
    The
arms around her neck fell away. She fell to the ground. Coughing, she labored
to fill her lungs with air.
    Burnt
rubber choked the little air she drew into her body and she covered her head to
escape the gravel, spitting from Jared's car. On her hands and knees, she
crawled toward the house. Tom!
    Oh
God, Jared shot Tom…
    "Charlise,"
Tom yelled.
    Relief
flooded through her when Tom ran to her, keeping her body between