Taken by Surprise by Tonya Ramagos Read Free Book Online Page B

quick, assessing glance put him at a full year or more older than Michael, with deep lines etched in what might have been a surly face if he didn't smile right then.
    "I won't let you fall, and you know the boss man will catch you."
    The amused knowing that laced his words didn't escape her notice. Apparently her—relationship? friendship?—whatever-ship with Michael didn't escape Dregs's notice. She didn't comment as she shimmied through the opening, keeping her legs straight as not to kick Michael on the way down.
    The first contact of his hands on her ankles sent a magical sensation traveling straight to her center. His hands closed around her legs, gliding up as she slid down. He held her, taking her full weight seemingly with ease, and lowered her slowly. With every inch she descended, her body skimmed his, front to front, pliant curve to ridged line, until she stood before him in his arms.
    Rhonda tipped her head back, and the velocity of need swirling in his green eyes took her aback. She peeled herself away from him just as Dregs started to come down from the ceiling.
    "Is that the way?"
    Rhonda realized Michael was talking to her. He tipped his chin at the closed doors on the opposite side of the parlor. "The terrace is through those doors, yes."
    "Then let's go." Dregs moved between them on his way to the doors. "I'm sick of this place already."
    Rather than comment, Rhonda moved to Michael's side. His approving glance made her toes tingle. Though she had lived for years with a man who thought her stupid, she was anything but. She knew when to take necessary risks and when not to. The men were in possession of the guns. If the terrace beyond those doors wasn't empty, the highly trained men with the deadly weapons needed to go first.
    "Stay behind me." Michael strode to one side of the double doors. Dregs took the other. Both peeked through the slits in the blinds covering the glass.
    "Looks clear, boss. Cover me."
    Michael made a “stay” motion with his hand as he moved into position behind Dregs. The agent opened one door, keeping his gun trained, scanning for any sign of life on the terrace as Michael did the same at the agent's back.
    Rhonda kept her gaze locked on Michael, watching, waiting. She noted the way he held his gun, one long finger on the trigger ready to fire. She saw him reach his free hand back, turning it palm up for her. He didn't look back as she walked quickly to him, but his fingers closed around hers when she took his hand. She stepped through the door, moved with him toward the stairs. At his instruction, she started to move to his side. In the next heartbeat, she watched in horror as a gaping hole appeared in Dregs's back. The man fell forward, tumbling feet over head down the stairs to land lifelessly at the bottom.
    "Fuck!" Michael jerked her arm, slamming her against his body. He spun to protect her even as he fired.
    He blocked her view, but he couldn't muffle her hearing. Rhonda deduced the shots came from the stairs, knew there were probably more of Phay's men on the ground. She would rather face off with them than go back inside that compound.
    She heard a sound behind her, glanced over her shoulder, and saw more of Phay's men stepping into the parlor. "Michael, behind us."
    He fired, taking down a man at the top of the stairs, and turned. "Run," he told her and propelled her forward as he bolted with her down the stairs. "Head for the trees."
    A shot rang out behind them, narrowly missing, and she shrieked. She glanced back and counted four of Phay's men descending the stairs. Michael took one out with a well-aimed shot to the chest. And then there were three.
    She couldn't leave him alone against three of Phay's men. Rhonda spun around, not knowing what she planned to do until her gaze landed on Dregs's body at the foot of the stairs and the gun at his side. Instinctively, she went for the gun. Her hand closed around the handle, finger settling on the trigger. She brought the