The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner Read Free Book Online Page B

stumbled toward her, squinting, she struggled to get up, then collapsed with a piercing cry of pain as she took her weight on both feet. She fell again, rolling onto her back and scooting crablike away from him.
    “For God’s sake,” he said. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help you.”
    Her expression didn’t change. No trust. Just cold, hard fear.
    He tried again. “I’m not a burglar, I’m not a thief, I’m not a rapist. Trust me. I’m not going to hurt you.”
    “Fuck you,” she hissed, and although he was frustrated as hell that she didn’t believe him, he couldn’t help but admire her spunk. More than anything else, that kind of spirit would help keep her alive.
    “Look, I know you’re scared. You came home, I was in your apartment, what else would you think? But I thought they’d already got you. I broke in because I thought you were dead.”
    “What?” Confusion played across her face. “You broke in because— what?”
    “I thought you were hurt. I’m here to help you. I just want—”
    “No.” She jerked away, scrambling backwards, then rolling over and trying to climb to her feet despite her bad ankle. The woman had gumption, that was for sure, but Stryker was in no mood. He lunged, and with no effort at all managed to snag the hem of her sweats, sending her crashing to the floor once again.
    “Melanie, calm down. I’m here to—”
    “Help! Somebody help me!”
    “For God’s sake, woman, be quiet.” He lunged at her and clamped a hand over her mouth, undoubtedly terrifying her even more, but what the hell choice did he have? Any minute now the neighbors were going to show up, and what would he say then?
    He studied her, searching her face for some clue as to how to make her understand he was one of the good guys. Her blue eyes were wide. Wide and terrified. And he saw something else, too. Resignation? He’d seen that look before in the eyes of men facing certain death. He’d never wanted to see it again, and he certainly didn’t want to see it on a woman.
    And that’s when Stryker realized. Something more than finding a stranger in her apartment had scared her. While he’d been waiting for her to get home, she’d been somewhere in Manhattan fighting the bastard who wanted her dead.
    “Something happened,” he said. “Something scared you to death, and it wasn’t just me.”
    She remained perfectly still, her eyes full of terror. His muscles strained with unreleased tension. He couldn’t abide anyone terrorizing a woman, and now he’d done it himself. He’d come to protect her, but they’d gotten off to a bad start, and now those ocean blue pools were full of fear instead of hope.
    He kept his hand over her mouth, and she breathed through her nose, her fast, shallow breaths tickling his palm. Her eyes never left his, and he focused on her, trying to judge the depths of the strength that had gotten her away from harm and back to her apartment. “I’m going to take my hand away, okay? Promise me you won’t scream.”
    She just stared at him, her eyes widening ever so slightly.
    “Nod your head, Melanie.”
    She nodded, and he gently pulled his hand away, cringing as he anticipated her screams. But she obeyed him, staying silent, cowering into herself even as he held her in his arms.
    “We’re going to stand up and go back inside our apartment so we can talk.”
    “No,” A hoarse whisper. She struggled backwards, and Stryker knew he’d never get her in that apartment, not without a fight.
    He drew in a long breath. He couldn’t blame the girl, but damn, this was frustrating. He’d done the bodyguard gig at least a dozen times, always where there’d been a legitimate threat against the subject’s life. Stryker had dealt with terror, with ego, and with outright stupidity, but never once had a subject flat-out ignored his instructions, much less cower in fear of him.
    Goddamn it all. He needed her to work with him, not against him.
    “Okay, Melanie,