CHAPTER FIVE
THE TIP OF the knife pressed into Jeff’s lower right ribs, stopping him cold. If he took a blade to the kidney, he’d never get to Tara.
“One move and my friend over there slits her throat.”
Icy fear for Tara lodged in Jeff’s belly even as lava raged in his veins. These fuckers were going down.
With his peripheral vision, he judged his attacker’s size. Tank-like.A few inches taller than his own six-four, and broader in the shoulders, wearing a fire suit and boots, just like the other man.
Prodded by the knife and a meaty grip on his left biceps, Jeff wended his way toward the street south of the fire trucks, away from the chaos and commotion.
Away from Tara.
As soon as her captor was out of sight, Jeff swiveled.
He hooked the goon’s knife arm.
Elbow to the throat.
Palm straight into the nose.
The man howled, hands flying to his face.
Jeff kicked out his foot, dropping the bigger man onto his back.
Gotta love physics.
The guy’s head cracked against the sidewalk and he was out cold.
Jeff stopped to peer around the side of the building. Down the street, the other goon shoved Tara into the backseat of a black Durango. Onceshe was safely inside, Jeff sprinted toward the vehicle, memorizing the license plate as he ran.
“Hey!” he yelled as the thick Asian man charged past the truck’s front grill.
Her abductor stopped, registered Jeff’s advance with a scowl, and then pivoted toward the driver’s side of the truck.
Inside, Tara tried unsuccessfully to open each of the rear doors before slipping into the front seat.
Goddammit. If her abductor reached her before he did…
Jeff ran straight at him and slammed the man face first into the window.
The asshole roared. He threw his head back and swung his elbows, one glancing off Jeff’s ribs. Jeff shook it off and kicked the back of the attacker’s knee. As the man wobbled, Jeff wrapped an arm around his throat and stepped back, twirling the man to the ground,face down.
Before the guy could rise, Jeff lodged his knee against his neck and wrenched his bulky arm halfway up his back.
“What can I do?” Tara asked from Jeff’s left, her breath coming fast.
“We—” The man beneath him bucked. “Don’t fucking move.” Jeff pushed the guy’s wrist closer to his shoulder blades.
The thug groaned and stilled.
Jeff glanced at Tara. God, she was incredible.Her hair was a mess, her face was flushed, and her jacket had ripped. And despite all she’d been through today—and the fact that her hands were tied—she stood ready to help.
He’d never wanted her more.
That’s the adrenaline talking, asshole.
He had one mission in life: to find Evan. That left no room for anything else. Certainly not a relationship. And Tara deserved nothing less than thereal deal. Roses, candlelit dinners…or whatever guys did to land a woman of her caliber. Things he couldn’t give. Not now, maybe not ever.
