Heartless by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 2009-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

THE STOCKY MAN CAME UP onto the porch from the corner of the house, laughing coldly as Gracie stood up and tried to decide if she had a chance to make the door before he got her.

That hope was gone instantly as he reached out a pudgy hand and caught her by the upper arm. He was muscular, as if he worked out with weights all the time. Gracie had no way of knowing that his bulging biceps and tattoos were visible proof of his prison time. She only knew that he was stronger than she was, and that this was going to end badly. She had no martial arts training, except for what she’d learned from Marquez when he was home on weekends at his mother, Barbara’s, house. That wasn’t much.

She did, however, remember one move. As the stocky man jerked her toward him, she suddenly made her hands into fists with her thumbs sticking out and poked him on either side of his rib cage as hard as she could.

He let go of her, cursing and doubling over. It worked! Relief flooded through her and then she realized that she’d only made a bad situation worse as he grabbed for her.

“Big mistake,” he grunted, one grimy hand going to her breast, the other gripping her buttocks as his mouth aimed at hers.

“Help!” she screamed, struggling.

Angel’s mother heard and came to the door, peering out fearfully.

“¡Vaya!” the man ordered, and her head retreated at once.

Gracie heard the door close and knew that she was lost.

While the ruffian was manhandling her, she tried to remember the other moves Marquez had taught her. If she could just get…her…hands…free!

Yes! She cupped them and slammed them against the stocky man’s ears. He exploded in pain and rage. She twisted out of his loosened grasp and ran, her long legs carrying her off the porch and out toward the middle of the little pueblo.

“Help!” she yelled. “Help!”

Probably the Fuentes bunch would just look on and grin while the stocky drug dealer had his way with her, she thought in panic, but maybe those armed men in camo would take pity on her and come to help. Or not. Her heart was beating wildly, her breath jerking as she gasped to fill her lungs with air. She’d never felt more frightened during this whole ordeal. If only Jason were here to protect her, she thought wildly. If she’d given in when he’d kissed her, if she hadn’t fought him…she wouldn’t be in this awful predicament. Now her life was on the line and the violent ravishment of her body by this grimy thug. She would literally rather be dead. She tried to run faster, but she heard the quick thud of footsteps closing in on her. She wouldn’t stop running. But she knew she’d lost the battle. There wasn’t another human being in sight. There was no help.

The stocky man had recovered his sense, if not his hearing, and overtook her just as she reached a small, closed grocery store.

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