Part 49 (1/2)

She smiled. ”You're just like your brother.”

”We shall see,” he said skeptically. ”Tell me of Alaina. Is she well?”

”She waits impatiently for you.”

”As I do for her.” He shook his head. ”I do not see how you will be able to get the keys from the guard.

You are but a wee thing.”She grinned. ”I've done this before. Trust me.”Less than an hour later Cullen was shaking his head while chaining the gagged guards to the wall. ”I can't believe you overpowered him.”

”Believe it, and know we have little time to get out of here.”

His movement was remarkably agile for a man who had suffered such torture, but then Storm had seen

men in worse condition respond with strength. The promise of freedom could give the weakest man

courage.

It didn't take long to free the older man, and though he stumbled, he made his way along with them.

Cullen saw to two other guards and Storm took care of another one herself. They were almost home

free. Another twist, one more turn, and they would be out of the prison where Burke and her men waited

to help them.

The older man faltered, and Cullen was quick to support him and keep him moving. Storm followed behind, ever ready for the unexpected.

Suddenly a guard came out of nowhere, charging at them.

”Get out of here,” she yelled at Cullen. ”I'll be right behind you.”

He nodded and took off.

Burke and Tanin stood behind the open door, waiting.

”They should have been here by now,” Burke said, his fear near to bursting.

”Give her time. Storm knows what she's doing and we have time yet,” Tanin said.

Clouds scurried across the night sky as if running away from something just as Storm was surely doing.

He couldn't help but worry that the plan had failed and she was now being tortured.A shuffle of footsteps interrupted his worries, and he and Tanin braced for attack.Cullen flew out the door and looked around.Burke and Tanin were on him in a second.”You must be my brother,” Cullen said, shoving the older man at Burke. ”We'll talk later. I need to go back and rescue the woman that came for me.”

Burke handed the old man off to Tanin and grabbed Cullen's arm. ”I'll get her.”

”Not without me. I owe her,” Cullen said, and charged back into the prison.

Chapter 36.

S torm felt her life slipping away. The guard, even though he had suffered a knife wound, had overcome her and now held her up by the neck, braced against the cold stone wall. Dampness from the stone seeped into her garments, sticking them to her body while she labored for breath and knew that death was near.

Could this be her end? By a simple squeeze of a hand? Her vision blurred, and then she thought of Burke and how he waited just a short distance away. He had promised he would keep her safe. He would come for her. He would save her.

He would be her avenging angel as she had been for so many.

He would not fail her.

She only needed to survive until then.

She found her last ounce of strength and struggled with the man, beating at his neck. His fingers faltered

just enough for her to catch a much-needed breath. Then his meaty hand closed around her slender neck once again.

She pummeled him with her small fists and lashed out with her feet, delivering blow after blow to every

part of his body she could reach.

She was feeling faint, feeling life slipping away again, and all she could think about was Burke. If she could have spoken, she would have screamed his name.

Instead, she let loose in her head, hoping somehow Burke would hear her.