Deadly Race Read Online Free Page A

her. Possibly, Mr. Martinez believed her when she had said she hadn’t overheard anything between him and the police chief. She would feel a little bit better about that conjecture, if the man hadn’t immediately proceeded to lock her in her bedroom the night before. She had panicked when she had tried her door and couldn’t leave. That fact, coupled with Mr. Martinez’s growing fascination with her, had caused Ellie to give her resignation in a most unorthodox way, by climbing out of her bedroom window.
    Everything would be all right in the light of day, she reassured herself. She wasn’t worth all of this trouble, and Mr. Martinez would come to that conclusion, if he hadn’t already. Finally, exhaustion took complete hold, and Ellie fell asleep, clinging to her side of the bed.
    * * *
    Ring!
    Slade snatched up the receiver, not even bothering to turn on the light. “Calvert here,” he clipped out, vividly aware of Ellie curled up against him.
    “It’s started earlier than we thought. We’ve got to get out of here. President Alvarez was taken prisoner an hour ago,” Slade’s manager in Bella Isla said.
    “What time is it?”
    “Five. A friend just called me and told me to get everyone out to the airport. I called your pilot. Joe figures we have a few hours before they move to close the airport and they may not be friendly.”
    “Have you informed the others?”
    “I will.”
    “Fine. I’ll be there with another passenger. Tell Joe to leave if he has to, whether everyone is there or not.”
    “Including you?”
    “Yes.” Slade replaced the receiver and twisted toward Ellie.
    Her soft body cuddled against his momentarily made him forget the urgency of the situation. He ran his hand down her arm, clasping it and pulling her even nearer, his face inches from hers. He could almost taste her on his lips.
    “What’s wrong?” she murmured and snuggled closer to his warmth.
    Her question sobered him to their situation, pushing all thoughts of kissing her to the back of his mind. He released her. “President Alvarez was taken prisoner. The revolution has started early. We’ve got to get out now.”
    Ellie came fully awake with a start. “Give me two minutes to get dressed.” She started to climb from the bed when the sound of something being inserted into the lock riveted her attention to the door.

CHAPTER 2

    Ellie had to do something! She couldn’t let those two goons get her. Without really thinking any plan through, she started off the bed, a dim light slanting through a slit in the curtains. Slade grabbed her and hauled her back against him.
    “Shh,” he said in a barely audible voice, placing his finger briefly over her mouth to still any protest. “Lie back down.”
    Then stealthily, he moved across the room toward the door and positioned himself behind it as it was being eased open, inch by slow inch. Ellie quickly lay down, pretending sleep, while her chest ached as if someone were sitting on top of her.
    With her breath held, she stared through the narrow slits of her eyelids at the figure sneaking into the room. By the faint light from the hallway, she could tell it was King Kong.
    All her instincts rebelled against lying on the bed, doing nothing to protect herself. She didn’t even know if Slade Calvert was capable of defending himself , let alone her. Then she remembered the element of danger he had exuded earlier, the feel of his muscles beneath her palms, and some of the tension unfurled within her. She would be all right.
    King Kong stepped completely into the room, closing the door quietly behind him. With lightning speed Slade struck the man from behind with a vase. As the intruder went down with a thud, he dropped what was in his hand and it went skidding across the floor. Slade flipped on the overhead light.
    Ellie shot off the bed, her heartbeat thundering so loudly she was sure it drowned out all other sounds. “It’s a gun!” She pointed to the offending weapon at her feet,