Page 37 of Hawk and the Cougar

“Fucking bitch,” he cursed.

She drew breath for a scream, but he clamped a large hand over her mouth and jerked her against him. Hot breath covered her ear. She forced back the whimper that rose to her lips.

“Keep your fucking mouth shut.” His voice, low and deep, resonated in her ear.

Where were the police that were supposed to be outside? Emma and Hawk weren’t expecting her at the university for another hour and a half. She fought tears.

Keep it together. If Reid intended to kill you, you’d be dead.

He needed her as leverage against Hawk.

They reached the foyer, and the man turned left into the family room, instead of right toward the front door as expected. He was headed for the garage beyond the kitchen, which was part of the large area that made up the family room.

Liz caught sight of the knife block sitting on the counter beside the door that opened into the garage. Her stomach knotted. Could she stab another human being? Once Reid threatened to kill her, Hawk would give into Reid’s demands, then Reid would kill her and Hawk.

A vision rose of Hawk stepping from the door to the university parking lot on a deserted night, and a bullet ripping through his massive chest. No one would be there to stop the gush of blood as he crashed to the asphalt, then bled to death.

They reached the door.

“Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll come back for your daughter,” her attacker ordered.

Liz froze.

Emma.

He released her mouth and opened the door. As he crossed the threshold, Liz closed her fingers around the handle of the nine-inch chef’s knife. The blade slid noiselessly from its wooden sheath. Her heart hammered. They stepped into the garage, and he started around the front of the Land Cruiser. She rammed the knife into his thigh. Her stomach roiled at the feel of the blade slicing into his muscle.

He bellowed an animal’s cry, twisting in a frenzied movement. His grip on her loosened. She yanked the knife free and forced back bile when slick, warm blood covered her hand. She stabbed again and pushed free. He crashed to his knees in front of the Toyota, clutching his leg where the hilt protruded like an all-too-lifelike Halloween prank. Liz reached back, steadying herself on the fender as she sidled around the car. Blood spread in a dark stain across the thug’s thousand-dollar suit’s trouser leg.

He grabbed the knife, and his face contorted as he yanked it free. He threw it aside. The knife clattered on the cement and skittered under the Land Cruiser. He lifted his head, and wild eyes met hers. She retreated another step, then froze. He was nearly as close to the door as she was. A grotesque smile twisted his mouth. He’d realized the same thing.

Liz lunged forward, slapped the garage door opener, and whirled. The mechanical door jerked into motion and the man’s heavy grunt told her he’d shoved to his feet. She pulled down paint cans, cleaning bottles and anything else she could grab from the shelf on her right. Debris bounced off the Land Cruiser and clattered to the floor. A crash sounded behind her, and the man bellowed in pain. The door had lifted a mere foot from the ground. Liz dropped to her belly to roll underneath.

A large hand seized her leg. She twisted onto her back. He was on his knees, blood gushing from his leg as he grabbed for her other leg with his free hand. She kicked his face. Bone and cartilage cracked beneath the ball of her foot. Blood spurted from his nose, but he held tight, while grabbing for her other leg. She kicked again and pulled loose.

Liz rolled under the garage door, onto her feet, and hit a solid wall. Steel arms banded around her. She blinked against the glare of the streetlight behind them and raked nails across her new attacker’s face.

He grunted. “Liz.”

Tears streamed down her face. “Let me go, you son of a bitch.”

“Mom!”

Liz grimaced against the fog of fear that clouded her brain. A large hand seized the hand with blood on it. A noise behind her caused her to jerk her head around, and she saw her attacker stumble from the garage. An animal growl emanated from the man holding her. She startled at the sight of Emma at his side. A siren wailed in the distance.

The man holding her stepped around her, and Liz sucked in a breath.

Hawk.