Taken By Storm Part 49

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.

Burke.

"Not that way," Burke said, Cullen in the lead.

"Are you sure?" his brother asked, stopping short.

"Absolutely." Burke charged to his right with a force that propelled him like a battling ram. He could

almost hear Storm calling out to him.

Over and over and over in his head, he heard her frantic calls and he was desperate to reach her.

He turned the corner with Cullen on his heels, and what he saw turned his worry to rage. He charged at

the man who dared to put his hands on the woman he loved.

His fist connected with the man's lower back and took him down in one blow. To make certain he stayed there, he delivered several more and then hurried to scoop up Storm.

She coughed and choked. "Out of here."

"You can barely speak and still you give orders," Burke said, hurrying along the corridor and up the

steps with her in his arms, followed by a chuckling Cullen.

"Now I understand her reputation," Cullen said.

"You don't know the half of it," Burke said with pride and hurried out into the night where Malcolm and

Tanin waited for them.

There was no time to stop and discuss the particulars of the escape. Time was of the essence. They

needed to get as far away from the prison as possible. Once the escape was discovered, soldiers would cover the land like locusts. There would be no safe place to hide.

Burke refused to put Storm down. He kept her firm in his arms and carried her without difficulty. There

was no way he would chance losing her again. It would take nearly a full day to reach the s.h.i.+p, and then under cover of the night, they would sail away and finally-finally be safe.

"I can walk," Storm argued.

"Your neck is bruised."

"My feet are fine."

"Perhaps, but I feel safer with you in my arms," Burke said adamantly.

"You need to speak with your brother," she urged.

"It can wait until we reach the s.h.i.+p."

"No, it can't. You have waited a long time for this moment. Talk with him. I can walk on my own."

"I almost lost you," he growled beneath his breath.

"I, however, had no doubt you would rescue me. I called out for you and you came for me."

Burke near stumbled over his own feet. "I heard you. In my head I heard you."

Storm smiled and pressed her cheek to his, her arms wrapped snugly around his neck. "I knew you

would. I knew you would not let me die."He rubbed his cheek hard against hers. "You frightened the h.e.l.l out of me.""It's a good way to keep you on your toes."Burke laughed. "I see you have adopted my sense of humor.""It is a part of you I love. Why wouldn't I want to emulate it?"Burke stole a quick kiss. "d.a.m.n, but I love you so very much.""And I love you just as much, but now you need to see to your brother."Burke stopped and lowered Storm to her feet. He didn't want to let her go but Storm was right. Not only did he need to speak with Cullen, he was eager to speak with him. He had waited many years for

this and it was finally here. "Stay in front of me where I can keep an eye on you."

"Of course," she said with a smile and took off to catch up with Tanin, who led the group.

Burke shook his head.

"I admire that woman," Cullen said, coming up beside him.