The man lunged, his face closing in on hers. Annoyed by the tape covering her mouth, he changed his target, burying his face in her neck. A shudder of revulsion wracked Noreen''s body, and she gagged, the tape sealing her mouth making her feel as if she were suffocating. She was utterly helpless, trapped in her worst nightmare. The man''s hands began to crawl up her waist, fumbling with the fabric of her dress.


    Suddenly, amotion erupted outside-shouts, the sound of a struggle.


    "Who the hell are you?" someone yelled.


    There was no reply, only the sickening thud of fists and pained grunts, growing closer and closer to the room.


    The man on top of Noreen froze, his head snapping up. "Pete! What the hell is going on out there?" he shouted.


    "Boss, we''ve gotpany!"


    Before Pete could say more, he let out a sharp cry of pain. The man scrambled off Noreen, instantly sobered. The release of pressure allowed Noreen to gasp for air, her lungs burning. But before she could take more than a few breaths, she felt the cold, hard press of metal against her temple.


    A gun. These men had a gun.


    The thought had barely registered when the man yanked her off the bed by her hair and dragged her to the doorway. The sounds of fighting outside had subsided.


    "Hey!" the man yelled. "You here for the prettydy? I''d advise you to calm down. This bullet doesn''t have eyes!" He jammed the gun barrel harder against her temple, and Noreen let out a muffled groan.


    The fighting stoppedpletely.


    "Damn, he''s fast," Pete muttered, his voice strained. "Took down all of us."


    “Hands in the air!" the bossmanded, using Noreen as a shield.


    When the intruderplied, Pete,


    seeing his chance for revenge, grabbed a baseball bat and


    2?


    advanced. With a grunt of effort, he swung the bat hard against


    man''s leg Think you''re so tou huh?"  s?novels


    IMS


    "You''ve got guts, kid," the boss taunted. "Coming here all alone. What are you,


    her boyfriend? Willing to die for her?"


    Through it all-the beating, the taunts-the man on the floor didn''t make a sound.


    The gun remained pressed firmly against Noreen''s head. A cold sweat trickled down her back. Whoever had found her must have been sent by Mrs Joyner. But why was he alone? She couldn''t see, but she could hear at least half a dozen men. Her rescuer was outnumbered and outgunned. Pearing he would be killed because of her, she shook her head frantically, trying to signal him not to fight back.


    Pete, satisfied afternding a few more blows, tossed the bat aside. "What now, boss?"<fn13b5> Follow current nov?ls on FindN()vel</fn13b5>


    "Tie him up."


    As Pete moved to restrain their captive, the boss rxed his grip, dragging Noreen back toward the bed, his mind returning to his previous intentions. "You still got it up, boss?" one of the men joked. "If not, let us have a go." "Are you kidding? I''m the king of Harborview City! You can all wait your turn!"


    Amidst the jeers andughter, the man started pulling Noreen back into the room. But before he took two steps a roar echoed from behind him. "What are you doing-


    In the next instant, Noreen was ripped away from him.


    ***