Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5) Read Free Page B

of it."
    He sounded confident. Elizabeth sank to the
bench, and Liam nodded at her. Good girl. Ronan sent
her another reassuring look over his shoulder.
    Even Kim seemed unperturbed. "The witness is
understandably stressed, Your Honor," she said. "It's late, and
she's had a bad experience."
    The judge really didn't like Kim Fraser. For
defending a Shifter? Elizabeth wondered. Or for marrying one?
    The prosecutor broke in. "Maybe Ms. Chapman
should be allowed to give her evidence so she can go home."
    The judge's face softened as she listened to
the prosecutor. The man was attractive in a slick sort of way . . . what a witch.
    "Of course," the judge said. "Ms.
Chapman?"
    At that moment, Elizabeth's cell phone
pealed. She was surprised she could get a signal behind all the
steel doors, but the name that popped up on the screen was
Mabel's.
    "Cell phones are supposed to be off," the
judge snapped.
    "I have to take this. It's my little sister.
She's home alone, and she's worried."
    The judge looked as though nothing had ever
harassed her more. "Outside."
    The bailiff unlocked the door. Elizabeth
charged out, and Liam quietly followed her.
    "Mabel? I can't talk right now, honey. I'm in
court."
    Mabel's frantic voice cut over hers. "Lizzy,
there are men outside, trying to get in. A bunch of them, and they
have guns. I don't know what to do. I'm so scared!"
     
    * * * * *

Chapter Three
     
    "Call the police," Elizabeth yelled down the
phone, watery fear pouring through her. "Call them now."
    "I tried. They don't answer."
    "Then you hide. I'm in a courthouse. I'll
get--"
    Elizabeth stifled a shriek as Liam Morrissey
snatched the phone out of her hand. "Mabel? This is Liam Morrissey.
Connor's uncle, that's right. You rest easy, now, lass. I'll take
care of this. Stay down, behind a bed, don't go near the windows.
My lads will be there before you can count to ten. All right?"
    He clicked off the connection and dialed
another with ease of long practice. While Elizabeth stood there
with her mouth open, Liam said quietly into the phone, "Sean, get
Dad and Spike and go up to Thirty-Fifth Street near MoPac. Mabel
Chapman. She's got armed intruders. Go now ."
    Whoever was on the other end hung up, but
Liam kept hold of the phone. "Now, don't you worry. My brother will
take care of your sister. Let's go back and get Ronan sprung."
    Elizabeth didn't move. "I can't. I have to go
home."
    Liam put a warm hand on her shoulder. "You
going home would only put you in danger as well. My brother and my
trackers can help Mabel better than the police. No one stops my
trackers, lass. No one. Come on, now."
    Liam had reassurance down to a science. In
spite of her gut-wrenching fear, Elizabeth let him lead her back
past the bailiff and once more into the courtroom.
    "Oh, I see that you're still with us, Ms.
Chapman," the judge said. "How nice. Please approached and read the
words on the card."
    Elizabeth promised to tell the truth and the
whole truth, so help her God, then went over her story, prompted by
questions from the prosecutor. It was like being in a play--she
might not know her lines, but the prosecutor wanted her to say
certain ones, judging from his cues. Ronan, back in the chair,
leaned forward, resting his big arms on his knees, watching her
closely.
    Fear for Mabel gnawed at Elizabeth as she
answered the questions. Liam still had her cell phone. He glanced
at it from time to time, his face grim.
    Elizabeth concluded shakily, "So I know that
if Ronan hadn't been there, Marquez would have killed me."
    "But you don't actually know that," the
prosecutor said in his condescending way. "That's only what you
guess."
    That did it. The gloves came off. "Look, I
grew up with kids like Marquez," Elizabeth said. "Any guilt or
conscience in him went away a long time ago. He only deals in if -then questions. If I can identify him, then he shoots me. In his mind, I was dead as soon as he walked in the
door. End of story."
    The prosecutor shrugged