Hold On
4.5/5
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About this ebook
One phone call changed both their lives.
A real life knight in shining armor--except he isn't in armor, he's in a suit. But the first time Lena Douglas lays eyes on Stephan Grayson that's what he seems to her. He saves her from a violence that still haunts her nights, but at least he's there to hold her should she wake. But the nightmare's not over; it stalks them both now. A mistake from her past that will not let go. But then, neither will Stephan.
Stephan’s saved her once and he's not about to let anyone, especially Lena, stand in the way of what is happening between them. But will he always be there to shield her from the danger she thought she left behind?
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Reviews for Hold On
5 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Compelling romantic suspense.
A chance glance has Stephan rescuing Lena from a fate worse than death. It also brought him to the love if his life. Now he just has to convince her that they are meant to be together. All while keeping her safe from bad guys.
I love how Lena and Stephan play off each other. I especially like Lena's strong sense of self-worth and fiery determination. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book preview
Hold On - LaVerne Thompson
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement (including infringement without monetary gain) is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2009 and again in 2014 by LaVerne Thompson
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system, is forbidden and punishable by the fullest extent of the law without written permission of the author. LaVerne Thompson. isisindc@msn.com
This book was first published 2009 by another publisher.
Lavernethompson.com
isisindc@msn.com
Editor Lara Parker
Cover Art Dee Allen
Deeallencoverart.com
Cover Model
Michael Bright
Dedication
Thank you Michael. Pain for no gain. lol
Chapter One
911 Operator.
Hello...listen, I’m at the corner of Broad Street and Denny Way. I’m looking into the second floor of a garden-style apartment opened onto Broad, and it looks like there’s a...a robbery taking place.
Stephan spoke anxiously into the phone, his voice cracking mid-speak.
The emergency operator on the other end replied in a steady tone. I’m dispatching a patrol car to the area, sir. Stay on the line with me. Are you one of the victims or do you know the people involved?
No, no it’s not me and I don’t know them. I’m in my car. Hang on, the light’s changing. I’m going to make a U-turn and park on the street so I can keep watch.
He ignored the car honking at him because he cut in front of it. The building before him and the woman in trouble his only focus. The sun had been down for a while now, but the open lighted walkway in the three-story building allowed Stephan a pretty clear view.
Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to remain in the car,
the operator insisted in a forceful voice. How many people are involved?
Two, I think. A man and a woman, I saw him grab her purse and she tried to run. Hurry!
he cried.
Help is on the way. Please try to stay calm.
My God!
Stephan exclaimed. He just hit her...she’s trying to fight him off. He kicked a door open and...he’s...he’s trying to drag her in!
His words were coming faster, rushing to get the information out. She’s fighting back. I can’t just sit here watching this.
Sir, please do not leave your car,
the operator stated firmly. The person could be armed as well as dangerous. Wait for the authorities.
I’m sorry. I’m already at the building. Tell the cops, when they get here, it’s the second building from the corner, second floor, the door at the top of the stairs. I’m going to leave my phone on so you can listen in, but I’m putting it in my pocket.
Without waiting to hear a reply, Stephan did just that.
As he ran up the stairs he heard a woman’s screams. Why isn’t anyone trying to help her? He had seen three other doors with apartment numbers on this floor alone. Surely one of them was occupied. It didn’t matter, he was here and he wasn’t going to do nothing. Too late, he wished he’d taken the time to grab a tire iron from his car. But he had stopped rational thought as soon as he glimpsed the woman in trouble. He’d just have to rely on being in good physical shape. It wasn’t like he was a fighter, in truth he used his mind not his muscle. Now he may have to use both, and so far he hadn’t been using much of his so-called intelligence tonight. An intelligent person would have waited on the sidewalk and pointed the cops in the right direction.
Stephan stopped at the now closed door he had seen the man kick open. A scuff mark near the bottom of the panel confirmed he had the right place. He put his ear to the wood but could hear nothing. Turning the doorknob he found it unlocked and cautiously pushed it open. He slipped inside, leaving it slightly ajar so the cops could enter easily.
Muffled sounds came from the interior of the apartment. As he took a step in the direction of the noise, ragged cries suddenly ripped through the air. A hallway, probably leading to a bedroom, stretched in front and to the right of him. There were no lights on, but the blinds were partially open, and the glow from a street lamp provided enough illumination to the small room.
Glancing to the left, he spied a kitchen. His already fast beating heart pumped more blood into his system, adding strength to his resolve. Moving quickly, he headed there first for a weapon. As soon as he pulled a knife from the block on the counter, the wail of a siren whined from a distance at the same time he heard a scream that curdled his soul.
Throwing caution out the window, he ran down the short hallway, the direction the cry had come from, fear setting his pace. Stopping in front of the only room, he gripped the open doorframe. The scene unfolding before him chilled his blood.
The dimmed overhead light showed a woman lying face down on the bed, and a man in dark clothing sat on top of her, straddling her legs to hold her down. She kept screaming and bucking to try to throw him off, but he kept laughing, and using one hand to hold both of hers on her head while he ripped her blouse with the other. So engaged in his activity, he didn’t even hear Stephan behind him.
Stephan wanted to stick the sonofabitch with the knife in his hand. But he spotted an empty metal potpourri bowl on a stand near the door. He didn’t want to shed any of the man’s blood on the woman if he didn’t have to. He put down the knife and picked up the bowl. Using all of his strength, fueled by his anger, he smashed it against the side of the bastard’s head.
Like a bowling pin toppling over, the man fell off the bed onto the floor, hopefully out cold for a while. When the weight holding her down disappeared, the woman on the bed flipped over. She raised her tear-streaked face and her eyes momentarily collided with Stephan’s before shifting to the man on the floor. As her gaze returned to his, fear flooded her beautiful chocolate-colored eyes. She gasped and backed up against the headboard.
Even with puffy eyes, tear tracks on her face, and a bruise on her toasted almond-colored cheek, her beauty still shone through. Stephan’s heart, which had been racing before, stopped in mid-beat. Wide round eyes captured his attention first, set in an oval-shaped face with a bow for a mouth, centered off with the cutest nose that started narrow but flared at the end, even more as he watched her take a deep breath.
He held up his hands, but realized he still held the bowl. He slowly placed it at the foot of the bed. It’s okay,
he said, trying to sound reassuring and non-threatening. The police are on their way. I won’t hurt you.
He spoke in very soft clear tones, to try to calm her.
She blinked. Th...that man. He tried...
Her voice came out jittery, husky.
Shhh, it’s okay,
he said. I’m not going to let him hurt you.
Stephan glanced down at the man stretched out on his back on the floor. He looks unconscious, but maybe we should get out of here in case he comes to. The police are on their way.
Yes...yes, thank you.
She slid off the bed on the opposite side from where the man on the carpet lay. Her shirt had been ripped from the back up to the collar but remained intact in the front. She wrapped her arms tightly across her stomach. Stephan took his eyes momentarily off the beautiful woman to check her attacker again to see if he had stirred.
The woman came around behind him and grabbed his hips in a death grip. He twisted to put his hand around her shoulder and coaxed her to move forward in front of him. As he turned her toward the door, pounding footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
The cops are here, you’re safe now. Let’s...
That’s as far as he got before he felt hands clench his throat. Run!
he managed to gasp before turning to face his attacker.
Lena didn’t know who her rescuer was, other than he was tall, a couple of inches over six feet, and as handsome as he was brave. She wasn’t going to leave him to face that sonofabitch alone. The two men were about the same height, but while her rescuer appeared to have a lean wiry build, her attacker seemed stockier. Their hands locked around each other’s throats. Stuck on the other side of her liberator, she couldn’t reach the metal bowl sitting on the bed; the fighting men blocked the way. Looking around wildly for something else to help with, she saw nothing. Rage infused her.
Jumping on her attacker’s back, she grabbed him around the