by Karen Kelley
I looked at him with disgust. “You really are a bastard.”
He grinned. “And I’m very good at it.”
I glanced around the cabin. The sooner I got away from him, the better. “I’m hungry,” I told him again.
His eyes narrowed. “Thinking of how you might try to escape?”
I met his gaze and knew there was no sense in trying to lie about it. “Always.”
“That’s one of the few things I enjoyed about you—your honesty. There’s no escape, though. If you try anything funny, I’ll make you regret it.”
By the look in his eyes, I had no doubt that he’d do exactly as he warned. Whatever I attempted, I would have to be very careful about it. But I would attempt to escape. There was no doubt in my mind.
He sauntered toward me, took my handcuffs, and tugged me over to the bed. A moment of fear weaved its way through me. When he looked at my expression, he chuckled.
“It’s not that I don’t think you’re hot. You are, but I only fuck women for money, and then only if I have to. My tastes run more to the masculine side.”
I hadn’t thought he could shock me more than he already had, but his words did exactly that. “Your assistant wasn’t a man.”
“As I said, I only fuck women if there’s something in it for me. She was a little extra spending money. Her boyfriend left her, and she was lonely. She was never my assistant.”
He removed the cuff from my left wrist and fastened it to the bed, then started walking toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m hungry, too, but I’m not going to take a chance that someone in town might see you. I’m sure by now they’re looking for both of us, so I’ll leave your ass here.”
I heard his car start, and then he was gone.
I got to work. It took me a few minutes to dig the tweezers out of my right pocket with my left hand, but I finally managed without dropping them. They were old, so it wasn’t hard to bend them. I inserted them into the lock.
I used to be good at picking locks. It was a handy skill to have when I was hunting artifacts with my parents. There always seemed to be an abundance of doors that needed to be unlocked.
When the cuff popped open, I smiled. I’d known they were cheap and not the standard issue kind that cops carried. They hadn’t felt that heavy on my wrists. As cheap as Eric was, he probably bought them at a dollar store.
They had still been heavy enough to chafe my wrist. I lightly rubbed the sore areas as I walked to the door, then opened it. The sun was already starting to go down. Eric had been right about one thing, the cabin was in a remote area. Escaping right now wouldn’t be a good idea. It was at least fifteen miles back to town. I certainly didn’t want to wander around the woods in the dark. I’d wait, and then steal his car. The perfect escape.
I could do a few things that would make my escape a little easier. I went outside and began setting the stage for Eric’s downfall. He was messing with the wrong woman. Sure, I knew the police were probably involved by now, and Nash would also be looking for me, too. I had no doubt I would be rescued. I just wasn’t going to sit around and wait.
When I heard the sound of a car getting closer, I hurried back inside the cabin and shut the door behind me. As Eric was pulling up, I was snapping the handcuff back in place. When he came inside, I sitting on the side of the bed.
“Yum, burger and fries,” I said when I saw the bag that he carried the food in.
“Take it or leave it,” he said, turning on a small lamp. “Remember, this time next week, I’ll be eating filet mignon and lobster, and you’ll be buying it.” He tossed the bag onto the bed.
Of course, he’d probably already eaten. Not that I cared right now. I was starved. I opened the bag with my free left hand and set the burger on my lap so I could unwrap it easier. It smelled delicious. I took a humongous bite, then looked at Eric as I chewed. He wore such a look of disgust that I laughed and almost choked.
“I always hated how you ate. Like it was your last meal. I would’ve thought someone so wealthy would have better table manners.”
“Well, you thought wrong. Remember, my parents were explorers. You’d probably be even more disgusted to learn some of the things that I’ve eaten, but then you haven’t lived until you’ve had a taste of fried grasshopper.”
His lip curled even more, if that were possible. “I hated that about you, too. You always act as if money means nothing to you.”
I shrugged, then stuffed a couple of French fries in my mouth. Eric would never realize there was more in life than money. Friends were worth more to me. Sure, it was nice having money. I could do whatever I wanted, but if I lost it all tomorrow, I would still survive because I had friends.
I polished off the burger and fries, then out of habit, put my trash all in one bag. He took it and tossed it toward the trashcan.
He laid down on the other side of the bed, leaving the lamp on. “Don’t try anything. You’ll be released in the morning when the transfer is complete, and I’ve moved the money to my account. Once all of that is done, I’ll let them know where you are. You should be able to survive a couple of days without food.”
I hated to tell him that wouldn’t happen. I wasn’t about to wait around until he had my money in his bank account. Not that I couldn’t spare ten million. I refused to support him any more than I already had. If I wanted to donate money, I would do so to one of the many charities that I already supported.
I’d have to wait until he was asleep. Unfortunately, Eric was stronger than I was. I didn’t want him to overpower me.
So I waited.
It didn’t take long for the rhythm of his breathing to change. I knew he was in a deep sleep, only then did I remove the handcuffs. I really needed to go to the bathroom, but that would have to wait. I didn’t want to take a chance of him waking up. All I had to do was handcuff him to the bed. Easier said than done. He was on his side with one hand near his face.
This was going to be tricky.
I eased from the bed and tiptoed around to his side. I locked the handcuff around his wrist until it was snug. I very carefully brought his arm up until I could bring the cuff behind the iron rail at the head of the bed. I could lock it in place, but that would still leave his other arm free. I didn’t trust him not to get loose with that much freedom. I needed him to raise his arm. I was pretty sure if I woke him and asked him to, he wouldn’t appreciate the fact that I was trying to handcuff him to the bed.
I needed to think of something else.
Got it.
I reached behind me and took my ponytail, bringing it around to the front. I leaned forward and ever so lightly tickled Eric’s nose. He immediately reached up with his free hand and scratched it at the same time I snapped the other cuff around his wrist and pushed it closed. His eyes immediately flew open. I quickly stepped away from him.
His curses filled the room.
I clicked my tongue. “Why Eric, I didn’t know you used such colorful language.”
“I’ll fucking kill you for this, consequences be damned.”
“I don’t think so. In fact, the next time I see you, you’ll probably be wearing orange.” I reached into his pocket and grabbed his keys before he could think to react. I was surprised when he started laughing.
“You should’ve known I wouldn’t trust you. I disabled the car. Believe me, I’ll be free before you make it to town. If you turn me loose right now, I promise not to hurt you.”
“Not going to happen.” I quickly went to the bathroom, blew him a kiss which made him even more furious, then waltzed out the front door. He was still yelling obscenities as I put the booby-traps in place. If he did get loose, then he would still have to go through them before he could get to me.
I unlocked the door of his car, mainly because I didn’t trust him not to lie. I inserted the key and turned it. Nothing. Okay, so he had disabled it. Two could play that game. If he did get loose, and got past my booby traps, then he w
ould have to run to catch me. I bumped the hood open, then climbed out of the car.
Once I had the hood up, I stared at the insides. It was so dark that I couldn’t see. I knew absolutely nothing about cars, so I felt around. I was pretty sure the wires meant something. I started pulling on them. When I had what I thought were enough ripped out, I shut the hood again, then threw his keys as far as I could into the dense brush.
I would stay on the road as much as possible. I knew it was a good fifteen miles into town. Hopefully, I would see a house along the way. I didn’t remember any, though.
Bummer.
I closed my eyes for a moment. “Nash, come get me.” I willed him to hear me. Not that I really believed in that kind of thing, but I guess it didn’t hurt to try.
Chapter 28
Nash
A whisper of a breeze tickled my ear. For a moment, I thought I heard Makenna’s voice. Great, now I was losing my fucking mind.
Or not?
“Did you say something?” I asked, looking at Jaxson.
Jaxson looked up, shaking his head. “No, I didn’t say anything. You okay?”
I scraped my fingers through my hair. “I feel as if I’m going crazy. If he hurts her, I swear to God, I’ll kill him.”
Jaxson’s expression turned stern. “We’ll find her. He wouldn’t dare hurt her. You said her friend saw his face before he knocked her out. If Eric harms her in any way, there’ll be an all-out manhunt for him. He won’t want to take that chance.”
My phone began to ring. I slipped it from my pocket and glanced at the caller ID. Lindsay smiled back at me. I’d known her for years. She’d gone on a few easy hikes, and enjoyed the outdoors with some of my groups. Occasionally, I grabbed a burger at the drive-in where she was the manager. “What’s up?” I asked.
“Hi, Nash. I’ve been trying to call you, but your phone has been busy. I heard through the grapevine that you wanted to know if there were any strangers in town who looked suspicious. This guy came in tonight driving a fancy red car. An expensive ones. He ordered enough for two people, then smiled the whole time he ate one of the burgers and fries. He didn’t touch the other one. I figured if he was buying it for someone else, then he would’ve left straightaway. It was almost as if he was gloating while he ate. Just seemed kind of strange to me.”
“What did he look like?”
She described Eric to a T.
My heart skipped a few beats. “Do you know which direction he went when he left?”
“I can do better than that. Mike was just getting off work, so I had him follow the guy. He turned on Miller Road. He followed him about ten miles, but was afraid the guy might get suspicious so he turned off on one of the side roads. Mike said the only cabin out in that general direction you can rent right now is Jacob’s. He thought the guy might be going there. Sorry I couldn’t get you more information.”
“You did great, Lindsay. We’ll head up that way and see what we can find.” I hung up the phone.
“Do you have a lead?” Ryder asked.
“I hope so.”
My brothers and I loaded up in my truck and took off. I didn’t say anything on the drive out. Jaxson called the FBI to let them know where we were headed. Still, I let my brothers talk. I think I mostly prayed. I prayed that Makenna would be okay. All I could think about was getting her to safety.
“Don’t break the steering wheel,” Layne said.
I glanced in my rearview mirror at my little brother. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He nodded toward the steering wheel. “The way you’re gripping it, I was afraid you might break the steering wheel in two.”
I realized my knuckles had turned white. I loosened my grip.
“She must mean a lot to you if you’re this worried,” Jaxson said.
I hadn’t really thought about it. All I knew was that my life didn’t mean a whole lot without her in it. “Yeah, she means a lot to me.”
“Do you love her?” Ryder asked.
I frowned.
“You’re acting like Jaxson did with Katie,” he continued.
“Love?” Did I love her?
“Yeah, do you love her?” Layne asked.
I’d felt sick to my stomach ever since Eric had kidnapped her. The thought of losing her made me ache in places I didn’t know I could ache. But I didn’t know what the hell love really felt like. I glanced toward Jaxson.
“You have all the signs that you’re in love,” Jaxson said.
Well, hell. When had it happened? I had a pretty good idea I knew the exact moment I fell in love with Makenna. It was when she ate the hot salsa on the chip without flinching, then ate another one. Yeah, I was pretty sure that was when I fell in love with her.
“I think I do love her,” I admitted.
“But have you told her yet?” Layne asked.
I shook my head. I only hoped I had the chance to say the words to her.
I turned down Miller Road, dust swirling around the truck. I could feel my pulse speeding up.
Jaxson reached over and touched my arm. “If she’s at this cabin, we can’t just drive up and storm it.”
“I know where it’s at. I’ll stop before we get there.”
We were almost to the turn off that would lead to the cabin when I noticed something down the road. The closer we got, the better able I was to make her out. I should’ve known that she would escape. I almost hated to find out what kind of shape she had left Eric in. I began to laugh.
“Are you okay?” Ryder asked.
When I glanced in the rearview mirror I could see his worried expression. “Did I mention to you how stubborn Makenna is? That she climbed up the side of the mountain to go get help, after I specifically ordered her not to? Well, meet Makenna.” I stopped the truck a little ways before I got to her, slammed it into park, then jumped out and ran to her.
Chapter 29
Makenna
I stopped walking when it dawned on me there was a vehicle approaching. Thank goodness, I probably wouldn’t have to walk the rest of the way into town. As the vehicle got closer, my heart beat faster. I waved and the pickup stopped. When the driver’s side door opened, the light came on. I could see it was Nash as he stopped the truck and got out. He didn’t waste time getting to me. My heart swelled at the sight of him.
He wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug, but not so tight that it hurt. In fact, it felt pretty damn good right now. He moved me to arms-length studying me. I knew he was checking for injuries.
“It’s about time you got here,” I stated, then smiled.
He gingerly touched the side of my face. “He hit you.”
I shrugged. “Not a big deal.”
“Where is he?”
“Back at the cabin. I left him handcuffed to the bed, but if he gets loose, I left a few things for him to encounter on the way to his car.” I was thoughtful for a moment. “I really hope he manages to get loose. I also pulled a few wires under the hood, so even if he can make a run for it, he won’t get far on foot.”
Nash was grinning.
“What?”
“You continue to amaze me, woman. I was sick with worry. I should’ve known you could handle yourself just from past experience. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you when we get married, though.”
Married? Had he just proposed? I tilted my head, studying him. “That was the most unromantic proposal I’ve ever heard.”
He grinned. I wish he wouldn’t do that. He was too damned irresistible when he smiled.
“Well, the way I figure it, Eric probably proposed with wine and flowers, maybe even a fancy dinner, the suit, the tie and everything that would turn your head. If you marry me, this is what you get. I’ve got more money than I’ll ever spend, so I give a lot to charity. I don’t need your money. I’d rather be outdoors than indoors, but you already know that about me. So what do you say?”
Was he holding his breath? He looked as if he was holding his breath while he waited
for my answer. Well, I didn’t want him passing out, so I might as well tell him. “Yes, Nash Hayes, I will definitely marry you.” I loved this man more than life itself.
He picked me up, twirling me around until I was dizzy, then he kissed me. I realized what I’d been missing since Eric kidnapped me. When he ended the kiss, I looked up at him, caressing the side of his face. “I’ll love you with all my heart, with every breath I take.” I sighed softly. “But do me wrong, mister, and I’ll rip your balls off.”
There was some clearing of throats behind him.
I glanced around him. “Who are those men with you?”
He stepped back and to the side. “Makenna, meet my brothers.” He pointed to each one, naming them.
“Welcome to the family, Makenna,” Jackson said.
I was amazed at how much they resembled each other.
“If he gives you any trouble, just tell one of us, and we’ll set him straight,” Ryder said with a grin that was just as devastating as Nash’s.
“Yeah well, your times coming,” Nash told him.
Ryder shook his head. “Nope, I’m a confirmed bachelor.”
“Me, too,” Layne chimed in.
I had a feeling some girl would come along and snag each of them before too long.
“Let’s go check on Eric,” Nash said. “I have a score to settle with him.”
I sat between Nash and Jaxson in the front seat as we drove to the cabin. I couldn’t help smiling when I saw Eric in the headlights sitting on the ground pulling cockleburs from his feet.
“What the hell is he doing?” Nash asked.
“Before I left the cabin, I took his shoes. There was half a jar of honey in the cabinet that someone had left behind. I knew he would be furious that I escaped and would run out the front door. I dumped out all the honey so that he would have to step in it. There were cockleburs at the back of the cabin. I scattered them on the steps.”
Nash glanced at me as he pulled to a stop in front of the cabin. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
I smiled. He might as well know from the start that I would be an equal partner in this relationship, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less.