Ruthless Peril_Military Romantic Suspense

by Emily Jane Trent

Tessa’s brassy voice echoed in the room, and Hunter breathed a sigh of relief. She was still alive and kicking.

  “I’m counting on your savior coming to your rescue,” a male said. “It’s not like I brought you here for fun, or anything else—although it would be a particularly sweet bonus.”

  Hunter couldn’t listen to this guy’s bullshit any longer. He cautiously crept past the open door and peered into the room beyond.

  Tessa was duct-taped to a chair at the end of the galley kitchen, next to a small Formica table and a pile of garbage bags that filled one corner of the room. Hunter could see dried blood at her hairline. Her captor leaned against the counter. The pistol held tightly in his fist was pointed in Tessa’s general direction, but he appeared unfocused and fidgety.

  It took every ounce of restraint not to barrel through the door, until Tessa looked up and saw him. Her eyes were wide, and her gaze darted back to the man in front of her, so she wouldn’t give away Hunter’s position. He ducked back behind the door, but there was no indication the kidnapper had noticed any change in Tessa’s demeanor.

  “What makes you think anyone is going to come here? I was alone at the office when you grabbed me. You broke my phone, so no one is tracking that. So far, your plan is really shitty.”

  Hunter pressed his back against the side of the house. Tessa continued to distract her captor, so Hunter could move. A board under his boot heel creaked, and he froze.

  “Hey! I’m talking to you! What’s your next move, dipshit? Isn’t this the time when you’re supposed to be telling me about your plans? Come on, you’ve seen all the movies.”

  Hunter held his breath and moved his foot off the creaking board, then made a mental note to thank Tessa for covering for him. She was boisterous, and he hoped her voice was loud enough to distract Caleb from the sound of any other loose boards.

  He stood up and began to creep toward the end of the porch. He listened for Caleb’s answer to Tessa’s challenge, but he had to make a move to get into the house, now. The man was clearly unpredictable. Hunter couldn’t let Tessa get hurt any more than she already was.

  “You’re going to call Travis,” the man growled.

  “I don’t remember his number,” Tessa said. “I have everything programmed into my phone. It’s the electronic age, Einstein, so I don’t have to remember these things anymore. So sorry, pal, you’re shit out of luck.”

  The sound of a sharp slap filled the air, and Hunter froze at the edge of the porch. He spun around, anger coursing through him.

  “Shut up! You do what I say, or you end up dead. Do you hear me?” Caleb’s voice was strained. “I don’t have time for your smart mouth. You know his number, so stop lying to me.”

  Hunter clenched his hands into tight fists. He wanted to burst through the door and pummel the other man into a pile of steaming meat, but the gun that he had seen clutched in Caleb’s hand stopped him from giving in to the wild impulse.

  “Tell me his number…now.”

  Hunter didn’t wait to hear Tessa’s reply. He turned his attention to a door next to the porch steps. He tried the knob gingerly, hoping that it would be unlocked. The knob turned, but just as he started to think his luck had changed, the door latch clicked, and the lock engaged.

  Hunter suppressed a groan of frustration. If he’d pushed the door instead, he would be inside. He glanced over his shoulder at the open kitchen door. He would have to work fast. If Caleb got suspicious, decided to check out a strange noise, Hunter would have nowhere to hide except the overgrown bushes that choked the yard.

  He pulled out his pocket knife and kneeled at the doorknob. Thankfully it was a pin tumbler lock, a type purchased at a hardware store that was inexpensive, quick to install, and easy to get past. He opened the knife and thrust the blade into the keyhole. After a few deft movements, he heard a soft click. With a quick look over his shoulder, he strained to hear anything out of the ordinary, but the only sound was the distant bark of a dog.

  Hunter slid the knife blade into the doorjamb, until the tip hit the latch. He gritted his teeth, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He focused on his task, and not on what he couldn’t see or hear happening in the kitchen. He worked the blade under the bolt, gradually prying it free. With a grunt of victory, he twisted the handle and pulled the door open.

  Chapter 7

  Tessa frantically glanced at the door. The noise from outside had drawn the kidnapper’s attention, and she was terrified that Hunter would be discovered. “You can’t just expect to keep me taped up forever. What if I have to pee?” She rocked the chair, and the legs thudded on the linoleum.

  The man turned back to her. He looked tense, but she had successfully distracted him from going to investigate the noise.

  In the dim light, Tessa could see the sweat on his brow, and wondered if Hunter had been able to move away from the door. She’d been beyond relieved to see him. Now that he was here, she was braver, certain that the minutes at this man’s mercy were counting down.

  “You owe me an explanation. Why am I here? Why did you grab me and shove me in the trunk of your busted car? What comes next?”

  The man turned and aimed the gun at her. Tessa flinched, turning her face away. But he marched closer, then pressed the gun against her forehead.

  “My brother is the reason you’re here. Your husband murdered him. Did you hear me? Murdered.”

  Tessa gaped, but then locked eyes with the kidnapper, staring him down. “My husband? Dude, you’re so bad at this that you grabbed the wrong woman. You need to do your homework. Do we all look alike to you? I’m not married; I don’t even have a boyfriend. You’re the worst fucking kidnapper—”

  The man’s hand flashed out and caught Tessa in the mouth; her head rocked back with the force of the blow, and she tasted blood. “I’m not stupid. I know who you are. You’re Travis Hewitt’s wife. I’ve seen you together. I’ve watched you. Just tonight you were hugging. So don’t lie to me.”

  Tessa spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor. “I’m not lying to you. You’re delusional. I don’t know who Travis is. I don’t even know who you’re talking about.”

  The man smiled and pulled something out of his back pocket, unfolding it with unsteady fingers. When he shoved it toward her, Tessa flinched. It was a photograph that had been taken outside Stealth’s building. Travis had his arm thrown over her shoulder, and was hugging her against his side. That was a week ago. The creep had been watching them.

  He pushed his face close to Tessa’s and spoke in a loud whisper, right in her face. “Don’t. Fucking. Lie. To Me. You know Travis Hewitt.”

  Tessa turned away from his angry words. “Fine, I know Travis. But he’s not my husband.”

  “Are you having an affair with him?” A lecherous smile spread across the man’s face, and Tessa stared at him. Oh God, is he going to try to blackmail Travis? What would Melanie think?

  “No…Jesus. He’s my boss. I wouldn’t… You’re bloody sick. What do you want?” Tessa rocked back and forth, the legs of the chair thumping on the floor.

  “I want justice for my brother. Travis shot him in cold blood, and I want him to know how much it hurts to lose someone you love.”

  Tessa snorted. “Well, I’m sorry that this whole plan backfired for you, pal. You didn’t get Melanie, you just got boring old me. So…do you want to let me go and you can try again?”

  The man leveled the gun at her face, his expression cold. “I don’t fucking think so. Travis cares about you, I can see it. Even if you aren’t his wife, he won’t let you die for no reason. You’re going to call him.”

  Tessa curled her lip. “You broke my phone, genius, remember?”

  The man pressed the gun into Tessa’s forehead, then pulled a cheap cell phone out of his pocket. “You’re going to give me the number, right now.”

  Tessa eyed the phone. They were sold at any corner market or mall kiosk, easy to use, easy to throw away. “Nice drug dealer phone. Untraceable, right? Wow, you’ve
really done your research.”

  The man gritted his teeth and pressed the gun painfully into her flesh. “Give me the number, or I pull the trigger.”

  Tessa gritted her teeth. “Fine. Get that thing out of my face.” The pressure of the gun muzzle against her skin eased somewhat, but he didn’t pull the weapon away entirely. His expression was stern.

  Tessa rattled off the number. “Are you happy now?”

  The man dialed then held the phone to his ear. Tessa heard the line ringing, and as soon as he turned away, she worked her hands furiously, trying to loosen the tape that bound her wrists together. Where is Hunter? He should be in here by now.

  “Hello, this is Mario’s…pickup or delivery?”

  Tessa smirked, and looked down at her duct-taped knees to hide her reaction.

  The man whirled around, his face etched with rage. The hand holding the phone swung for Tessa’s face and connected sharply with her jaw. “You lie to me again, and I’m going to shoot you.” His voice gave away his desperation.

  Each syllable grated in Tessa’s ears. Where is Hunter? I can’t take much more of this. Her eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill over, and she tried in vain to keep her cool.

  “Not so tough now, are you? Do you think I care if you cry? Give me the real number.”

  Tessa’s shoulders slumped and she gave him the phone number. “That’s his cell. He always has it on him.”

  She spat on the floor again and looked up at her captor, seething with hatred. “Travis is going to kick your sorry ass so hard your own mother won’t recognize you.”

  The man pointed the gun at her face and held the phone to his ear. “For the last time, shut the fuck up.”

  Tessa heard the phone ring. Once. Twice. And then Travis answered.

  “Hewitt, I have something of yours. If you want her back in one piece, you have some work to do.”

  Tessa narrowed her eyes and worked at the tape holding her wrists. She could feel it loosening with every tug and twist of her hands.

  “I want my brother’s name cleared, and the charges against him to disappear. You’re going to put an apology in the paper, in the LA fucking Times about how sorry you are for murdering him.”

  Tessa stared at the man, who was now openly weeping. Then she heard Travis say her name. He had to be asking about her, and if she was unharmed.

  The bad guy paused for a moment and glanced at Tessa. “She’s fine, but she’ll only be fine if you agree to do this. It’s such a little thing, Hewitt. Something you owe me. Are you going to let her die over something as small as this? Because I’ll do it, Hewitt…I swear I will. I’ll put a bullet right between her pretty eyes. She looks an awful lot like your wife, and I’ll come for her next, if this doesn’t work out.”

  He held the phone toward Tessa. “Tell him to listen to me; tell him to do what I say.”

  Tessa took a deep breath before shouting at the phone. “Travis, don’t you listen to this crazy piece of shit!”

  The man put the gun down on the counter and ripped a fresh piece of duct tape from the roll. “Travis…he’s being hunted and doesn’t even know it.” Tessa’s words were cut off when the piece of tape was slapped over her mouth. She glared at the man, hoping that her boss would figure out that she’d seen Hunter, and knew that he was trying to rescue her.

  “Your girl has a mouth on her, Hewitt. And if she’s not careful, she’s going to say the wrong thing and get herself killed. Do we have a deal? I want to hear you say the words. I’ve been waiting for years to hear you say them. Say you killed my brother in cold blood. Say it.”

  Tessa heard Travis reply, but it clearly wasn’t what the sleazebag wanted to hear. With a cry of rage, the man kicked the kitchen table, knocking it back against the wall and into the pile of garbage. “You’re not listening to me. Do you care about this woman’s life at all? I’ll shoot her in the head, while I have you on the phone, so you’ll be able to hear it all.”

  The man’s focus swung back to Tessa, and her eyes widened when he leveled the gun at her.

  Travis’ voice boomed through the phone. “Caleb, your brother was not well. He was violent, and was stalking my client. He threatened her life, just like you’re doing to Tessa right now. I can’t apologize for what happened, because he left me no choice.”

  Travis was trying to reason with him, and was stalling for time. Then it came to her, where she’d seen her captor before. She’d been looking through some old cases, and there had been photos of his brother Jared—and some of him. Tessa didn’t forget a face.

  When Tessa pulled one hand free from the duct tape, she winced and flexed her fingers to restore circulation. Her shoulders ached from the position she had been taped into, but she couldn’t move her arms just yet. The abductor mustn’t see that she was closer to getting free.

  “No, you don’t understand. My brother wasn’t like that. He wasn’t a stalker. You’re lying to me. Why does everyone lie to me? I’m tired of listening to you, Hewitt. I’m giving you twenty minutes to change your mind. Your office girl’s life depends on your decision, so consider your choice carefully before I call you back.”

  The man snapped the phone shut and threw it onto the dish-strewn counter. He paced the floor, muttering to himself, rubbing the muzzle of the gun against his temple. Tessa kept her eyes on him, and she began to pick at the edge of the tape, holding her to the chair. If she could get her legs free, she might be able to do him some damage the next time he got close.

  The sound of the kidnapper’s boots on the linoleum echoed in the kitchen. Tessa hoped that Hunter was inside the house. The guy was obviously unhinged, and she had to admit that she was getting worried about being here for too much longer.

  She knew the kidnapping statistics, and the longer she was alone with him, the more likely it was that something bad was going to happen. He had already hit her, so if she said or did something he didn’t like, there was no reason he’d stop from harming her more. She pulled at the tape harder, and it made a loud ripping noise.

  The kidnapper swung around, his face strained and terrifying. Tessa clasped her hands together behind her back, hoping that it would look like her wrists were still secured together. “Do you think I’m clueless, Tessa?” He spat out her name, and she flinched away from him. In a cruel motion, he pulled the strip of tape off her mouth, and she cried out in pain, tasting fresh blood. “Say it.”

  “Say what? What do you want me to say? That I think you’re stupid? I’ve already said that. That I think your plan is ridiculous? I’ve said that too. That Travis is going to kick your ass? I know I said that. What do you want to hear? That everything is going to work out fine? That Travis is going to apologize, and you’re going to get some closure? Is that what you want?”

  Caleb’s hand flashed out again and connected with Tessa’s face. She cried out and felt a trickle of blood slide down her lip. “Your bossman better agree to my terms, or I’m going to enjoy killing you. Even if he does agree, I might do it anyway…just to shut you up.”

  Tessa glared at him. “My boss isn’t going to agree to shit. Your brother sounds like a psycho, just like you.”

  With a roar, Caleb lifted his foot and kicked the chair, with enough force to tip it over. Tessa shrieked with surprise as the chair thudded to the floor, smashing her knee and shoulder onto the linoleum. Her head was spinning, and she was thankful that he hadn’t kicked the chair over backward.

  Caleb paced the floor, walking close to her face and intentionally standing on her hair. Tessa looked up at him, straining her neck to hold her head in that position. “You’re an asshole.”

  The man bent to look her full in the face, before rubbing his thumb across her lips to wipe away the blood dripping from her nose. He stuck his thumb in his mouth, making a show of sucking the blood off, before replacing the duct tape over her mouth. “And you are a stupid bitch who doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.”

  Tessa huffed an angry breath, then moved her m
outh to start working the duct tape loose. Caleb patted her roughly on the cheek, before straightening and resuming his pacing. Tessa let her head loll onto the floor, cringing as a cockroach skittered across her hair. Hunter…where are you?

  Chapter 8

  The door swung open, and Hunter braced himself for a creaking hinge that would give away his position. But there was no sound, and no dog came barreling out of the darkness to alert Caleb to his entry. As determined as he was to rescue Tessa, the right tactic was crucial. Her abductor had a gun and likely was jumpy.

  Armed with his blade, Hunter crept through the hallway past a washing machine that looked like it hadn’t been used in years. The smell of musty clothing and stale body odor invaded his nostrils. He tried not to sneeze. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw piles of clothing strewn over the floor. He edged around them, before stepping into what should have been a living room. A lamp cast a dim orange glow over the space.

  Caleb was shouting in the kitchen, and screamed the name Hewitt, so he was on the line with Travis. Hunter walked catlike through the room, barely breathing so as not to alert Caleb. A ruined couch, with its cushions ripped and trailing their stuffing, sat crookedly in one corner. The floor was covered with takeout boxes and empty beer cans. Even in the low light, he saw mold around some of the items. But, as he stealthily made his way through, it was the walls of the room that caught and held his attention.

  The walls were covered with newspaper clippings and photographs. Hunter stepped closer and rubbed his fingers over the paper glued to the surface. There were hundreds of articles and snippets of interviews, of Travis and the launch of Stealth Security. There was even a photo of Travis at the zoo, the case that had started it all.

  Countless cases and high-profile clients were photographed, with Travis’ stern face over their shoulder, leading their security detail. There was Travis driving a client to a gig, and Travis walking a tree-lined street, holding his daughter’s hand.

  Hunter’s blood went cold when he traced his fingertips over the newspaper clipping of a charity event that Stealth had hosted. Travis had posed with Rip and Tessa, but in the story, Tessa had been mistakenly referred to as Melanie Hewitt.