by Kariss Lynch
“I can give you a name.” Her nose remained tipped firmly upward, but there was a slight crack in her voice.
“You’ll give me more than that.”
“In a card game it is not good to show your hand. I think I will still keep some cards close to the vest, as you Americans like to say.”
Nick could feel his calm slipping away again. They were losing time. He dug his ringing phone out of his pocket. Logan. The Feds had a possible location. At least it was something.
“The name, Janus?” He took another step, his face towering over her, and the only place she had to point her nose was up at him. “My offer stands this last time. Name and location.”
He could almost feel the war rage in her. For the first time he saw her face flinch in fear. He wondered how many people she had double-crossed or left in her wake as she slipped into the shadows. If he won this battle, what others could he win on the hunt to capture her boss and end a major arms operation?
“And what if I said it is too late? She cannot be saved?”
“Then your boss and all your former clients will know where you are kept. I’ll make sure of it.” He turned his back on her and began to walk away.
“Dmitri Novechek,” she nearly shouted.
Nick breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t called his bluff. He slowly turned around. “Location. Now,” he gritted.
Her hands shifted, the metal cuffs jingling with the movement. “I do not know a location, but you will be lucky to find him. He is ruthless, cunning, and knows how to hide. I do know where he is going but not when.” She spat an address before a small smile of triumph twisted her bitter features. “It may already be too late for your nosy girlfriend and her terrible friend.”
Nick took a step back, fighting the urge to run in her presence. “Fiancée. She’s my fiancée. And she’s tougher than you give her credit for.”
“I would not count on that if I were you.”
This time it was Nick’s turn to smirk as he turned to walk away. “Oh, I like my odds. You see, she’s marrying a United States Navy SEAL.”
Chapter 42
THE DOORS OPENED outward, the beams of a flashlight streaming into the dimness. They had a direct view of the moonlit ocean from what appeared to be a quiet inlet. A man entered, but Kaylan couldn’t make out his features behind the glow of the orb.
“Come out, come out, my beauties. There are few places to hide, and I am not in the mood for games.”
Kaylan bit down on her tongue, fighting a sarcastic reply. Better to learn what he wanted and try to play her cards right. She needed to buy time. Squaring her shoulders, she skirted the edge of the boat to stand before him. Tall and stylish, his blond hair fell across his forehead in a boy-band style. Gorgeous didn’t quite describe him. Neither did ruthless. His eyes were as fathomless as a pit, and she tensed as his gaze raked her body.
He laughed. “Anya did not do you justice. My clients will be very pleased with you.”
He closed the space between them with a few steps. Kaylan spotted two more men entering behind him, both Arab in appearance, both impassive. Two on three. She wasn’t thrilled with those odds.
The blond man reached behind her head, pulling her hair loose from the band and fluffing it around her shoulders. His fingers drifted down her jawline to her neck, and he stepped even closer, shining the light into her face. Kaylan fought the urge to cringe and run, but she refused to show fear.
“If I didn’t want the money, I would be tempted to keep you for myself.”
Kaylan inwardly curled away from his leering gaze as his hands settled on her waist and pulled her close to his body.
“Oh, please.” Megan broke in, shouldering her way between them. “Why does Kaylan get all the hot guys? Can’t a girl get a little appreciation around here?” Megan threw a hand on her hip, her dark sultry gaze raking the man before them.
Kaylan almost grabbed her friend when the man threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Janus did not tell me she sent a comedian. We will have to identify just the right buyer for you.” His smile fell away immediately, and his hand cracked across Megan’s face, sending her to the floor. “But you will learn to control your mouth, my flower. These men like their women seen, not heard.”
Kaylan fought the urge to kneel down next to her friend, but her gaze remained unwavering on their assailant. She anchored her feet, preparing to defend herself if necessary, but his smooth smile had returned. “You may call me Dmitri. I think I will have some fun with you. I promised two beauties, but I did not say when.”
Grabbing Kaylan’s chin, he placed a rough kiss on her mouth. She yanked away, running the back of her hand over her lips, and spitting on the rough boards beneath her feet. His grin made her blood run cold.
One of the Arabs began preparing the boat, the other standing off to the side while Dmitri stood watch. Kaylan eyed any means for escape. They could slip out the doors into the shallow water and up the slight sandy embankment she could barely see in the darkness. Shadows of other boat docks sat what seemed like miles away in the moonlight. If she could make it to one of those . . . The grind of a crank caught her attention. The Arab man lowered the speedboat into the shallow water below. If they got on that boat, they would lose their ability to escape. If only . . .
Dmitri motioned to the deck. “Climb aboard, lovelies. Time to leave.”
Kaylan placed her hand on Megan’s arm, and neither of them budged. The smile slipped from Dmitri’s face, and he maneuvered around the sinking boat to stand in front of them.
“Let us establish a few ground rules, da? When I give you a command, you will obey immediately.” He gripped Kaylan’s chin again. “Or I will make life very difficult.” His gaze drifted to Megan. “Do we understand one another?”
While his gaze focused on Megan, Kaylan let the wrench slide down her sleeve and into her waiting hand. She swung with all the strength she could muster, clobbering Dmitri on the side of his head. He stumbled backward, falling onto the deck of the descending boat.
“Megan, run!”
The two bolted out the open doors, Kaylan splashing into water that came up to her waist. They fought through it and hit the sand. Another splash sounded behind her, and she knew they didn’t have long before the Arab and Dmitri caught up. She forced herself to run as fast as she could. Her long legs kicked up sand in the cove, but she kept pace with Megan’s shorter strides. They would get out of this together. She would accept no other alternative.
Kaylan glanced behind her. The guy who had stood watch was in close pursuit.
“Faster, Meg!” Kaylan wasn’t sure where they were running. She aimed for the closest boat dock, but it was too far down the beach. She realized for the first time how isolated their hiding place seemed. She didn’t know if they were still in Imperial Beach or Coronado or farther up the coast, but one thing seemed certain: they needed to get to civilization quickly.
The man lunged and grabbed Megan around her waist. She tumbled to the ground under his weight, crying out as she fell. With one hard slap of his hand, Megan went limp, groaning as she lay in the sand.
Kaylan turned around, facing off with Megan’s attacker. Her han
ds itched to still hold the wrench, and she regretted that she’d lost it after hitting Dmitri. Her eyes darted around the beach near her feet. She spotted a rock the size of her palm lying a foot away. Keeping her eyes on the man before her, she snatched it from the sand, suddenly feeling stronger with a weapon in her possession.
The man remained expressionless. His fingers twitched, and his eyes studied her every move. Kaylan doubted he spoke English.
“Just let us go, and I won’t say a word.” She shifted the rock in her hand as she moved toward Megan, who struggled to sit up.
Down the beach, Dmitri screamed instructions in a language she didn’t understand as he advanced on their position. She reached for Megan.
“Go, Kayles.” Megan shoved at her hand, trying to push herself up.
Kaylan could run. She could attack the man, hope to knock him out with some of the moves Nick had taught her and then get help. But she knew she would never find Megan again, and she wouldn’t leave her friend behind.
Too late; the decision was made for her. Dmitri appeared and yanked Megan from the sand, gripping her arms in his thin hands. His white teeth glistened in the moonlight as he reached behind his back and retrieved a gun. He raked the barrel down Megan’s cheek, and she whimpered in response.
Kaylan’s heart sank.
“You have spirit, my flower. But I will beat it out of you yet. That was stupid.” He spat and nodded to his companion. “Take her.”
The man standing before Kaylan took a step closer, his eyes on the rock in her hand. She could tell by his movements he didn’t fear her, and her heart sank. She dropped the rock and raised her hands, but the man lunged forward and gripped the back of her neck in his hands, tossing her forward.
Kaylan fought to stay on her feet, but she went down hard, feeling the impact as her knees hit the sand first. Her hands stung from the bite of the tiny grains. She pushed herself to her feet, just as a booted foot made impact with her ribs. Her body jerked as she flew onto her back. A groan slipped through her lips, betraying her pain.
“Enough.” Dmitri barked. “Get her on her feet.”
The Arab yanked her up. Pain rippled through her body. Her ribs ached as she forced herself to walk in front of the man back to the boat shed, her heart heavy at what lay ahead. Dmitri shoved Megan along in front of her.
As her feet hit the wood of the shed, her gaze found Dmitri glaring at her, the gash above his eyes running with blood. She fought the fear welling inside her. He looked mad enough to kill. Dmitri grabbed Kaylan’s arm in an iron grip and tossed her to the boarded floor. Megan cried out, but remained powerless as the Arab shoved her into the boat. The other Arab had stayed with the boat, and at Dmitri’s nod he started the engine.
Kaylan tried to stand, but Dmitri’s hand flew, colliding with her cheek and sending her head smacking into the floor. She tasted blood and spat, refusing the tears.
The cold feel of metal at her neck paralyzed her as Dmitri crouched over her, pressing his body to hers. A knife dug into her throat, and she fought the urge to swallow, despite her cotton mouth.
“I think I will have some fun with you, my beauty. Teach you some manners, hmm? I like my women feisty, but I do not tolerate disobedience.”
The knife dug into her skin, and something warm and wet trickled down to meet her collar.
His finger traced down her face, and she recoiled as his eyes studied her as one would a deer they had just killed. He let the knife tip drift down her chest and hover over her heart, his face inches from hers. She fought the urge to turn away and instead glared, anger burning away every passive bone in her body.
“What a pity to waste something so unique, so beautiful.” He leaned closer and smelled her hair. His breath tickled her ear as he whispered, “Do not defy me again, or your friend will taste the bitterness of this blade.”
He placed a long, harsh kiss on her mouth, and Kaylan thrashed beneath him. When he finally lifted his head, her lips tingled and burned where he’d made contact.
He pushed off her, towering over her crumpled frame as she shoved up on her elbows. “You will learn respect before I am through with you.” He yanked her up and dragged her on the boat.
Despite the weakness in her knees, Kaylan fought to stand. She tore away from his grip and took a seat next to Megan. The two huddled together, shivering and holding hands as the boat maneuvered into the bay. With each passing second Kaylan fought hopelessness. It was an emotion she couldn’t afford. Not now. Not ever.
Chapter 43
KAYLAN GRIPPED THE seat as the boat rocketed out to sea. She studied the water skidding by beneath them and swallowed. Jumping would feel like hitting a sheet of cement. She remembered being thrown from the jet skis one too many times going forty miles an hour. She needed a different plan, but nothing came to mind.
Nothing but prayer. She’d sacrificed her peace with the Lord for her anger over what He allowed with the earthquake and Sarah Beth’s death. This time she refused to question Him. But somehow none of this seemed fair. Just when she’d found a rhythm with Nick and the beginning of a beautiful future together, all hell broke loose.
Again she struggled to trust God in a new way. She knew none of this would have happened if she weren’t dating Nick. But regardless of where this situation led, she wouldn’t trade one day with Nick for a thousand days of safety.
Megan leaned in close to be heard over the engine and thrashing waves. “Got any bright ideas?”
“Prayer.” Kaylan smiled at her roommate.
“What is it with you and thinking some invisible man in the sky is going to get us out of this? You have no idea what’s coming.”
Inwardly Kaylan groaned. “I have a good guess.”
The boat turned quickly, tossing Kaylan and Megan to the floor. The driver yelled gibberish over the noise and banked the other way, adding another burst of speed. Kaylan could almost hear the engine groan in response. Dmitri pulled a gun and stalked toward them. Bracing his feet, he pointed the gun at Megan’s head and looked to Kaylan.
“Who did you notify?” he yelled, a vein popping at his temple.
Kaylan stared back, her hands forming fists.
He pressed the barrel into Megan’s head. “Who did you tell? How?” he screamed. Kaylan wondered if he would sacrifice money to kill them before reaching their destination.
He shoved Megan out of the way and squatted next to Kaylan, the gun pointed at her chest. “I have an itchy trigger finger. Now tell me who is following us.”
Kaylan’s head snapped up, and she strained to see around him. He yelled and yanked her up with him, pulling her back against him and pointing the gun at her head. “I know the SEALs are challenging target practice. But I’m an excellent marksman. And I have bested one before.”
Kaylan saw the glint of moonlight on the side of a boat before it disappeared in the darkness. She strained to listen. Another speedboat perhaps.
Dmitri whirled her around and ran his hands up and down her body, patting her pockets. “How did you tell them, huh? How did they know?” His face turned purple when he found nothing on her, and he pushed her back to the deck.
“Maybe your precious Anya sold you out,�
�� she spat. “Did you really think you could take us without retribution? You just ticked off an entire community of Navy SEALs.”
His foot connected with her already sore ribs, and she bit back a cry. Wincing, she rolled out of his way as he thundered back to the wheel and shouted instructions.
Megan helped her back onto the seat, the sea spray drenching them. “Do you think it’s them?”
Kaylan squinted in the darkness, unable to make out anything. “He thinks it is. Maybe they made it back. Maybe it’s the Feds. I don’t know.”
Megan stared at Kaylan in awe. “Maybe there is something to this praying thing.”
“True. But we’re not out of this yet.” Her mind began ticking again with possibilities. “Still have that screwdriver?”
Megan lifted her shirt slightly to show Kaylan the tool. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
Kaylan nodded. “One of them comes close again, you use it.”
Megan’s eyes glowed black. “Nothing like a kidnapping to turn a pacifist into a fighter.”
The boat behind them veered into sight, moonlight glinting off its white sides. Kaylan’s heart jumped as she recognized Jay’s boat. Relief flooded her. They were going to get out of this.
“Woohoo, Lover Boy and his sidekicks arrive to save the day,” Megan cheered, the sight of the SEAL team bolstering her spirits.
Dmitri let loose a string of expletives before motioning one of the men to take care of Megan and Kaylan while he joined the driver and began yelling over the sound of wind and waves. Megan tensed and slipped her hand beneath her shirt, retrieving the screwdriver. Kaylan moved closer to her as Megan hid the weapon in the space between them on the seat. Kaylan felt her trembling.
Lord, please, help.