Like the hotel itself, the room was clean and neat, just a bit dated. One queen bed, a table and chair, and a dresser with an old TV. The door to the bathroom stood open. She peeked in. Fresh towels. Toilet paper. Soap and shampoo on the counter. A shower, no tub.
Perfect.
Shae went into the bathroom, closed the door, and peed. She didn’t bother to even look at herself, knowing the mess she’d see, and just splashed cool water on her face and dried off. A hot shower would come later.
She stumbled to the bed and fell face first onto it, not caring if she was dressed or not. She set the alarm on her phone for one and half hours, time to wake, shower, dress, and get to the meeting in Max’s room.
The last thing she remembered is wondering if Logan had unlocked the door between their rooms.
»»•««
The alarm went off far too soon. Shae groaned, rolled over, and sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She brushed the hair from her face and stood. Shower. Hot water.
Her stomach rumbled. Maybe after the meeting they’d find a restaurant nearby and grab a bite. Despite her earlier unsettled state, now her belly insisted on being fed.
Shae went to the bathroom and undressed. She stole a quick look at herself. She didn’t look as bedraggled as she felt, so that was good. After turning on the shower and waiting for the hot water, which didn’t take as long as she thought, she got in.
Without wasting much time, she shampooed her hair, scrubbed her body with the soap and washcloth, rinsed, and shut off the water. She dried off with a towel that had seen better days but smelled fresh.
Shae finished dressing as a knock sounded on her door.
“Hold on.” She slipped on her boots, went to the door, and peered out of the peephole. Logan stood on the other side.
She opened the door. “Hi. I’m almost ready.” She grabbed the card key to the room and shoved it into the pocket of her jeans, scooped up her phone and wallet, and then returned to the door.
Logan gave her a quick up and down look, and then gave her a tentative smile. “Let’s go.” He stepped back from the door and let her exit, pull her door shut, test the lock, and then set off down the hall. Logan caught up to her in a few strides.
“Which one is Max’s?” She couldn’t remember, she’d been so tired.
Logan stopped at a door. “This one.” He knocked. A moment later, the door opened, and they stepped inside.
“Hey.” Gunnar greeted them as he closed the door behind them. “Just waiting on Rowdy and Jake.”
The other men lounged around the room, sitting on the two beds. Max sat in the only chair, his laptop opened on the table in front of him.
Shae leaned against the wall. Logan stood next to her, watchful, on alert, almost protective. When the knock on the door came, Shae jumped, but the others never moved.
Logan signaled for Gunnar to hang tight, turned to check the peephole, and then opened the door.
Rowdy and Jake entered. The room was packed, wall-to-wall, with men. Big, strong, capable men. Shae smiled. They could do this. She and these men.
Max cleared his throat, and all heads turned to him.
“Shae, what do you have to do to get the cash?”
She straightened. “My father’s bank has a branch here. I just need to go there, cash out the account, and we’re good.”
“Any luck on coming up with the rest of the money?”
Shae shook her head. “There’s no way, unless they’ll let Dad get to his accounts. And he’d have to either go into the investment firm or get on the internet to move funds to the bank so I can get them. Think they’ll agree to that?”
“It’s a big chance for them to take.” Max shook his head. “They can’t just waltz into the firm with your father, looking the way he did in the video. Dead giveaway that something wasn’t right.”
“I agree.” Shae exhaled. “We’re just going to have to make sure they take the cash. Or at least agree to take the cash.”
“That will be my job.” Max grinned, but no grin showed in his eyes. Was he regretting taking this job? Was he having second thoughts?
“I want to go to the bank first thing in the morning, in case we have to wait while they gather the funds.” Shae couldn’t shake the worry the bank here didn’t have the five hundred thousand in cash she needed.
“I think that’s wise. But now, I think we all need some food.” Max stood, and the others got to their feet at the talk of eating. “Rowdy?”
“Right, boss. I scouted out a few places nearby. They’re local, quiet, and the food smells great.”
“Well, lead on, Rowdy.” Max shooed him out. Rowdy moved to the door, opened it, and Shae found herself pushed along the flowing males, out the door, down the corridor, and to the stairs.
Logan walked behind her, trailing like her very own personal protection device. She should have been pissed, but having him there, the ghost of his breath on the back of her neck, calmed her.
It was like being surrounded by a testosterone bubble.
Chapter Twenty
Dinner went well. The place was decent, if small, but the food tasted great. They had the local beer with it, and Shae noticed the men kept their drinks to one. They kept their conversation to the local sites, the jungle and the river. Typical tourist talk.
The locals eating there scanned them, wrote them off as harmless, and ignored them for the rest of their meal. So far, so good.
Logan sat across from Shae, with Max on her left and Travis on her right. The other men sat farther down the table. By the time dinner was over, Shae felt relaxed, almost forgetting why she was here, lost in the conversation that was their cover.
They paid and strolled back to the hotel a few blocks away. The neighborhood looked even nicer on foot. The sun set as they reached the hotel.
Max grabbed Shae’s arm as they reached the second floor. “Look, I want either Logan or myself with you when you get the phone call. Leave the door between your rooms open. Do not, for any reason, try to negotiate with these people on your own. Understand?”
Shae nodded, and he released her.
“Logan, if I’m not there, call me as soon as the call comes through.” Max checked his watch. “You’ve got a few hours before the scheduled call back.”
“Right.” Logan moved past Shae, and she followed as she got out her room card. They both opened their doors, went in, and Shae went to the door between the rooms. Logan unlocked the door and entered. He used his duffel bag to prop open the door.
“Okay. Don’t suppose there’s anything on TV?” Logan looked around the room.
Shae sat on the bed, stuffed some pillows behind her, and grabbed the remote. “Probably not, unless you like soap operas. They love them here. And the shows are all in Portuguese or Spanish.”
“Right.” Logan pulled out the desk chair and sat.
Shae put her cell phone on the bed next to her. She stared at it, picked it up, checked the settings to be sure the ringer was on, the sound was loud enough to hear over the TV, and settled back.
“Here.” She tossed Logan the remote. “Whatever is fine with me.”
“Sure.” He chuckled. “You understand it. Me, I’m left figuring it out. Like charades.”
Shae giggled. “I can translate for you, if you want.”
He smiled at her. “That’s okay.” He flipped through the channels, found a soccer game, and pointed with the remote. “This okay?”
“Sure.”
They watched the game, no translation needed. “Goal!” was goal in any language.
Shae sank deeper into the pillows. Logan twisted from side to side in the chair, his gaze on the screen as he followed the game. Every now and then he’d talk to the players, making Shae laugh and remind him they couldn’t hear him. He’d frown and reply they should be able to hear him.
The game stretched on for the next hour or so.
Shae’s eyelids closed and shot open as she struggled to stay awake. She chec
ked the time. Almost. Just a few minutes more.
A knock on the door startled her, but Logan shot out of his seat and strode across the room to check the peephole.
“It’s Max.” He opened the door, and Max entered.
“Sorry, I meant to be here sooner, but Travis and I were doing some research.” Max took the chair Logan had sat in. Logan shrugged and sat on the bed next to Shae. He leaned against the headboard, with one leg on the bed and the other foot on the floor. Close, but not in her space.
Shae liked that about Logan. He understood her and what she needed.
“That’s fine, Max. I’d rather have you here than rushing around when they call.”
She touched the phone again, just one of many times over the last two hours.
“It’s time.” Max glanced at Logan, who nodded. He grabbed the hotel’s pen and pad of paper and rolled closer to the bed.
The phone rang, and Shae’s heart rose to her throat.
“This is it.” She picked up the phone and checked it. “Text.”
She opened the text and read, “Are you ready for directions?”
“Yes.”
“Tomorrow. 11 am. Will you have the money?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“500k. All I have.”
No answer. Shae swallowed and looked at Max. “What do I do? Lie?”
“No. He’ll take it or leave it. I’m thinking he’ll take it.”
Logan shot her a quick smile and then sobered as they waited.
Minutes passed. Shae’s throat tightened so small she could barely breathe.
“500k”
She exhaled and let out a shaky laugh.
Next, he texted a series of numbers. “What’s this?” Shae held the phone out to Logan.
“Coordinates.”
“Tell him you have it.” Max scribbled on the pad.
“Ask for proof of life.” Logan touched her hand, and she looked up into his eyes.
“I want to talk to my father.”
More seconds ticked by. She clutched the phone, her knuckles going white.
The text sounded. “It’s a video.” She hit Play.
Her father appeared, looking no worse than the last time. “Shae, honey. I’m okay. Just do what they tell you, and I’ll be all right.”
“Dad!” Shae’s heart leaped in her chest, thudding hard and fast, but the video ended.
“11 tomorrow. Come alone.”
“I’ll be there.”
The texts ended. Shae closed her eyes tight and took a steady, deep breath.
“He looks okay.” Logan put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it.
She could only nod.
Max stood. “I’ll get these to Travis, find out where we’re going.” He moved to the door. “Logan, take care of her.”
“As always.” Logan gave a curt nod back.
Shae leaned over, resting her head on his strong shoulder. “I can’t believe it. They’ve accepted the money. Dad must have made them realize it’s the best I could do.”
“They want the money. At this point, they’ll take anything. I don’t really believe they would kill him. Any money is better than no money or a dead kidnap victim.”
She nodded, struggling to keep herself from bursting into tears. The smell of him helped to calm her, and she inhaled and exhaled. His arm tightened around her, keeping her safe and secure.
“Thanks for being here.”
“Hey. This is where I belong.” He kissed the side of her head. “Where I want to be.”
“I’m glad.” Shae sighed.
They sat on the bed, him just holding her, for a while. Being with Logan felt so right, so necessary, like air or water. She didn’t know what would happen tomorrow, but she knew what she wanted to happen tonight. Shae finally pushed away and turned to him.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight. Will you stay with me?”
She gazed up into his eyes, hoping he’d see her need for him.
Logan ran his fingers over her cheek and then into her hair with a gentle stroke. “Baby, I’ll do whatever you want. Give you whatever you need.”
“Tonight, I need you.” Shae couldn’t promise more, at least not now. Tomorrow might be a different story, but she didn’t want to think about that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Walter closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree he sat under. Finally, Marco had accepted the best Shae could do was the five hundred thousand.
He exhaled, the urge to let go and succumb to the wracking shudders threatening his resolve.
He just needed to keep it together until tomorrow. Shae would bring the money, and Marco would hand him over.
“Get up. We need to move.” Marco kicked Walter’s leg.
He opened his eyes and nodded. “I’m going.” He waved the man off as he climbed to his feet, wavering as he found his balance.
Marco shouted at the men in Portuguese, and they all rousted.
“We need to be near Belem tomorrow morning.”
Walter wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands about this man’s throat and squeeze until his eyes popped. Instead, he looked up into Marco’s dirty face.
“Thank you for accepting the money.”
Marco grinned. “If you behave, you might see your daughter again.” He swung his gun around and pointed it at Walter. “Get in line.”
Walter held up his hands in surrender. “I’m going.”
The men were already on the move as Walter and Marco merged into the line, ducking under the brush and trees, heading into the jungle. Walter glanced up to find the sun.
East. They were heading east.
»»•««
Logan leaned closer. “You just want me for my body.”
Despite herself, she grinned. “You bet.” She snuggled deeper in his hold, turning her face to his chest. He tightened his arm and pulled her across him. She threw her leg over his and inhaled the scent of him. God, would she ever tire of it? Of him?
What would her father say? Shae winced, hearing his rant loud and clear.
“What?” Logan nudged her with his head.
“Just thinking about my dad and…”
“And what?”
“What he’d say about this.”
“Being kidnapped?”
“No. About me lying in bed with you. In a hotel room.”
Logan looked up at the ceiling. “Well, probably that I should have gotten a better hotel?”
Shae smacked Logan on the belly. “No, fool. About what you’re going to do to me.”
“What I’m…?” Logan twisted his head to look down at her. His eyes narrowed. “What am I going to do to you?”
“Anything I let you?”
Shae surged up and kissed Logan as she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, keeping him from moving away. He couldn’t move. Not now. Now that she’d laid it all out there about wanting him.
Logan groaned and slid his hand up her shoulder to cup the back of her head as he devoured her mouth with his tongue and lips.
Shae slid her hand under his shirt, touching the warm skin of his belly. She ran her fingers over the defined abs, up to his chest, where she played them in the hair curling there.
She loved his body. Every inch of it. And she wanted to show him how much, so she pulled him, and he rolled onto her.
“Just where I want you.” She winked at him, and his eyes grew wider, lit from within with a hunger for her that turned her on.
She unbuttoned his shirt and drew it off his shoulders. He had to help a bit, rolling one way and then the other, but then he settled back. Shae tossed the shirt to the floor with a flick of her wrist.
She reached for his belt, but he pushed her hands away and stood. Pinning her with the intensity of his gaze, he unbuckled the belt, popped open the button on his jeans, and unzipped. She licked her lips at the sight of the treasure trail of dark hair disappearing into his briefs.
He kicked off h
is boots, pushed down his pants and underwear, and stepped out of them. As he stood next to the bed, he shook his head and stroked his cock. A pearl of precum appeared, and Shae gave a silent gasp.
“I’m going to do things to you, honey, things I’ve dreamed of doing since I met you at the coffee shop. But believe me when I say, I’m in control, Shae. Not you.”
“We’ll see.” She sniffed, trying to keep a bold face on, despite the way his words excited her. She never let a lover take the upper hand.
Logan climbed onto the bed, capturing her body beneath his, yet he hadn’t touched her at all. Shae looked up into the steady, hard flint of his eyes and knew he meant business. This side of Logan she’d never seen before, the “take charge” side, something she’d secretly longed for and making her ache with need.
“I want you naked, Shae. Stretched out for me. Ready to let me love you, teach you how good it can be when you let go.” Logan kissed her, searching for what, she didn’t know, deep in her mouth. He pulled her shirt over her head, tossed it, and then went to work on her pants. In a few moments, they were off and flying across the room.
Shae wore only her bra and panties, loving the way he gazed at her with lust and hunger and want. He made her feel…longed for…cherished…desired. Like no other man had made her feel in forever.
When she reached up, put her hands on his shoulders and tried to take control by pushing him over, Logan grabbed her hands and pushed them over her head, pinning her to the bed. “No, honey. You are mine tonight. I say what and when and how.”
A rush of arousal coursed through her when she should have been irritated at him for trying to dominate her. Shae closed her eyes on the word dominate.
Dominate.
A shiver of delight ran over her body. Yes, she wanted this, needed it, especially tonight. Tomorrow so much would be out of her hands, something her need for control railed against.
Tonight with Logan, maybe she could learn to relax, let someone else take the reins, be responsible for her pleasure, at least.
Tomorrow, well, she might not like it, but she had to let her men do what she was paying them for—getting her father back.
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