Kidnapping for ransom wasn’t a new concept to the Taliban. Especially when it came to Americans helping those affected by the terrorist organization’s violent ways. But to come into a niceAmerican neighborhood in broad daylight, and kidnap her a second time…
That doesn’t seem like the Taliban’s style.
Nor did holding her captive on a boat. Which, as Evie had finally figured out, was exactly where she was.
She was being held against her will in the cabin of a boat she didn’t recognize. Correction, notjusta boat…
King-sized bed. Pristine white walls with dark, varnished wood trim. Twin nightstands with matching lamps.
Looking up, Evie could barely make out the bottoms of several small, rectangular windows lining the top section of the wall behind her. Sunlight filtered through them from the outside, its deep amber glow hinting the fiery orb was quickly approaching the horizon.
Her eyes fell closed, and she breathed slowly through her nose. Doing her best to ignore the nausea threatening to make itself known, she repeated the move a few more times before lifting her lids and looking around the room.
Evie decided to do what she’d done when she and the girls had first been taken, and focus on learning as much as she could about her present situation…
She looked down toward her feet to the wall facing the bed. A massive flatscreen TV stared back at her from its powerless screen, and though her current vantage point prevented her from seeing it fully, Evie was certain the frosted door to her left led to the cabin’s en suite bathroom.
Yeah, her earlier assessment was in definite need of a slight adjustment. Because this wasn’t just any plain Jane boat. This was a freaking yacht.
Who the hell would kidnap me and bring me to a yacht? And why?
The door to the cabin flew open, and Evie thought for a moment she was about to get her answer. But when she got her first look at the man who’d just entered the room, Evie realized…
I have no idea who this man is.
The guy was tall and incredibly muscular, like one of those professional wrestlers, she’d seen on TV. Evie’s pulse raced, her stomach clenching with fear as he walked toward her with a plate of food and glass of something that looked like water in his hands.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
The man said nothing as he set the food and drink down on the nightstand to her left.
“Please,” she shamelessly begged. “There’s been some sort of mistake. I-I’m not supposed to be here.”
The obvious statement nearly had Evie’s own eyes rolling. Ofcourse, she wasn’t supposed to be here.
She watched and waited, and still, the man said nothing. Instead, he picked up one-half of what appeared to be a ham sandwich with all the fixings and brought it closer, as if he intended to personally feed her.
Evie’s stomach growled with a hunger she hadn’t noticed until now. But as much as her tastebuds begged for even the tiniest morsel, she couldn’t help but wonder what else the bastard had included in the offered food…and what it would do once it hit her system.
“You really think I’m going to eat anything you bring in here after you’ve already drugged me once?” She stared up at the unattractive beast.
Because something else Evie had concluded over the last few seconds…this was definitely the man who’d attacked her and Lo.
She hadn’t gotten a good look at him back at Lo’s condo, but the nauseating scent of his musky cologne was instantly recognizable. And somewhere in the back of her mind, Evie hadthe passing thought that at least this kidnapper cared about personal hygiene.
Focus, dammit! You’re in serious trouble here!
The man pushed the sandwich back in her face, but she turned her head to avoid the unwanted food.
“Eat,” the man ordered. His voice was baritone deep and without so much as a hint of patience.
Though it was risky to say the least, Evie stood her ground and kept her mouth clamped shut. A low, inaudible curse was her only warning before the man grabbed her jaw hard with his free hand and forced her to look back at him.
Tears formed in her eyes, and her vision blurred as he increased the pressure in his already painful grip. Evie couldn’t hold back the whimper when his meaty fingers dug into her skin, and she was almost certain her jawbone would shatter when he forced her mouth open and shoved one corner of the sandwich inside.
Evie struggled to get free of his excruciating grasp. But the man was far too strong, and without the use of her hands…
He pulled the food away, leaving a chunk of the meat, bread, and cheese still in her mouth in the process. Then the son of a bitch stared down at her and waited, the smug look on his face pissing her off almost as much as his attempt to forcefully shove food down her throat.