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I slid slowly along the back curve of the boat, feeling around for something sharp to cut my ties against. A minute went by. Two minutes. All I could feel was cold steel of the smooth, curved rail.

The driver was taking a slow step forward for every one of mine. He looked apprehensive now. Unsure of what to do.

“Untie me,” I offered, “and we can both get out of here. It’ll be like you never—”

Kyrkos re-appeared abruptly, shoving the man in the sunglasses forward. His sunglasses were gone, though. His lip was also split, and his mouth was dribbling blood.

“Get it ready,” he growled, pushing the man toward the helipad. “Do whatever you need to—”

SCREEEECH!

Down near the road, a black jeep skidded sideways into the parking area. Gravel flew in a huge spray, skittering hard against the boat. Before it had even come to a stop, three men leapt out, guns drawn.

My three men.

My heart soared as the man in the sunglasses bolted. The driver began slinking away.

And then just as suddenly as everything else, I felt the cold steel edge of a knife being pressed against my throat…

Fifty

ANDREA

I watched as they passed the bloody-lipped pilot on the ramp, Marcus and Randall drawing down on him. The driver had already dropped to his knees, hands on his head.

“Trip’s canceled” said Holden, motioning over his shoulder.

The two men nodded and ran. They never looked back, disappearing down the road as fast as their legs would carry them.

In the meantime, Xander Kyrkos tightened his grip around my waist. With the knife still at my throat, he used my entire body to shield his.

“NOT A STEP FURTHER!”

Holden and Marcus had already stormed the aft, rifles drawn. They stopped walking, but kept the barrels trained on Kyrkos… and me.

“Move one inch,” the man spat, “and I’ll slit her throat.”

I could feel his hot breath on my neck. It was fetid and sour. Vile and disgusting… and tinged with fear.

“Yes, It’ll still happen, even if you shoot,” Kyrkos threatened. “It’ll happen the second you move on me, so think about that while you’re going over your options.”

I squirmed a little, and the point pierced my skin. My captor pushed the blade harder, showing me he meant business, and I stopped moving altogether.

“You’re going to let me back down that ramp,” said Kyrkos. “RIGHT NOW.”

He barked the command like he was ordering one of his bodyguards, or henchmen, or whatever they were. But these were a much different kind of men.

Holden shook his head slowly. Marcus growled.

“Ah, Alvarez,” spat Kyrkos. “You stupid, traitorous fuck. Did you think we’d just be okay with what happened to Galleti? That everything would all be forgiven?”

He inched sideways, pulling me along the rail with him. Around along the port side of the boat, where he planned on using the cabins for cover — and escape.

“I’m taking her, and I’m taking that jeep,” said Kyrkos. “And you’re going to sit here and do absolutely nothing.”

“Don’t think so,” said Holden.

Kyrkos hesitated for a moment. Then he laughed. “You do nothing and she lives,” he said. “Otherwise…”