Page 39

Chapter

Twenty

Every muscle in his body tensed.

Every nerve ending stood at attention.

Every sense heightened as he bided his time.

Jake was ready to pounce, could feel the energy surging inside him, every bit of anger and fear he’d felt these last few weeks as he watched Alannah’s life get put on the line time and time again was now being channeled into something constructive.

As soon as his opportunity presented itself, he was ready to make his move.

Still, nothing was harder than hanging still in the arms of the two guards flanking him as he watched another man enter the room and walk straight to the chair where Alannah was bound.

Open hunger was on the man’s face, and because he knew it would look suspicious if he didn't at least try to get to her, Jake made a half-hearted attempt at fighting out of the men’s holds.

“Don’t touch her,” he growled.

“What’re you going to do to stop me?” The man sneered as he began to unbuckle the leather straps from around Alannah’s wrists.

“I'm going to kill you,” Jake replied simply as he strengthened his efforts to get free. Freedom wasn't his goal yet, but he needed the guards to think he was giving it his all so they were unprepared when he actually did unleash on them.

“Course you are,” the man scoffed as he snatched Alannah up, throwing her over his shoulder.

For one second, their gazes met.

Since he couldn’t use words, all Jake could do was try to reassure her with his eyes, let her see that he had a plan and all he needed her to do was hold on for a few more moments.

Tossing her onto the rickety bed hard enough that her body bounced, the man was on her before Alannah could try to crawl away from him.

Nothing in his life had been as traumatic as this moment.

Watching as the man stretched out above her, pinning her in place, crushing his mouth to hers as she whimpered and fought. When the man reached between them and freed his length from his pants, then shoved Alannah’s leggings and panties down enough to bare her to the room, he saw red.

But it wasn't until the man nudged her thighs apart and settled between them, lining up to shove himself inside her, that Jake sprang into action.

Both men holding onto him were distracted, their arousal heavy in the air, one of them reaching with his free hand to palm his erection. There was never going to be a better moment to do something to give him and Alannah a chance of living.

Tearing himself free from the men who had no idea of the strength coursing through his body, Jake grabbed both their heads, one in each hand, and slammed them together.

The blows stunned both of them but caught the attention of the man on the bed, who lunged toward him.

With his pants around his knees, he stumbled and fell, and Jake laughed as he stomped on the neck of the man closest to him, crushing his windpipe, then reached for the one who had been about to rape Alannah.

“Told you I'd kill you,” he said with another cold laugh as he snapped the man’s neck.

That left one alive in there with them, and he was fumbling for his weapon, blood smeared all over his face, and swaying slightly.

Tearing the weapon from the man’s hands was like taking candy from a baby, and he’d snapped his neck before he was able to put up a fight, leaving them alone with three dead bodies.

With three dead, that left another seven to go plus the smoke man.

They could wait in the room until whoever was next in line for a turn with Alannah came looking and then kill him, that would eliminate another of smoke man’s team and even the odds to seven to two.

Definitely doable.

Now, though, he needed to take a moment to check in on his girl.

Spinning around, Jake found her huddled against the wall on the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, her clothes still in disarray, her eyes wide, and her breathing still much too fast.

Tucking the weapon into the waistband of his pants, Jake held up his hands like he would approaching any other traumatized victim, because he couldn’t count on Alannah being cognizant enough to recognize him right now. Then he walked slowly toward the bed.

“Hey, sunshine, it’s me, Jake. Grumpy,” he added as he knelt on the bed before her.

“You killed them,” she whispered.

Since he knew she’d seen him kill before, he didn't think she was scared of him or upset about what he’d done. She knew they were in a kill or be killed situation.

That was confirmed when she launched herself at him, almost knocking him off the bed as she threw her arms around his neck. “You saved me. Again. Thank you.”

A small growl rumbled through him. “Don’t thank me for that. As long as I’m breathing, I’ll always be there to save you.”

Planting a kiss on his lips, she gifted him one of her sunshiny smiles. “I believe you.”

As much as he’d love to drag this moment out and keep Alannah in his arms where he wanted her, they still had a long way to go if they wanted to survive.

So reluctantly, Jake stood, bringing Alannah with him, and set her on her feet.

She winced slightly and he wished he could baby her feet for her, let her stay off them so the fresh burns didn’t cause her pain, but in this moment their lives were more important than a bit of pain.

Righting her clothes, he felt her stiffen and knew it was going to take a long time for her to heal from this whole ordeal. Even then, there would be scars.

“We’re going to wait for the next guy to come looking for his turn and kill him, then we’ll start making our way upstairs,” he explained, positioning her so she’d be behind the door when it opened.

“After that, they’ll realize something is wrong and we don’t want to be trapped in here when they do.

Ideally, we’ll find them all alone and kill them as we go.

I have a gun, but I’ll only use it if it’s strictly necessary.

I don’t want to alert anyone that we’re free. ”

Still wide-eyed, Alannah nodded and stayed where he left her as they both waited.

About ten minutes later, he heard it.

Someone was approaching.

From what he could hear, it was only one man, and he tensed in preparation.

As soon as the door swung open, Jake spun into action.

Catching the man by surprise, before he could do anything about it, Jake had an arm locked around his neck and was pinning him against his body.

Although the man fought, Jake had a steady hold and pulled tighter, cutting off air to the man’s lungs and blood flow to his brain, until he finally stopped fighting.

When he was dead, Jake dropped his body to join his colleagues.

Without hesitating, he grabbed Alannah’s hand, tugging her along with him as they stepped out into the hall. Thankfully, she came without protest, and he angled her behind him, while still maintaining his hold on her hand.

The boat wasn't huge, three decks plus the top one, and not more than a handful of rooms on each level.

They found one man in the engine room, but he was so busy with the magazine full of naked girls that he was reading—likely to get himself ready for his turn with Alannah—that he didn't even know they were behind him until Jake was on him.

Five dead, six to go.

With the bottom deck cleared, they moved up one. This level was the bedroom suites, and all of them were empty.

Not good for them, because that meant the others were likely congregated on either of the remaining two decks.

If he could get them to the top deck unspotted, he’d have Alannah jump off the boat and wait for him in the water.

While they could find her that way, she’d at least be harder to spot which should hopefully buy them both enough time for him to kill the remaining men without having to worry about her.

Reaching the next deck, he heard voices, and as they crept closer he could see four men drinking and lounging around a table. That meant there was still smoke man and one other somewhere else.

Killing these four men without the gun was unlikely, which meant he needed Alannah out of the way.

“I want you to get up on the top deck and as soon as you hear me start shooting, jump into the water,” he whispered, holding his lips above her ear.

“I don’t want to leave you,” she whispered back, her fingers tightening around his.

“Don’t want to leave you either, sunshine, but this is the best way. Go. They’re drunk, I can take them out before they get to their weapons, then there are only two to go. Please, sunshine, go, be safe.”

Indecision was still warring in her eyes, but she stood on tiptoe to feather her lips across his. “Be safe,” she said softly and then she was gone, limping up the final flight of stairs.

Giving her time to get up, he readied himself. As soon as he started shooting, he would alert the two other men. While these ones laughing and drinking wouldn't have time to get to their weapons before he started killing them, smoke man and the other one left of his team would.

His position would be blown, so he’d have to move quickly. With one last deep breath, he threw open the door to the living room where they were hanging out, and as they all turned he started firing.

Four shots, four dead bodies.

Trusting his abilities, he didn't stop to double-check that they were dead, just ran for the stairs Alannah had just gone up, praying she’d jumped like he told her to.

Just as he reached the top, someone fired on him.

Dodging to the side, ignoring a burning sting across his shoulder, he returned fire and heard a thud that he hoped was the sound of a body hitting the deck.

Firing into it a couple more times to ensure it was dead, Jake jumped over it and scanned the top deck in search of the final man.

When he spotted him, his heart dropped.

Smoke man emerged from the darkness, with Alannah pressed against his chest, the smell of gasoline heavy in the air, and a lighter in his hand.

October 21 st

3:21 A.M.

Cool air hit her skin as she reached the top deck.