Page 80 of Final Installment

This is how we die.

Chapter Nineteen

Luka’sstomachrolled,butit wasn’t the usual problem causing the sensation.It was the boat lurching in the waves that had him on the edge of vomiting.As much as he loved swimming, he’d never been able to master seasickness.Even flights and long car rides made him queasy and unwell.

Of all the ways he’d imagined their kidnapping ending, this wasn’t it.A boat.On the Adriatic Sea.Far from shore.Far from help.

“Are you okay?”Elona asked from the dark corner of the cramped room where they’d been stowed.She sat on the floor, her legs stretched out in front of her.Her ankles were tied together with thick plastic zip ties.So were her wrists, but they were in front of her, looped around the leg of a table bolted to the floor.

“I’m fine,” he lied through gritted teeth.Wincing, he tried to roll his shoulders and stretch his aching neck.His arms had been tied tightly behind the cheap metal chair he sat on, and the plastic cable ties cut into his wrists.He’d been pulling on them for an hour at least, absolutely shredding his skin, but he wasn’t ready to give up yet.

“You’re going to dislocate your shoulder,” Elona warned.

“If that happens, I’ll be able to get free.”He tugged harder, twisting his upper body in a vain attempt to get loose.

“And then what?”she hissed.“You can’t fight with a dislocated shoulder.”

“As long as I’m breathing, I’ll fight,” he promised.Wracked with guilt, he eyed her, wondering how the hell he was going to get them out of this.Hours ago, they were in bed, and he was worshipping her body.Now, they were both battered, exhausted and facing a mafia execution.

“I hope it’s quick,” Elona remarked, her voice surprisingly calm.“Like a bullet to the head.Get it over with.”

“Don’t say that!”He couldn’t bear to hear her talking about her death in that way.“You’re not going to die.”

“I’d rather go fast than end up tortured or raped,” she reasoned.

His stomach violently pitched.“No one is going to torture or rape you.”

She smiled sadly.“I don’t think you can make that promise, Luka.”

“Fuck!”He pulled harder at his bonds.Just as she warned, he felt the telltale searing pain in his shoulder joint.If he kept pulling like this, he really was going to dislocate something.

“Stop!”she hissed sharply.“Just stop.”

“Fine!”His aching shoulders slumped with defeat.

“How many of them do you think there are?”Elona glanced toward the locked door of the small cabin.

“Only the five that captured us at the hotel and survived.”

“You’re sure?”

“No,” he admitted reluctantly.“I was hooded like you were when they brought us on board, but I didn’t hear more than five voices.So, unless there are more men hidden on the boat, I think it’s only five.”

“With weapons,” she said, working through the problem.“Even if we can get loose and fight, we can’t dodge bullets.Maybe we could survive a stabbing but a gun?”She shook her head.“We’re not that lucky.”

“So what?We sit here and wait for them to kill us?”

“Maybe they’re holding us for ransom?”she asked hopefully.“My stepdad will move heaven and earth to find me and get me back.”

“I pray that’s true.”Hope flared in his chest at the idea that she would survive this.“If they do come to take you away and trade you, go with them.Don’t fight.Don’t argue.Just go.”

“And leave you here to die?”

He chortled.“Twenty-four hours ago, you would have handed me over with a smile on your face.”

“That was before I knew that you’re—.”

“I’m what?”He eyed her with interest.“Not a monster?”