Page 9

J uliette

Who the hell was this guy?

Oh, my God.

My skin prickled with fear, every synapse in my brain screaming that I could be hallucinating.

“Stay down!” he barked as soon as I rose to a sitting position.

By instinct, I slouched down in the seat, trying to get my bearings. My head was killing me. Every muscle ached. My stomach was rolling. Breathing was difficult. I took a few shallow breaths, finally comprehending that I’d been freed from my prison. But at what cost?

And who was this huge man sitting in the front, driving like some maniac?

A strange sensation pulled my attention to the right. Startled, I jerked away from the massive beast, panting until the sound turned into an anguished cry.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

It took me a few seconds to realize the huge dog leering at me as if I was a piece of filet was swishing his tail back and forth and staring down at me. I couldn’t tell if the beast was sizing me up for dinner or worried I’d slide into hysteria.

“His name is Tank. He won’t hurt you,” the guy from the front stated.

“I’m not sure about that,” I responded weakly. When I dragged my tongue over my swollen lips, I sensed he was watching me. With every movement tentative, I pressed my fingers against my arms and legs ensuring I was really alive. Everything seemed like a mirage.

A coughing fit doubled me over.

Tank whined.

“Here, drink this,” the stranger said. When I lifted my head, I glanced down at the bottle of water in his outstretched hand.

I hesitated, another racking cough leaving me close to dry heaving.

“I assure you it’s not poisoned. If you want, I’ll drink from it first.”

After a few seconds of debate, I snatched it from his hand, greedily twisting the top. As soon as I started glugging, he hissed.

“For the love of God, take it easy. There’s plenty, but you don’t want to overwhelm your system. Not after what you’ve been through.”

Another sip.

A watchful eye.

Debilitating fear.

Everything was coming in slow motion, but I pulled the bottle away, running the back of my arm across my mouth.

“What the fuck did they do to you?” he muttered.

The dull rumble of the engine made me feel sleepy, but I refused to close my eyes.

“Who are you?” My voice was no longer recognizable.

“Lieutenant Kage Rollins.”

“A Marine?” I dared lift my head to see where he was driving to. Lights flashed by from a few businesses, but he was driving too fast. Everything was a blur.

He snorted. “Navy SEAL. Ex-Navy SEAL.”

“O-kay. Why are you here?”

“I was hired to extract you.”

“What?”

His sharp gaze peered at me through the rearview mirror. That much I could see. “To save your life.”

“Oh.” Shifting, I finally had the nerve to reach out to the dog, relieved when he whined and lowered his head so I could scratch behind his ears. “Where are you taking me?”

“Home. If we can get off this fucking island.”

In trying to process what was happening, I realized he was driving erratically because we were still in danger. “They’re coming after us.”

“Very good. It would seem you’re very important merchandise. That’s why you’re going to do exactly as I say.”

“How do I know you’re who you say you are?”

“If I’m forced to stop to provide you with credentials, we’ll be dead before sunrise.”

I shuddered just hearing the warning sound in his voice. “Who really sent you?” Had my father really cared?

Kage snorted. “A buddy of mine who knows your father well. Your godfather, Gray Jenkins?”

“What?” My godfather. I hadn’t even heard his name mentioned in years. That made absolutely no sense to me.

“The less you know, the better right now. And I suggest you remain quiet and out of sight. Fuck. Hold on.”

He swerved around a corner, the sharp move pitching me forward and against Tank. My cry was followed by a slight growl.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? You don’t like dogs?”

“Not particularly.”

“That dog saved your life. Without him, finding you would have taken time we didn’t have. You’re lucky we found you when we did.” His implications hit me hard.

A flood of thoughts and images rushed into my mind, a ragged sob rushing from my chest. I fisted my mouth, fighting tears. “They were… Going to… Auction me off. Tomorrow.”

Kage said nothing as he took another sharp curve, this time the tires squealing. “If they’d been successful, there would have been no way to find you.”

The heaviness of what he was telling me made me feel gutted inside. Tank moved closer, resting his head on my leg. I tensed once again and Tank’s tail thumped several times.

Pop! Pop!

“Goddamn it,” Kage hissed.

I slid further into the seat, gasping for air that didn’t seem to fill my lungs. “We’re going to die. Aren’t we?”

He threw his head over his shoulder just as the early morning sun pulsed through the windows.

While I could only see a portion of his face, I was struck by how insanely handsome he was.

Sharp features. An aristocratic nose. A high forehead.

Hair that I wanted to run my fingers through.

I could easily tell he was built of sculpted muscles, a huge man since he filled the front seat.

Just like the hero in my dream, only this man was even more handsome. Drool worthy.

However, I wasn’t certain if that made me feel any safer or not. For all I knew, this could be a ploy.

Oh, God, Juliette. Why would he use a dog?

To disarm me.

Then why are you being shot at?

He cursed as he glanced from the rearview mirror to both side mirrors and grabbed a phone from the dashboard.

While he was making a call, I allowed myself another look outside, noticing a sign for the airport. Maybe we’d make it. Hold on. He could be taking me anywhere, a hired gun someone sent to steal me away for another auction. No. That didn’t make any sense.

Ugh. At this point nothing did.

“Yeah, what’s the status?” Kage growled to the person on the other end. When he slammed his hand on the steering wheel, it was obvious the answer wasn’t good. “Yeah. Get the fuck out while you can.”

What? He was sending the plane away. No. No!

“I’ll find another way. Just go. Now!” Kage tossed the phone and his eyes appeared in the rearview mirror all over again. “Change of plans.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we’re not leaving the island. Yet.” Every word out of his mouth had a heavy emphasis, the tone brusque.

“So what now? Bermuda has hundreds of small islands, but even combined, the area’s not large.”

“Now, we lay low for a few days until I can develop an alternative. Let me worry about that.”

“I don’t know you.”

“No. You don’t. I guess you’ll need to trust me. If you want to stay alive.”

His words were chilling and I remained with my back pressed against the seat, trying to determine if I could trust the man.

He made a turn, leading away from the airport, constantly scanning the mirrors.

“How do you know my father?” I had to protect myself.

As I glanced out the window, I realized jumping could mean breaking a leg or worse.

“I don’t. But I heard he’s an asshole.”

The words were unexpected, but not incorrect. “He’s still my father,” I retorted mostly because I felt it was the thing to do. This man was a stranger and knew nothing about me or my family. “How much is he paying you?”

“Maybe not enough.” He pressed down on the accelerator, speeding through the streets. “Just try and remain calm. If you can do that.”

Why were his words laced with such contempt? I hadn’t done anything to the man.

I glanced out the back window this time, able to breathe when I didn’t see anyone following us.

Tank lifted his head, eyeing me contentiously. This was crazy.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re an asshole?” The acrid words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them. Something about the man grated on my nerves.

He snickered. “Countless numbers of them.”

My God. I had to spend time with him? I would lose my mind.

“Pull over. I need to get out,” I spit out. My heart thumped hard against my chest, my pulse increasing. Everything about this felt wrong. Off.

A sudden fight or flight kicked in and as soon as he was forced to stop, I threw myself at the door. Within seconds, I managed to tumble out.

“Goddamn it!” he called.

I took off sprinting, realizing only seconds into running my legs weren’t cooperating. Almost instantly, I was out of breath, the terror mixing with a heavy rush of adrenaline a toxic combination. I had no idea where I was going or who might help.

Every sound seemed in a vacuum as I stumbled forward. Barely ten seconds later, I sensed a presence. Jesus Christ. The huge dog was right by my side. Startled, I backed against a tree, just as terrified the huge black pup would attack as I was one of my captors discovering my location.

Kage appeared seconds later almost like a mirage.

He was much larger than I’d realized, at least six five with the most muscular physique I’d ever seen.

Dressed in all black, the tee shirt clinging to his chest and stomach highlighted his incredible carved six-pack.

Shaggy blond hair accentuated long dark lashes and a jaw chiseled from stone.

While the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life, the furrowed look of his brow and the number of weapons strapped to his massive body provided an ominous appearance. I could easily tell by his hard expression he was none too happy with me.

He took long strides in my direction, never blinking. Tank sat back on his haunches, watching the man with full admiration in his brown eyes.

There were no words exchanged, no further explanation.

He simply yanked me off the ground, pitching me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing.

Another series of long strides and this time I was strapped into the passenger seat.

Just before he closed my door, he offered a savage look as a warning.

I sucked in and held my breath as he moved around the front of the Jeep, jumping inside.

“You cost us valuable time, Juliette. Time that could mean the difference in getting the fuck out of here or eventually sending you home in a box. That is if you’re not fed to the sharks or wild boars.”

Another shiver cascaded down my spine and I stared at him while he resumed driving. “Are you trying to scare me?”

God, the man could snarl and scowl with the best of them. He was obviously no happier being here than I was over not knowing who the hell he was.

“I’m trying to keep you alive. No more stunts.”

My contemptuous side was ready to demand an answer to what if I did. But some of the shock was wearing off, terror filling up the deep cavern.

He took the back roads, constantly scanning every road, every shadow. With it being so early, there were few people on the streets. I’d been to Bermuda several times in my life and had visited almost every corner of the connected islands. It was obvious he didn’t have a clue where he was going.

“You’re near Pembroke Parish. There’s a small hotel, almost like a BNB called Cavendish Heights. It’s totally off the grid.”

The ridiculously slow way he turned his head indicated he wasn’t used to a woman providing any thoughts or assistance. If I had to guess given his surly attitude, he also didn’t have a significant other in his life. Who could put up with his holier than thou attitude?

“How far?” he finally asked.

“Not far. Maybe five miles. I don’t know if they take dogs.”

“Oh, they will.” His utter arrogant confidence might have been a distinct turn-on in my former life. But as a prisoner in some unknown war, I had no such thoughts.

“Are you always so sure of yourself?”

“Are you always such a pain in the ass to people trying to help you?”

His rudeness caught me off guard. “As you might imagine, I’m not used to being kidnapped.”

“Oh, yeah?” He slowed down, throwing me another look.

At least I could laugh even if doing so hurt.

I folded my arms across my stomach, nausea settling in.

My hands shaking, I found the bottle of water I’d tossed, finding it more difficult to twist the cap than before.

I was losing strength. When I finally did, the bottle almost slipped through my hand.

The commotion forced the lieutenant to glare into the rearview mirror.

I closed my eyes, touching the side of my face where I’d been hit.

“Does your head hurt?” Kage asked.

“A little.” I took several swallows of water, trying to take it slow, but sucking down almost half.

With Tank breathing on me, I realized he must be thirsty.

I poured a little in my hand, still fearful, but worried the pup was thirsty.

When he lapped the water, his actions brought a smile to my face. “Good boy.”

Eyes burned into me. Why did this man hate me so much?

“Where is this place?” he asked.

I sat up, woozier than before. When I threw my arm across my stomach, he cursed under his breath. “I’m going to throw up.”

“Fuck me. Open the damn door.”

He would never be awarded a nice guy medal.

That was for certain. I threw open the door, barely hanging my head out.

There was nothing in my system but water and bit of granola, a sick reminder I’d been kidnapped.

My head remained fuzzy and I moaned as soon as I sat back in the seat, barely managing to close the door.

“I told you about the water. Your system isn’t used to an overload. You’ll need to take it easy for a couple days. Now, do you know where we’re going?”

With blurry eyes, I looked around. “Go two streets up and take a right. You’ll see it on your left.” I wiped my mouth, fighting tears for the second time since being rescued. He wouldn’t be taking me to a motel if he planned on killing me. Right?

A strange laugh bubbled up from my throat and I leaned my head to the side, tears running down my face as I cackled.

His exhale was exaggerated, but he remained quiet as he pulled into the small parking lot around to the side.

He eased it forward until the Jeep was partially hidden by a group of Chinese fan palms cradled with hibiscus.

When he cut the engine, he immediately ripped the keys from the ignition and leaned over to peer at me.

“You need to listen to me very carefully,” he said with his extraordinarily deep and husky voice.

“I’m going to get us a room. You will stay right here.

If I need to chase after you, you will be punished.

I’m not kidding about this. We are still in significant danger.

The next twenty-four hours will be extremely dicey so you will do every single thing I command you to do. ”

While he had a voice that could make any girl’s toes curl, including mine, his gruff demeanor and permanent scowl were decent reminders I still didn’t know him. And I certainly couldn’t trust him.

“I’m the victim. Remember?”

“Yeah? And I’m the only man who can save your life.”