Page 106 of Secrets Along the Shore

“Sir, I got a call through.”

To whom? Tyler didn’t move until Viktor lowered his pistol and turned to his man. Had Viktor called Von? Tyler grunted softly. The ropes still didn’t give enough for him to break free, but he kept working at them. They’d come off eventually.

“Put it on the monitor,” Viktor ordered.

His man did as he was told. Within a few seconds, Von’s face appeared on the screen. She sat somewhere dark. Something shifted behind her. The rumble of an engine filled the room. Was she in a car? She should have been on the plane by now.

“What do you want, Viktor?”

“To make an exchange.” He gestured to Elara. “Your client wants his daughter. I want my son. Let’s make sure we both get our children back.” He managed an almost convincing smile.

“No!” Elara cried.

“Quiet!” Viktor aimed his Beretta at her.

Tyler twisted his wrist again. The rope slipped a little. He was getting it. Slower than he needed to though. Viktor might hurt Elara to get what he wanted.

“No, please, don’t let them get my son,” she begged.

“I said quiet!”

Von shifted on the monitor. She glanced over her shoulder. Facing the camera again, she spoke. “It’s an interesting proposition, but I won’t be fulfilling my agreement with someone else if I hand over the kid.”

In the backseat, someone held up four fingers. Tyler frowned. Four? Four what? Four minutes? He sat up straighter. They were four minutes out. Which meant that he had four minutes to take Viktor and his man down.

“So you don’t want Elara? Fine.” His gun went off.

Elara screamed and collapsed to the floor, gripping her bloody leg. She sobbed as her fingers covered the injury above her knee. Her hands trembled, and she looked to Tyler for help.

Crap. Tyler had to move now. The rope slipped looser on his wrists again. He tried to pull them free, but it still wasn’t enough.

“Viktor, stop!” Von snapped.

“You give me that boy or I’ll kill her,” he warned. “I also might add that I know where you live. I know who works for you.”

Von hesitated. Her gaze flicked away from the camera to someone beside her.

“You have ten seconds to decide.” Viktor kept his weapon aimed at Elara. He’d shoot her again. Just like he’d promised. “Ten. Nine…”

Tyler yanked harder on the ropes. So close.

“Eight. Seven. Six.”

Elara sobbed harder. “God, please, save us.”

Tyler was out of options.Okay. God, if You’re there, help me save her.She had so much faith in God, just like Koen. Maybe praying would do some good. If not, they were both dead.

“Five. Four. Three.”

With the rope cutting deeper into his raw flesh, Tyler pulled his right wrist free. Then his left.

“Two—”

Tyler shoved to his feet and tackled Viktor to the floor, just as the pistol went off. Elara screamed again and jerked out of the way. Lying on his side at Viktor’s back, Tyler grabbed his gun hand and tried to pull the Beretta free. An elbow nailed his broken ribs, making him lose his grip on the weapon. The agony in his side made him struggle to focus, but he refused to let that stop him. Viktor tried to get up. Tyler grabbed his shoulder and rolled him onto his back. He caught the Beretta as Viktor tried to jam it into his face.

The Croatian spat at him.

Viktor’s man drew his handgun.