Page 97 of Seven Deadly Sins

“Let’s go then.”

“Dig deep. Right. Left.” Liam chanted the order.

Soon, the canoe sailed across the smooth surface of the water.

“Fifteen minutes.” Harper glanced over her shoulder. “We’re not even halfway across.”

“Paddle harder.” His arms burned from the repetitive motion.

Reynold grunted with each dip of his oar into the water. “My arms are going to fall off.”

“Keep paddling.”

They’d found their rhythm by now and cut through the water like an ice skater on ice. They were going to make it. He knew they would.

“Five minutes.” Harper hunched over and dipped her oar in the water. “Do we have to be out of the boat?”

“I don’t know. He only said to reach the other side.” Liam studied the tree line.

Something glinted from the dam. The scope of a sniper rifle? The idea spurred him to chanting faster. “Right. Left. Right.”

“One minute.”

The boat scraped against the opposite shore. The three of them toppled out, lying on the bank like stranded fish.

“What did this man mean by me being a glutton?” Tears streamed down Reynold’s cheeks.

“You must have too much of something.” Liam’s breath slowly returned to normal. “What were you doing when you were taken?”

“Dealing drugs.” He choked on the words.

“Before that?”

“Dropping girls off at the club. I kissed all three of them.”

Liam fought to keep a smile at bay. “I’m sure your kidnapper believes you’re a glutton for girls.”

“He’d be right, then.” Reynold sat up and hugged his knees. “With this stupid camera setup around my neck, everyone knows now. My dad is going to kill me.”

Liam felt pretty sure the boy’s father would be too happy to see him alive. He glanced at his phone again as it buzzed. “He wants you to go stand in the parking lot. Someone will pick you up. The detective and I are to stay here. He didn’t give a time limit, but I don’t think you should dawdle.” He met Harper’s stricken gaze.

“I don’t want to leave you.” Reynold shook his head hard enough to flop his hair across his face.

“We’ll see you again when the game resumes tomorrow.” Liam put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Keep doing what the man says. You’ll be okay. Now go. Don’t keep him waiting. Can you do this?”

Reynold stood. “I don’t have a choice.” He took off running down the path that would circle the lake.

It took all Liam’s willpower not to follow. Not to take down whoever arrived to give the boy a ride.

He faced Harper. “Looks like we have the night off. Let’s go to where Robert held his meetings.”

Chapter Eight

Harper stared outthe front windshield at what Robert’s man had called a warehouse, but in fact was nothing more than a strip mall. A simple metal sign over double doors simply stated Enlightened. “Sounds more like a spa than a cult.”

“Not a spa I’d go to.” Liam got out of the jeep and straightened his jacket. “Looks deserted.”

“No meetings now that Robert is in hiding.” She eyed her phone screen where Reynold, attached to a bolt in the wall by a long chain, sat at a folding table and ate a fast-food burger meal.