Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
I hate that I have to think this way. I hoped getting off the island meant a return to civilization, but so far, it’s only a continuation of the ruthless mindset I’ve had to adapt on the island.
With my hands cuffed in front of me, I can hold the water, though it’s clumsy. After I quench my thirst, I take the turkey and cheese sandwich he hands me. Christ, it’s good, on thick sourdough with large slices of meat and cheese. My mouth waters as I take the first bite, and my eyes close at the first taste. It’s been so long. So fucking long. I hope it doesn’t make me sick. My body hasn’t eaten shit like this in over a year.
I start to ask questions. “Where are you stationed?” I ask, my mouth full of food.
He doesn’t answer. “I can’t say, sir.”
I nod. Another point in favor of my theory. This guy isn’t fucking military. He’s no Navy SEAL.
“Very good,” I say with a fake smile. It isn’t very good at all. He’s fucking lying.
A call comes over the speaker in the cockpit. The pilot can’t mask his concern as his gaze come to mine, before quickly returning to the speaker.
“Yes, sir,” he says. “I’ve got him.”
The pilot has a handgun on his hip. The man with me now is small but muscular. Likely a trained fighter. After I get some food and water in me, he’s going down. After he’s down, it’s just me and the pilot.
“Thank you,” I say, trying to sound quiet and humble. “Much appreciated. How far are we?”
“Forty minutes to the base, sir,” the pilot says not meeting my eyes.
He’s too fidgety. Too restless.
He works for someone, and it isn’t the military.
“How’d you guys get me off the cruise ship?” I ask. And that’s when they make their fatal flaw.
“Cruise ship?” the armed guy says.
“Yeah. The ship that came to the island.”
“I saw no ship,” he says warily. “We found you near a shelter. We took you to rescue you. We wanted to be sure you didn’t alert the woman or run, so we tied you up and drugged you.”
“Ah. Well I owe you guys my thanks,” I say, even as I silently seethe. I will kill them both. “I can’t believe all this time I had no idea she was part of my abduction. Do either of you have any idea who was behind it?”
They shake their heads. I sigh and look out the window for long minutes. Not talking. Plotting.
I need to keep at least one of them alive for questioning.
“My hands are cramped,” I say apologetically. “Can you let me up? You can keep me cuffed if you still think I’m a danger to you,” I offer.
The pilot nods. “Uncuff him but then be sure you watch him closely. I’m sorry, sir,” he says, addressing me. “I’d prefer not to have to treat you this way, but we need to for safety sake.”
Sure, he would.
I bide my time. I don’t want to make too sudden of a move. So, when he unfastens my cuffs, I stretch, and make a big deal of how good it is to be uncuffed. I flash him a grin. “Thank you,” I say gratefully. “I’m really grateful for the rescue, you guys. You have no idea what it was like on that island.” I shake my head and sigh.
“You okay, sir?”
I nod. “Tell me your name.”
He blinks. “Joey.”
He’s lying. I can tell by the way he looks over my shoulder and hesitates before he speaks. And I won’t have it. I might pretend to go along with them, but I can’t help but call him out.
“You’re lying. Tell me your name.”
He blanches a bit and swallows hard. “My name is Joey,” he says, his voice a little shaky. I don’t know who the fuck picked out the men sent to get me, but whoever chose this douchebag was an idiot.
It solidifies my plan.
“Joey” will go down first. As soon as we’re thirty minutes from landing, I’ll take him down. I won’t give the pilot a chance to call anything in. I’ll have him tell me what I need to know. And once we’ve landed, I’ll evade whoever the fuck is coming for me.
I will find the one behind this. I will kill him.
And I’ll find Harper.
Chapter 7
Harper
We’re deep out to sea, and they’re trying to pamper me, or take care of me, or something, but I have no interest. I have no idea where we’re going, but the island is far behind us now.
Someone brings me food, while the on-board medic team looks me over.
A nurse with long blonde hair pulled into a braid at the back of her head looks at me with concern. I’m sitting in my room and food has been brought in on a tray. Food I haven’t seen in months, so unfamiliar it’s almost foreign. A steak, french fries, a small mixed green salad. Food I would’ve killed for a month ago. But now, I can’t touch it. My stomach clenches with both hunger and nausea.