Part 17 (2/2)

And was s.n.a.t.c.hed from behind.

She gave a strangled scream but a blow came out of nowhere and caught the side of her head and cut off the sound as she slumped to the floor. She couldn't speak or hear for the ringing in her head.

Still numb but aware, unable to move, she was dragged to the living room. And tossed onto the floor.

Another man grabbed her and picked her up, slamming her to the chair. Seconds later she was tied and helpless. She tried to hold back the panic, but when the first blow hit her across her face, a whimper escaped.

”Talk.”

She stayed silent. Oh G.o.d. This was her worst nightmare come true. Third time lucky for the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. It was now or never. This morning was everything. She either gave in and died now or didn't give in and died in a few moments. She'd go the second route, and give Mason's men those few extra minutes he and the team needed to get to her. At least he knew she was in trouble. As calmly as she could manage, she asked, ”Where's Hawk?”

A different man laughed behind her. She closed her eyes, recognizing the voice. Daniel.

s.h.i.+t.

”He's...indisposed.”

A euphemism for dead. And that would be her fate, he was warning her, if she didn't give them what they wanted.

”Now, talk.”

She shook her head. ”No.”

The next blow sent her flying. The chair tumbled sideways and she landed on her arms, her head snapping down to the floor. The blow stunned her and she lay struggling to catch her breath.

One of the other men righted her. She moaned.

”Talk.”

”No.”

Another blow.

And on it went.

She lost track of time. The only thought in her mind was to endure. Survive. To be there alive for when Mason arrived. He'd come. She knew he'd come.

Into a trap.

MASON WAS ALREADY racing to the house. He had to get her out of there safely. In his heart he knew Hawk had a chance if the enemy hadn't popped him immediately. If they had, well he had another reason to kill these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.

He drove like a crazy man through town. The rest of the team were converging on the house. But that didn't mean she'd be there when he arrived.

He was minutes away. Minutes she didn't have. He had to make it.

His communicator beeped. ”We're in position.”

”ETA is two minutes. What can you see?”

”Nothing. The curtains are closed. The cottage is silent. Not a sound.”

s.h.i.+t. He made a hard right turn and then a left. She was just a minute away. Dear G.o.d, let him be in time.

Swede spoke. ”I can see into the kitchen. All clear.”

He ripped up to the correct block, pulled off and parked out of sight. ”On foot. Approaching from the road. Going silent.”

He put away the phone and ran forward. He could see several men on the road. He knew the others would be ready. He slipped to the front door and listened. Swede would be entering through the kitchen. The others through the windows. He checked his watch, three, two, one. He burst through the front door and raced into the small cottage.

There was no one in the living room. He spun through the house, Swede coming in through the back door. ”Where is she?”

He shook his head in denial of the truth. He ran through the hall to the bedroom, his heart stopping at the sight of the bed where he'd spent the night with her. And found nothing. The bathroom. The closets.

Returning to the living room, he caught sight of Swede. And the horrible truth on his face.

She was gone. Again.

Chapter 23.

PAIN RADIATED FROM the top of her body down. The only good thing was Hawk lay beside her, blood oozing from his skull. Not a bad head wound hopefully, but he hadn't regained consciousness yet and that worried her.

It was hard to see through her swollen eyes, but she could make out that his chest rose and fell with each breath. If he could get help, then he'd likely survive. Like Mason, he was tough. And like Mason he'd worked his way into her heart. She hurt for him. And the others. They wouldn't handle it well if they found the two of them dead.

Poor Mason.

She couldn't do that to him.

But she might not have a choice.

She didn't even remember when they stopped hitting her. She'd pa.s.sed out before they ran out of fun. How long until the a.s.sholes came back. She rolled over and spat out a mouthful of blood. Gathering her strength, she pulled up onto her knees.

That was the first time she realized she wasn't tied up. She glanced around, looking for a way out. There was a door to the left. She couldn't hear anyone on the other side. But Hawk came first. She shuffled toward him. Other than his head injury, he appeared to be fine. Other than that...she almost laughed then almost cried at the pain the laugh caused. ”c.r.a.p.”

Well, she could talk, so that was something. If that guttural sound was talking. She smacked Hawk gently on the cheek. ”Hawk, wake up.”

He didn't move. She leaned down and whispered in his ear. ”Hawk, I need you. Wake up, please. We're prisoners.” She picked up his hand and squeezed it. When she thought she felt a faint response, she squeezed harder. ”Hawk, please wake up. They are likely to come back at any minute.”

The floor s.h.i.+fted beneath her. She froze. Earthquake? No not possible. She waited for it to happen again. And this time the s.h.i.+ft was more of a roll. Water. They were on a boat. s.h.i.+t. Now she shook Hawk. She needed him awake. She could swim, but she doubted she could keep an unconscious Hawk afloat. She wasn't that strong a swimmer.

She couldn't leave him alone. ”Hawk,” she snapped, trying to interject some military harshness to her voice. It's what he was used to after all. ”Wake up,” she ordered.

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