She didn’t have a chance to gasp in surprise, let alone scream. His other hand clamped over her mouth and he shoved her heartily so that her back slammed to the wall, knocking the wind out of her.
He pinned her in place and said, “You’d be much better off not caring so much about these damn horses. I knew you couldn’t resist calming them down.”
She wasn’t able to answer, but her eyes widened with fear. Exactly how long had he been watching her on the ranch?
He leaned in close and, in a menacing voice, said, “Here’s the plan. We’re going to get in my boat and go back to my camp. I’ve got duct tape for your mouth and to bind your wrists. You’re such a nice piece of ass, Sky, I think I’ll have one more go at you.”
Fury and panic raced through her. Shit! Where were Sheriff Johnson and Ryan? Why didn’t she hear sirens already? How far away could they possibly be?
Sky tried to breathe. Tried to calm her raging insides. She remembered that Deputy Baker had staked out Mac’s car… Provided the sheriff didn’t call him out to the ranch as backup, he’d be there if Mac got her that far off the property.
But what if the sheriff had called him out to the Painted Horse?
Oh God.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Mac continued. “In the morning, we’re going to a bank in Austin and we’ll walk out with a check for two hundred grand, in my name.”
Her wide eyes narrowed.
“The extra hundred and forty is for all the frustration you’ve caused me. I have to have the money, Sky. Or I’ll be one more body buried in the Vegas desert.”
Son of a bitch, why couldn’t the loan shark or whoever he owed money to have gotten to Mac before he’d gotten to her?
&nb
sp; “If you’re thinking of not cooperating or going to the police after I get the check, just remember that I know where your daddy lives. And your twin sisters are in Austin. I’ll happily pay them a visit if you start talking. Tie them to a bed, facedown, and ram their tight asses.”
He was absolutely fucked in the head!
Sky thrashed against him, as best as possible, which wasn’t saying much because he had her caged by his body and the wall.
“We keep this between us, you hear me?”
He had no idea she’d gone to the sheriff?
“Your new boyfriend doesn’t need to know, either. I’ll let you go after we’re done and we’ll call it even. But if you shoot off at the mouth, Sky, I’ll come back and shoot some of these horses.”
A chill ran through her, making her shudder.
“Let’s go,” he said. “And don’t even think of trying anything, because I have your gun.”
He hauled her up against him, his hand still on her mouth. Sky gave serious thought to sinking her teeth into his fingers and drawing blood, getting her to release him enough for her to scream. But he was clearly too far down this path of criminal intent to just let her go, especially without shooting a horse out of sheer angst. Or shooting her…
Quickly jerking open the side gate Sky had forgotten all about, he shoved her through it and then maneuvered her so her back was pressed to his chest. He pinned her arms at her sides with his massive arm wrapped around the front of her. He walked briskly toward the wooded area that led down to the lake. Panic seized Sky. In the dense patch of trees, no one would see Mac taking her hostage.
She dug in her boot heels to slow the progress, but that only prompted him to lift her slightly off her feet. Her legs flailed and she kicked clumsily at his shins.
“Save your energy for later, Sky,” he said with a grunt. “I want you all wild and worked up when I fuck you again.”
Asshole!
She bucked against him, writhing harshly, but as she’d once told Sam, she was no match for Mac physically.
They reached the shore and he set her on her feet. A breath later, she caught the wail of sirens so close, she knew the sheriff and at least one of his other deputies were on property.
Now was the time to bite Mac and scream bloody murder so someone heard her. Hell, she even made out the hum of an ATV motor headed in their direction!