She pushed herself off the bed with a groan. The windows were all drawn in the room, but it was a decent-sized suite with a table and chairs, a sofa, and the king-sized bed. She could see a bathroom through one of the doors. Everything was high-quality. The floor rocked slightly. It must’ve been the aftereffects of the chloroform.
She padded to the closest window with her hand on her head, willing it to stop pounding. She pushed the shade up and gazed out. Sunshine sparkled off water for as far as she could see. Her stomach clenched as more fear poured over her. Someone had gone to a lot of effort to kidnap her, and they obviously had money. The possibility of escaping a world of water wasn’t very encouraging. No wonder everything was rocking. She took some deep breaths, telling herself not to borrow trouble. Soon enough she’d know what she was up against. But she had nothing to bargain with. Nothing but her brain and her iron will.
She heard the distinctive whir of helicopter blades, and at the same time, her door burst open. Two large men with guns strode into her room. “Miss Shaman,” one said by way of greeting. He gestured with his gun out into the hallway.
Tilting her chin up, Avalyn marched in front of them down a wood-paneled hallway and into a large gathering area. Everything was pristine with tan leather seating, gleaming wood, metal accents, and lots of windows looking over the ocean. The water was a true blue, so she was probably still in the Caribbean, but there was little hope of anyone finding her out here. If anyone was even looking. Her pilot and stewardess didn’t expect her until the end of the week. Her family had said goodbye for the month of January. The director of the orphanage in Belize might contact her agent and start a search, but there were no guarantees of that. What she wouldn’t give to be kicking a soccer ball around with the children right now.
“Wait here, please,” the man said.
“What do you want with me?”
The man gave her a big grin and a wink. “Oh, I wouldn’t mind a lot with you, ma’am, but it’s my boss who will have some answers for you.”
She shot him an imperious glare, not appreciating the way he looked her over. “Take me to him.”
“Patience, my beautiful lady.”
The other guy suddenly grabbed her, whipped her away from him, and pulled her hands behind her back. Avalyn cried out and tried to struggle free, but he was too strong. She kicked back at him and heard a grunt as the heel of her tennis shoe connected with his leg. He held her tighter, and the first man bound her hands with zip ties.
Avalyn’s terror whipped into a frenzy as another man appeared from a different hallway, carrying a heavy anchor. “What are you doing?” she cried out. “Stay away from me!”
He simply smiled and knelt down next to her. She kicked at him, but he easily dodged it. The first man held her upper body while the second wrapped his arms tightly around her legs. The third man secured a rope to her ankle that attached to the anchor. They were going to drown her. She pulled in and pushed out breaths, teetering on the edge of hyperventilation.
ChapterSeven
Bridger jumped out of the helicopter, leaving his bag—the idiot could put it in his room. He strode down the first set of stairs he saw, toward the main deck. The two burly guys followed close on his heels. He noticed Mike was carrying his bag.
Ramsey reclined on a cushioned chair on the main patio. He opened his eyes as Bridger strode up to him. Languidly, he stuck his hand out. “Bridger, my friend. You made it.”
Bridger batted his hand aside, seconds away from throwing punches. “What’s going on, Ramsey? Your dude shattered my phone.”
“Ah, now.” Ramsey stood and spread his hands innocently. He looked like a jaguar with smooth, lean muscles, too-tanned skin, and a silky smile. The women loved him almost as much as they loved Bridger. “I couldn’t have your Navy SEAL brother tracking us, now, could I?”
Bridger straightened. Everything felt off, and he could sense danger all around. He glanced at his nine o’clock to see two more men strolling up, each toting guns that meant business. The guys from the helicopter were behind him, and two more men sauntered out of a glass door at his three o’clock with their own huge weapons. “What is all of this?” Bridger’s throat was dry and his abdomen tight. He could fight his way out of any situation, but not when bullets were involved. Unfortunately, he was mortal.
“I have a little surprise for you, my friend.” Ramsey wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Bridger shrugged him off. “I haven’t liked your surprises much today,” he spit back. Ramsey was a nut job, and Bridger had the feeling he’d underestimated the amount of crazy bouncing around in Ramsey’s head.
“Well, you’re going to love this one. Shane,” he hollered, “bring the woman.”
Woman? Bridger’s stomach took flight. What woman had Ramsey involved in whatever he was planning?
Two men came out the sliding glass door, hauling a woman in a black fitted shirt and yoga pants. Her beautiful dark hair spilled down her back.
“Ramsey, no!” Bridger yelled, hurrying toward her.
Guns cocked all around him, stopping him in his tracks.
Avalyn lifted her head and pinned him with a glare. “You’re involved in this?” Her eyes were wide and filled with fear and loathing.
Bridger shook his head, holding his hands up. “Ava, I …”
“Ah, this is beautiful.” Ramsey clapped his hands a few times. “I hoped I would find the woman Bridger Hawk loved desperately, and it appears I’ve chosen correctly.”
Bridger blinked at the bright sunlight and Avalyn’s angry glare. He needed to play this right if Avalyn had any chance of escaping unscathed. For some reason, Ramsey had snapped. Too much money? Too many drugs? Who knew? But his friend definitely wasn’t acting friendly today.
Bridger forced a laugh. “So, what, this is some fun publicity stunt? We should get a lot of attention and new followers. Maybe even some new sponsors with Avalyn Shaman involved.”