Truth or Consequences by Diana Duncan

Author:Diana Duncan [Duncan, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-06-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

July 27, 1:00 a.m.

Zoe tore into the underbrush and zigzagged as quickly as she dared through the treacherous woods. Muscle Man was faster than he looked. A lot faster. She’d barely covered fifty feet before he tackled her and knocked her to the ground.

He rolled, flipped her onto her back and pinned her down in the ferns. His body pressed full-length on hers, and the air punched out of Zoe’s lungs. Oh, God, that better be a gun at his waistband and not…

She tried to suck in enough air to fight. Better a fast, clean death than rape. Kicking, clawing, she struggled beneath him. Never let them see your fear. She infused every ounce of toughness she could muster into her order. “Get off me, creep.”

His coarse laughter scraped away her thin veneer of bravado. “Don’t get your thong in a twist. The boss doesn’t like used merchandise.” He snagged the front of her jacket and jerked her upright. He dragged her back to the clearing like a Rottweiler with a rag doll.

He restrained her with one hand and tugged the pistol from his waistband with the other. “We have orders to bring you in undamaged. The cop, on the other hand, is fair game.”

Panic screamed through her. Had he spotted Aidan? Her covert glance darted around the area. Aidan wasn’t on the ground. Relief made her weak when she needed strength. He hadn’t had time to climb completely down. Panic surged back. What if he was low enough to be seen?

She squared her chin. Get a grip, girl. You can’t help Aidan if you freak. She could at least create a distraction to keep Muscles from looking around. “You would have been disappointed if I hadn’t at least tried to escape.”

Her captor yanked her against him, and his hand slid beneath the tuxedo jacket. He grabbed her breast and squeezed hard. “Makes me want to keep you close, babe.”

Her stomach lurched in revulsion. Apparently, it was okay to feel up the merchandise. She clasped her palms together and clubbed his wrist, and he abruptly released her. “Take your hands off me while you still have enough fingers to count to ten.”

She lurched backward, and once more found herself standing in front of the ancient pine.

He laughed again, and she clamped her knees together to hide their shaking. His amusement scared her more than rage would have. Psychos like him laughed while they tortured people to death. “I totally get why the boss is eager to meet you. He’s a big fan of your work.”

Her verbal acuity was her biggest asset. Her only weapon. Keep talking, divert his interest. “I’m ecstatic. Always great to have fans.” Her pulse thundered in her ears as she sidled outward, circled around. Would he guess her plan?

He followed her movements, which put his back toward the tree. Exactly where she wanted him. Watching her, not Aidan’s hiding place. She licked dry, trembling lips and tried to slow her breathing as she gathered her reserves for another escape attempt.

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