Page 42 of SEAL Ever After

What would Ryan think when she didn’t come downstairs for their wedding ceremony? Would he think she’d just—left? Pulled a runaway bride and left him waiting at the altar?

Her family and friends were all there. Both SEAL teams from base. Everyone would be waiting for the ceremony to start, sitting down on the beach, and she’d just—vanished.

Her body shook with sobs as she was unable to hold in her emotions any longer.

“Quiet!” the man yelled.

She heard a low chuckle. “You’re mine now, senorita. Your Navy SEAL husband—well, you never got married, did you?” Juan laughed again. “He crossed the wrong men down in Mexico. Do you know how long they were in jail? Hours. They were coming after all of you from the moment they were set free.”

The car slowed down, turning a corner, and then the window unrolled. She heard the driver talking to someone, and then they pulled forward again.

The first man began talking rapidly in Spanish again, and the car seemed to circle around before coming to a stop. The doors opened and then slammed shut, and a moment later, she was being yanked from the car, the bindings on her legs pulled off.

The rough asphalt bit into her bare feet as she stumbled to regain her footing, but it was better than the alternative of being trapped inside the car.

One of the men had a firm grip on her upper arm, and she blinked, astounded by the bright light as her blindfold was ripped off. How long had she been out? She’d been getting married in the evening, but it wasn’t nighttime like she expected.

Had an entire day passed? Longer?

Juan’s gaze raked over her, and she fought against her wrist bindings, his gaze lowering to her chest with the movement. He took a step closer to her, and she shook her head, backing away. “Let me take the gag off of you. But you have to promise not to scream.”

She nodded, desperate for it to be gone.

Rough fingers untied the knot at the back of her head, and then it was pulled free. She took a deep breath, gasping for air. A third man began walking over, carrying a sweatshirt and sweatpants. They looked several sizes too big for her, but if that was the only clothing she had, she’d put it on, willingly.

“This is how things are going to work here,” Juan said. “You’ll do exactly as I say, every step of the way, or harm will come to your fiancé. We know his name, we know where he lives, where he works, and we know he’ll do anything to get you back. Not a word!” he said as Sarah opened her mouth.

“Good,” he nodded. “You’ll change into these clothes and come with me onto the plane. When we arrive in Mexico, on the off chance we are stopped by anyone, you are my girlfriend. You are traveling with me on vacation. Not a word to anyone, or we’ll end the commander.”

“But how—why?”

“I said not a word!” Juan snapped.

The man holding the clothes stepping closer, smirking. Sarah began to tremble—they couldn’t expect her to change out here in front of them, could they?

She heard voices in the distance as whoever worked at the small airport was readying the plane. Tears smarted her eyes as she glanced around. How the hell was she supposed to escape? She didn’t know where she was. She couldn’t overpower multiple men.

If she screamed, would anyone even hear her or care? Or would that just egg them on to hurt her?

She needed to bide her time, she decided. Put on the clothes, because that made more sense than running around in practically nothing. Stall so she could look around and see if there were any feasible exits. Ryan had to be searching frantically for her at this point.

Maybe he’d show up at any moment if she just bided her time.

“Turn around,” Juan ordered.

She froze before realizing he intended to free her wrists.

Sarah turned around as the three men watched, and Juan quickly untied the ropes binding her wrists. She winced in both relief and pain as her arms were freed. Her shoulders ached, and the blood rushing back to her hands from her wrists being freed was sending pinpricks of pain through them.

Although she longed to stretch her arms and shake her hands, she turned back around, trying to remain strong.

Juan stepped closer to her as she gasped, tugging the tie of her silken robe free. She shook as his rough hands pulled it off of her. The three men leered at her, and she trembled, holding her arms up to cover her chest. Thank God she at least was still wearing the slip she’d had on beneath her wedding dress—otherwise she’d be standing here in nothing but her bra and thong panties.

Reaching out for the clothing with shaking hands, she heard the men chuckle.

They began rapidly talking to one another in Spanish, and she had no idea what they were saying.

What would happen when they got on the airplane? Would they take turns raping her? Drug her again? Save her for whatever buyer they’d mentioned?

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