Page 56 of SEAL's Temptation

The smell of vomit was gone, she realized, the scent of bleach in its place.Someone had cleaned the floor and bedding.They’d washed her hair, too, she realized with horror.It was clean after she’d been sick all night, and she’d been too out of it to even notice them tending to her.

Sweat broke out over her entire body, and Avery’s heart raced.It almost felt like she was having a panic attack.She couldn’t control her breathing.Couldn’t calm down.The horrible drugs they’d given her were messing with her entire system.

And when they were gone, she’d have entirely new horrors to face.

She fell into an exhausted sleep again, too tired to worry any longer.

Avery knew she wouldn’t be able to fight whoever came in here next.Her body was too weak and dehydrated.Her muscles ached and her throat burned.She couldn’t even find the energy to scream.

Minutes ticked by, or maybe hours.

It was tough to tell.Pointless.

Was she delirious?

It felt like she was floating, just floating through the air, and soon everything would be okay.

A loud bang came from what she assumed was the front of the home, and she jerked in surprise, realizing she was still on the bed.Screams filled the air along with the sound of gunshots.Now she was really done for.They’d come in and murder her before she even figured out where she was.

Thumps came from the hallway, and there was more yelling.More cries for help.

When the door to her room finally burst open and armed men charged inside, Avery could do little more than stare at them.She blinked, trying to focus on their faces, but was too dizzy for her eyes to work right.

“Avery!”a voice shouted, and she looked to the doorway in wonder.

“Avery, oh my God, Avery!”

She cried out in surprise as someone took her into his arms and then cried in relief when she realized it was Ryan.“Ryan,” she whispered.“Am I dreaming?”

“No, baby girl, you’re not dreaming.Shit.You’re so pale.”His hands moved over her, gentle, different than her captor.“Her pulse is weak,” he told someone.

“We’ll start an IV once we extract her,” a male voice said.“Vehicles are ready and waiting.Secure the package, and we’ll move out.”

Ryan spoke briefly into his headset then met her gaze once more.“They drugged me,” she whimpered.

“Can she walk?”a male voice from the doorway called out.

“Negative.I got her.I’m going to lift you, baby girl.I know they drugged you, and we’ll get you medical attention.We’re getting out of here right now though.”

“We are?”She was too stunned and disoriented to understand what was happening, and a brief look of anguish filled Ryan’s eyes.

“We are, Av,” he said, kissing her forehead.His hands shifted, sliding beneath her, and then he easily lifted her into his arms.For the first time, she realized they’d changed her clothes.She had on a skimpy nightgown, and she hated to think of who’d put her in it.

“There you are,” Sawyer said, looking relieved as he crossed the bedroom.He produced a blanket from somewhere, wrapping it around Avery as Ryan held her.“Looking good, Avery.Alive.Breathing.Giving Ryan those puppy dog eyes.I think you’ll be all right.”

“Can it,” Ryan said.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Sawyer said seriously.His eyes slid to Ryan.“We searched the house and found several women but didn’t see Luciana.”

Avery’s stomach dropped.“She’s not here?”

Ryan shook his head.“We’re not sure where she is.The idiot Walters accidentally left his cell phone in the box of sedatives.That’s how we tracked you to this location.I hate that he was drugging you, but in the end, it led us right here.”

Avery suddenly gasped.“Walters isn’t here.It’s some other man.He’s evil and he came into my room—”

“He’d dead.”

She blinked.“Dead?”

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