Page 70 of High Seduction
Erin fell into an uneasy doze, relaxation coming in spite of her fears. There was nothing to do in the small space, no room to move around, and the tight position she and Tim ended up in grew warm enough that she’d closed her eyes and actually slept. The darkness around them felt like a tangible thing, dimming sounds, blurring her mind. No matter how hard she looked she couldn’t see anything, and the sensation of total blindness was strange.
“Erin. Someone is coming.” Tim pushed her upright gently. “There’s been not a lot of noise for about an hour, but I just heard something from toward the cabin. Sounded like a bit of a scuffle.”
She slipped to her feet and helped him up, the two of them wiggling slightly, moving their feet in an attempt to get the blood flowing again. “How late is it?”
“About ten. Be ready.”
Her ears ached from listening. Was that a footstep? The wind? All the clues seemed muffled.
“You awake?” A deep voice, not Ken.
“We are. What do you want, Red?” Tim asked.
No sound for a moment. “We need to get out of here. If I let you free, will you drop me off somewhere safe? I have a gun, and I will use it if I have to, but—”
“Where are your friends?” Tim snapped. “Why should we trust you?”
“They’re in the cabin. I tied them up with that duct tape we used on you. I’m opening the door, and I have the gun. We need to move now, though.”
“He’s telling the truth.” Matt’s voice.
Shit.“Matt? You okay?”
“Yes, so hurry up.”
Erin raised her voice. “Let us out.”
The door swung open a bare inch. Tim pushed it open all the way, revealing the big man with, as promised, a gun pointed at them. Matt stood a little ways away, his hands still taped in front of him, but a grin on his face shining in the faint line.
They were still in deep shit, but the sight of Tim’s friend eased a small spot of panic. “Good to see you, Matt.”
Red shook the gun. “Talk later, we have to leave.”
“Point that thing some other direction,” Erin snapped. “I’m sick of people sticking guns in my face when they want my help.”
Tim cleared his throat, but she was too pissed to care.
Red motioned with his head to the chopper. “I tied them up, but if they get free, we’re in trouble. The chopper is ready to go, right?”
They were headed toward the chopper, her feet stinging as blood rushed back into them. “It’ll take me five minutes to get off the ground. Where do you want to go?”
“Edge of the nearest small town is good. Just give me a way to get away from them, and I promise not to hurt any of you.”
They were running now, racing for freedom. Erin pulled herself in and started the routine to get the bird off the ground.
Matt was right behind her. “Anything I need to do?” he asked.
“Belt yourself in, put on a headset so you can hear what’s going on. Then shut up.”
He took the closest seat to hers and followed orders. She was too busy to regret snapping at him.
Behind her, Tim moved a little slower, talking to their supposed rescuer, who still held the gun trained on his back. “You’re going to be in trouble with your partners for letting us go.”
“They weren’t my partners. I was hired, like the pilot. There was no need to kill him,” Red said.
“Ahh.” Tim paused. “Figured out you were probably next?”
“Yeah. If they killed him, they have no reason to keep me around, either, not once they get where they’re going.” Red spoke louder as the noise level rose. “Please, don’t use the radio. Don’t turn me in.”
