Page 82 of Rough Ride

Eli shouldn’t feel sorry for the boy, but he did in a way. Junior wasn’t built for the real world, thanks to his father. Sam lay still, no longer twitching.

“I don’t know why I always seem to find men who can’t keep up with me. But you can, can’t you, Eli? That weekend was wonderful.”

He could only stare at the woman, wondering what the fuck she was talking about. He remembered a little sex and then a whole lot of pain. Of course, since she was into pain, he figured she saw it a different way. And apparently, she had built it up in her mind as something else.

He drew in a deep breath. He could smell the blood, but he could also smell hay. They were somewhere on his ranch, or, more than likely, Kaheaku land.

“So, you have me. What’s the plan now?”

She smiled and there was something in the expression that sent a chill through his blood. She had things planned he didn’t want to think about. He had to concentrate on one thing. Getting free.

“As I said, that weekend was wonderful. Until you disappeared.”

That was until a SEAL team found him. He’d been unconscious when they broke in to extract him. And the woman had vanished in the wind, although, she had been caught later.

“Wasn’t like I was going to stay around for the third act.”

“I don’t see why not. You were into a little light bondage.”

Light bondage. The woman was insane. She’d been bad at the time but now, looking into those dark eyes, he could see she wasn’t quite right. In fact…she had the look of someone who had gone completely over the edge.

And that made her more dangerous. He had to figure a way to escape without someone else looking for him. If Crysta got anywhere near Rose, she would be dead.

“So, were you the one who attacked the cow?”

She rolled her eyes and walked away. “Of course not. That was Sam. There is something wrong with that boy. Well, was wrong. I took care of that.”

She had obsessed about him for ten years, but Sam was sick. The woman was deranged.

“So, he mutilated the cow. The shots, the attack on Jerry?”

She tossed a coy smile over her shoulder at him. “A joint effort, although, I should have done the shooting. That bitch would be dead now. Sam is a horrible shot. Was.” She giggled as if she were telling a joke. She turned and watched him. “I can’t believe you went for someone so…dark.”

Rose was an exotic woman with warm features and a soft lilt of Irish to her voice. She had always enjoyed the idea that she was the most amazing woman in the room. With Crysta, he could see that she would feel threatened.

“That really wasn’t well done of you, Eli.”

“I don’t believe I asked your opinion.”

She shook her head. “My opinion is all that matters. It’s a shame I didn’t have more time to take care of her, but I am pushing the limits as it is.”

“You do anything to hurt Crysta, I will hunt you down and make you regret it.”

“Such passion. It’s one of the reasons I fell for you right off the bat. I thought I might be able to recruit you to work with me.” She picked up a bag. “I brought a few things I knew you would like.”

* * *

“What about that? Is that the building you’re looking for?” Crysta said. Her heart was beating so fast, she didn’t think she could breathe properly. The only thing keeping her from passing out was the thought that Eli was in danger.

Sean glanced over to where she was pointing. It was their last hope. Or, that was what he had told her. Sean knew the land well and knew this was one of the last buildings.

“Yeah.”

He parked a little way away and they both got out of the car. She checked to make sure the gun was ready. They saw the truck at about the same time. They shared a look. He motioned for her to stay but she shook her head. Still, she let him go first.

She followed directly behind him, watching his every move. If he needed her to retreat or move forward, she wanted to be ready.

Then, she heard voices. A murmur of a woman and a man. It was without a doubt Eli’s. Then, she heard the crack of a whip.

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