Page 40 of Weston

“WES!” Ellie screamed, trying to break free.No, God, no, this couldn’t be happening.She couldn’t lose him. Not Weston…not the man who was so good to her and loved her so fiercely. They were just starting their lives together again.

Her husband, her lover, her best friend. Wes was the other half of her soul. Without him, she’d die.

“Get her on the boat,” he ordered. “We can use her.”

“Or kill her,” the other pirate suggested, and they laughed.

Ellie cried and struggled, and it took two men to drag her off the sinking Zodiac and force her onto the pirates’ boat. They tied her up and shoved her down onto the deck, wrapping the rope around the railing so she couldn’t throw herself overboard. Tears streamed down her face as the boat began to speed away, heading into open water.

Wes couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t be. Every fiber of her body refused to accept it.

“NO!” Her scream tore through the air and her heart shredded.

Chapter Sixteen

Ellie.

Wes jolted back to awareness after being shot and swam out from beneath the sinking Zodiac. He rolled onto his back and gasped for air, trying to get his bearings. Water lapping against the sinking raft filled his ears as he loosened the straps on his vest and groaned. Being shot always sucked, even if the bullet only hit the vest. He shook off the pain, righted himself, and began treading water. Damn, he wished he had his prosthetic fin on. His gaze swept the water around him, searching for Ellie. Then the distant hum of the retreating motorboat filled his ears.

Fuck!They’d taken her. Panic reared its ugly head and his gut twisted. He knew he had to get to her fast. The Zodiac was useless, so he turned toward shore and started swimming. The sound of a boat’s motor approaching caught his attention and he instantly went on high alert. Had the pirates seen him moving and were returning to finish the job?

Thank fuck.It was his team.

Wes lifted his arm and waved them over. The moment the boat pulled up alongside him, Corey leaned over, grabbed his wrists and heaved him aboard. Breathing hard, Wes pointed in the direction the pirates had gone.

“They took Ellie.” Although he was doing his best to remain calm and collected, this was his Ellie. He’d already lost her once and he couldn’t let it happen again.

“Who took Ellie?” Brand asked.

“Pirates. They know we killed his son and now they want revenge. Said they know where our safehouse is, too.”

“Fuck.”

“You’re bleeding,” Corey stated, but Wes didn’t even glance down. He was too focused on going after Ellie.

“Let’s move! We need to find her!”

“We’ll get her back, Murph.” Brand motioned to Chaz to turn the boat then squeezed Wes’ shoulder. “Head to the Sea Dogs HQ!”

Chaz tossed him a salute and Wes sagged forward, using the rail to hold himself up. They would get her back. There was no other option.

“How many were there?” Brand asked, legs akimbo, arms crossed. His large body rolled easily with the pitch of the deck.

“Nine Indonesian pirates. They surrounded us on three different boats. Fast boats with rigged motors like ours.”

Corey came up beside Wes. “Sit, so I can take a look at your arm.”

Wes only grunted, dropping down on the bench, and did his best to keep it together. But he could feel his edges beginning to unravel.

“How would they know where we’re staying?” Lex asked.

“It’s a small community, which means everyone talks,” Xander responded, leaning against the railing.

Wes thought back to their run-in with Ellie’s friend. Had she tipped the pirates off? Even inadvertently? Or, had it been someone else? Either way, his worst nightmare was coming true because Ellie was once again in the hands of pirates.

“Just a graze.” Corey began to clean the wound, but Wes didn’t feel a thing. He was completely numb except for the ice-cold fear trickling into his belly.

“So what’s the plan?” Jayson asked.

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