Page 33 of Kidnapped By a SEAL

Ryker popped the trunk of his Jeep, putting their bags inside. He followed her over to the passenger side, opening the door for her. “I’m good,” she assured him, climbing up.

“And I’m making sure you’re safe,” he replied, shutting the door behind her.

Her lips quirked as he rounded the car. Goodness. He certainly was attentive even if there was no reason to be. She was a big girl and could get in the damn car by herself. She had her weapon on her and could kill a man if needed.

Still, Ryker’s attention was a little flattering. He was attractive and assertive—a heady combination. She liked that he knew what he wanted and just did it. Maybe kidnapping her wasn’t exactly the right thing to call it, but she knew without a doubt he’d do whatever was necessary to keep her safe. If she hadn’t willingly come, he would’ve carried her out. Of that she was certain.

Ten minutes later, and they’d exited the worst of the traffic and were heading toward another part of the city. Ryker kept glancing in his rearview mirror.

“You think we’re being followed?” she asked, looking over at him.

“Negative. Just being cautious.”

She nodded, watching traffic in the side mirror. Nothing out of the ordinary caught her attention.

“Does your SEAL team know we left?” she asked.

He grunted in reply. “Yep. Hunter’s the one that called with the new intel. He spoke to the CO. And of course State is aware. Hopefully this whole thing will be done with in a couple of days.”

She nodded, a brief feeling of sadness washing over her. She liked this feeling of Ryker at her side, as crazy as it was. When he’d burst into her room as she’d cried out, she hadn’t known what to think. Then he’d collected her so carefully in his arms—it was an odd contradiction, his strength and intensity compared with his more tender side.

Not that a man like him would want to be called tender—anything but.

She’d felt his concern for her though as he’d held her. In that moment, she hadn’t needed to be strong. She could let her guard down and let her tears fall as he just held her. And wasn’t that a change from her life in captivity.

A few minutes later, as they headed out of DC and onto the highway heading west of the city, she was already yawning.

“Sleep,” Ryker instructed. “You’ve been through a lot, and we’ve got at least two hours of driving. I know where I’m going, so just get some rest.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted, stifling another yawn.

“You’re recovering,” he said, his voice gruff. “Only one of us needs to be awake to drive. I’ll wake you up if it’s urgent,” he assured her.

“You’re so bossy,” she said, and Ryker chuckled.

“I like being in control of the situation. Nothing wrong with that.”

“According to whom?” she asked, and he burst into laughter, the deep sound reverberating inside the Jeep. She smiled and felt a funny little flip in her chest, glancing over at him in the darkness.

“According to me, sweetheart. According to me.”

***

Emily must have eventually dosed off, because the next thing she knew, they were bouncing along a dirt road in the middle of the forest. The headlights of Ryker’s Jeep cut through the dark night, and she narrowed her gaze, shocked at how pitch black the world was around them.

“Are we here?” she asked sleepily.

“Almost. It’s about a quarter mile up this dirt road.”

“Wow. It really is in the middle of nowhere.”

Ryker chuckled. “I think my buddy prefers it that way.”

“It’s a little bit different than Georgetown.” They bounced along the road another minute, and Emily was thankful that Ryker had a four-wheel drive. A cabin eventually came into view. “Wow, it’s bigger than I expected,” she said.

“Yep. It’s really more like a small house in the middle of the woods than a rustic cabin—there’s solar powered everything, back-up generators. You’d barely know you’re out here aside from the trees and wildlife.”

“I don’t suppose there’s a Starbucks inside.”

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