Page 28 of Bad Ruck

I crossed my arms and leaned back to doze against the seat while we navigated virtually empty roads. This part of New Zealand was a lot quieter than Dusk Bay.

Hopefully safer too.

We drove in silence until we reached a small campground on the east coast of the north island. He led me to a tent set apart from the others and we had a few hours’ sleep.

The sun wasn't even up yet when he gently shook me awake.

"What?" I asked sleepily.

I was comfortable where I was, rolled up in blankets. I’d been having a nice dream that involved not having to worry about people chasing us and trying to kill us.

I snuggled back down, wanting to let sleep claim me again. Why did I have to like a man who’d wake me from the beautiful dream? I should have known he had a sadistic streak; why else would I be attracted to him? I must be a masochist or something. Unless he was planning to fuck me. That I’d wake up for. I had a feeling that wasn't what was about, worse luck.

"Come on, sleepyhead," he coaxed. "It'll be worth it." He slipped out of the tent and waited until I dressed before we were back in the car driving down an empty road.

After a few kilometres, we turned off into a darkened location. The headlights only illuminated some kind of small building and another couple of cars parked outside.

Exactly the kind of place my brother would take someone to torture or kill them.

Should I run when I got the chance? Maybe, but I knew I could trust him, even in a place like this.

I hoped to hell my instincts were right. Otherwise, I was fucked.

"What is this place?" I rubbed my eyes.

Lights came on, gradually illuminating a small airfield, with an office, a couple of hangers and a few light aircraft.

"We're not going to jump out of a plane, are we? It's too early in the morning." I'd have to work up to something like that. Right then, I was too sleepy.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to overthink it too much. Plus, if it was still dark, I wouldn't be able to see how high up we were. I suspected that defeated the purpose of skydiving, but what did I know?

"We're not going on a plane," he said. He got out of the car and walked around to open my door. Not just because he was being a gentleman, but because I was frozen in my seat, staring out the windscreen.

As if to punctuate his words, a flash lit up the predawn morning. I flinched until I realised what it was. A burst of heat to inflate a hot air balloon.

"You didn't?" I tore my eyes away from the balloon for long enough to glance questioningly at him. I let him take my hand and tug me out of the car.

"Yep, I did." He laced his fingers in mine and let me over to the basket.

"Perfect morning for it," the balloonist said cheerfully. He was one of the bad guys, obviously. Surely only evil people were cheerful when the sun hadn't even come up yet. Right? I didn't mind mornings, but I wasn't a fan of ‘early as fuck.’ This was even earlier than that.

"Are you sure this is safe?" I eyed the basket doubtfully. I'd never been this close to a hot air balloon before. Now I was, I realised there wasn’t much between us and the ground. Just a flimsy basket, the side low enough that I could fall out if I wasn't careful.

Or if I was pushed.

"Better be," Ramsey growled. He eyed the basket like it should be the strongest basket in history, or else. Or else what, I didn't know. The basket didn't seem particularly intimidated.

"It's perfectly safe," the balloonist said. According to the embroidered stitches on the breast of his shirt, his name was Gavin. "I've done this a million times. You're going to have a ball.Get on in, your breakfast is on board already. We want to be away before the sun rises."

Ballooning in the dark didn't seem all that safe to me, but Ramsey tugged me toward the basket and inside.

I stood away from the edge, even though we hadn't left the ground yet. I'd have to work up to getting any closer to the side. Or better yet, I could stay here, where it was safe.

Another man moved to untie the basket from where it was tethered to the ground and we slowly lifted off, into the air.

Tentatively, I peered over the side of the basket. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"This is one of the first places in the world to see the sunrise," Ramsey said. "We're going to see it in style." He handed me a glass of champagne when Gavin poured them for us.

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