Page 71 of Forged in Secrets

“You’re welcome,” the man said, flashing a set of impossibly white teeth. “I wanted to reassure you. You’re going home today. I’ve been in contact with your parents, and they’re paying the ransom money I’ve asked for. You’ll be back to your normal life soon.”

Grace looked at him, a false smile frozen on her face. It was a lot to take in.

She wanted so desperately to go home, but she hated that her parents would be putting themselves in harm’s way in order to pay off a kidnapper. What would stop him from snatching some other innocent person the next time he needed money? The thought made her sick.

Maybe Ben and the others had a plan that the manwasn’t aware of. At the moment, though, she had no choice but to go along with whatever was proposed.

“Are you all right?” the man asked, his mouth tilting into a frown as he settled down onto the bed. “You don’t look very happy to be heading home.”

“Oh, no, I’m very excited to see my family,” Grace said, injecting a false lightness into her voice. At least she had no temptation to lie.

Unfortunately, her captor didn’t look convinced.

“I’m sorry for putting you through this,” he said.

He paused, and Grace nodded. She had no idea what he expected her to say. It wasn’t like she was going to tell him everything was fine.

“I hate that innocent people have gotten caught up in this whole mess. But I have no choice now but to keep going. It’s complicated. I think if you were in my shoes, you’d understand a little more, but I don’t blame you for hating me.”

After listening to the man’s voice for a few minutes, she realized that she knew exactly who he was. Considering the man’s good looks, it made perfect sense.

“You’re Craig Gorsky, right?” she asked.

The man’s eyes widened, and he glanced over at the door.

“I mean, I heard you talking to Jade yesterday,” Grace added quickly, not wanting the man to bolt. “I already knew you were on board. I just figured you’d send in a henchman with my breakfast. Did you drug me yourself, too?”

As soon as the final words slipped out, she wished she could take them back. She needed to keep him talking if she wanted answers.

“I apologize for that,” he said. He paused for severalseconds. “Yes, I’m Craig. No point in denying anything now. It’s not like you’re going to have the chance to use the dirt you have on me.”

Coldness spread through Grace’s spine. He hoped that he meant what he’d said about her getting to go home. It seemed like it would have been a whole lot simpler just to kill her if he wanted to ensure she never uncovered his secrets. It was an option that he still could take advantage of at any point if he changed his mind.

“Anyway,” he continued, “I didn’t sedate you myself, no. I had an associate handle bringing you in. Before that, I had him try to scare you off, but clearly that didn’t work.”

Grace flinched as she remembered the black truck that tried to run her and Ben off the road. Craig looked genuinely apologetic. Nothing about him made her think he was a hardened criminal. Even after all that had happened, perhaps he could be reasoned with.

“You didn’t want us to find Katie Fairman.”

It was Craig’s turn to flinch.

“Where is she, Craig?” Grace demanded. “Just please tell me she’s still alive. Please.”

The door to the cabin opened just then. Grace jolted upright, her knee banging against the desk and making the breakfast plate clank against the wood.

Jade Gorsky sauntered into the small space, her face ugly with rage.

BEN

“Connie, do you know anything about a place called Playa La Pesca?” Ben asked, not bothering to hide the urgency in his voice. Noon was racing toward them with everypassing minute. If his plan was going to work, they had to get moving.

The woman nodded. “I sail down that way now and again. It’s a nice beach, but more of a local spot. Why?”

“Could your boat get us there by noon?”

Connie’s brows raised as she looked him up and down. “Not a chance. Even with the engine runnin’. I usually make it a weekend trip when I go down that way. Besides, I’m no tour guide. Why the sudden interest in random Mexican villages anyhow?”

“Because we think that Grace and Katie might be there,” Asher cut in. Ben shot him an appreciative glance. He hadn’t had a chance to discuss his sailing plans with his twin beforehand, but he caught on fast.

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