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“Now would be good.”
I leaned all the way in, capturing her mouth in a gentle kiss that deepened when she wrapped her arms around my neck. She tasted slightly of beer mixed with something sweet. When we parted, I had a strange sensation. One I’d never felt before. My life had suddenly changed for the better.
I went in for another.
After we’d stuffedourselves and spent more time kissing than I thought was possible, Elliot suggested it might be time for me to fish. “Otherwise, who knows how much trouble we could get into out here?”
“As much as I love to fish, kissing you is better,” I said.
“I’ll still be here when you’re finished. Plus, I want to see you performing this fly-fishing stunt.”
Fishing pole in hand and wearing my waders, I climbed over large, flat rocks along the riverbed before splashing my way into the shallow water. My vest had many pockets in which to stuff various flies, but I decided to start with a simple dry fly that imitated an adult mayfly. The water so clear I could see the texture and color of the rocks underfoot, I ventured farther into the rapids. When I was knee-deep, I raised my rod, starting at ten o’clock and creating a loop in the line that propelled my fly forward, skimming the surface of the water.
Was Elliot watching? What would she think? I swiveled back to take a look.
My heart seemed to stop at the sight before me.
At first, I could not make sense of what I was seeing play out before me. A man stood over Elliot. With a gun pointed at her head.
15
ELLIOT
I’d known him the moment he came bursting out of the thicket of trees. Mike Russo. My stalker. Before I could scream, he’d waved a gun at me.
He’d put a finger to his mouth to indicate I should stay quiet. “Nice and easy now. Just get up and start walking out of here.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Caspian charging through the water in his clumsy waders.
“Go back,” I screamed to Caspian. “Run.”
Just like that, Russo had me in a choke hold, gun to my head. "Come any closer and I'll shoot," he screamed at Caspian.
Fear numbed my legs and boiled like a cauldron in my stomach. Russo's sour breath heated my neck.
At the edge of the water, Caspian dropped his pole and held up both hands. "What do you want? I have money. Take my wallet."
I shook my head as if he would understand. This wasn't a robbery. Russo had come for me, just as he'd promised he would. But Caspian wouldn’t know that. He would think it was random.
"Please," I whispered. "Leave him out of it. Just take me."
"I saw what you were doing with him," Russo said. "Makes me sick you'd give yourself to a man like that."
I had to stay calm even though my mind whirled with possibilities. None of them good.
A prick in the side of the neck stung. It took me a second to realize Russo had poked me with a needle. He was drugging me.
No, I would not go under. I had to stay awake.
Caspian stepped closer. "Put down the gun and we'll work this out. You can take whatever you want."
Russo waved the gun at him. "Don't come any closer."
Caspian stopped. "Okay, I'm right here. How can I help you?"
"She's mine and I'm taking her," Russo said. "I've waited long enough."
"How did you figure out where I was?” I asked.
