Page 45 of Outback Skies


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“What have you done to Finn?” she choked out through her partially blocked windpipe. Oh, God, had he hurt Finn, was that why he hadn’t come to her tent?

“Stop worrying about your boyfriend. I can be your boyfriend from now on.” He’d managed to get his jeans undone, shovingthem down to his thighs, and was now tugging hers down past her hips, as well.

No. She wasn’t going to let this happen. She would die first. Straining against his weight, she arched her back, twisting her shoulders in the opposite direction at the same time. It was enough to dislodge his arm from her throat, and she took her opportunity and bit his forearm with all her might, tasting blood on her tongue as her teeth ripped into his skin.

“Ow, you fucking bitch.” He reared back, and she kicked him all the way off. Getting her feet underneath her, she levered up to standing, tugging up her jeans, so she could run, her feet ready to take off in a sprint into the dark surrounding bushland.

“Stop. Or I’ll shoot you.” Indy’s back was to the voice, and she hesitated. A few more steps and she would disappear into the night. The urge to turn around warring with the urge to just go. Run into the bush and be free. The skin between her shoulder blades prickled. Should she believe him?

“I mean it,” he growled. “Turn around now, or you’re a dead woman.”

Slowly, she spun on her heel to find Finn’s brother still kneeling on the ground, but with an object that could be a gun pointed directly at her. He beckoned her, and the glint of starlight on metal made it clear, he was indeed holding a weapon.

Shit. Now what? Was he going to try and rape her again? Should she take the chance that he was perhaps a bad shot; duck, and dive into the bush to get away from him?

Indy didn’t know how long they stood in a tableau, both unwilling to budge, when suddenly the glow of car headlights lit up the track. If she hadn’t been so preoccupied fighting for her life, she might’ve heard the low purr of the engine earlier. Who was coming? Was it a rescue? A mad thrill set her heartthrumming. It was Finn. Somehow, he’d found her, and was coming for vengeance.

“Here comes our ride.” Finn’s brother got to his feet, the gun still trained mercilessly on her. Her moment of wild hope was dashed. It wasn’t Finn. It was this asshole’s accomplice, come to…what? What were they going to do with her? Kill her? Use her as a hostage to get to Finn? Well, she wasn’t going to stand for either of those options.

“Pity we won’t be able to finish our bit of sport,” he said lightly. “But maybe later.” He flashed her a smile, and for an instant, her heart lurched when she saw Finn in that smile.

She stared into the face of the man who held her captive, now lit by the oncoming headlights. So like Finn, yet at the same time, so completely different.

Would it have made any difference if Finn had told her about his twin brother? Perhaps she wouldn’t have been led so easily by him. Perhaps she would’ve spotted the ruse immediately. But then, who was she kidding? It would have made no difference.

No matter. What was done was done. But she wasn’t sticking around to see what Finn’s brother and whoever was driving that vehicle were going to do to her. Watching the other man intently, she waited for the exact second he’d be distracted enough by the oncoming vehicle to look away from her. All she needed was a split second.

“At least, you’ll be happy to know that you and your bastard boyfriend will be reunited.”

What had he just said?

“Yeah,” he gave her a twisted grin. “We already got Finn. He’s all nicely wrapped up and waiting for you in the back of the car. I had to hit him three times before he went down. Tough bugger, my bro.” The brother almost seemed proud of the fact, and it made Indy’s stomach clench.

Was it true? Was Finn really in that car coming toward them? Not coming to rescue her as she hoped, but as a prisoner of this man and his accomplice?

“If you don’t do exactly as I say, he’s gonna end up as dead as a doornail.” The brother did up his pants, still holding the gun on her, but they both knew the power had shifted. He had the ultimate leverage over her now. Because she wouldn’t do anything to risk Finn’s life. She stood meek as a lamb as they watched the car bounce toward them over the rutted track.

A white, four-wheel-drive came to a stop in front of them, and the brother motioned her in in the direction of the rear door. “Get in,” he growled, all business now, no sign of the rapist left.

“Where’s Finn?” she demanded, as she opened the door but saw no one inside.

“Just get in, woman,” a deep voice from the driver’s seat commanded. Did she recognize that voice? It was hard to tell, and she hung back, hesitating, not wanting to take that last step into the vehicle.

“He’s tied up in the back,” the brother added. “You’ll see him when you get in.” He prodded her in the ribs with the barrel of the gun, and she climbed in warily. He clambered in behind her, shutting the door, but keeping the gun trained at her stomach. Not caring about her own safety, she turned to peer into the rear cargo area. There was a shape, like that of a man curled into a loose ball on his side, and she put her hand to her mouth to stop a groan from escaping.

“How do I know that’s Finn?” she asked weakly. She was demanding proof, but something inside knew it was him.

Finn’s brother flicked a switch on a light in the ceiling, and even though the glow wasn’t very bright, it was enough to make out Finn’s dark hair and square-jawed features. This time, the groan did escape her throat. It was true. They had him. But whywas he wearing nothing apart from his boxer shorts? Because the brother had stolen his clothes, she reminded herself.

“How do I know he’s not dead? He looks dead.” Her voice became almost hysterical. Was he dead? Because if he was…

The brother leaned over the backseat and prodded Finn’s thigh hard with the tip of his gun. “Wake up, sleepyhead,” he taunted. Finn groaned, but didn’t open his eyes. It was the sweetest sound in the world. He was still alive, and for now, that was all that mattered.

“What took you so long?” the brother barked at the driver.

“Whaddya mean, Garrett? I’ve been looking for you for the last twenty minutes. You fucked up again, you came out too far north.” The man in the driver’s seat turned around to glare at them and Indy gasped. In the glow of the weak light, Indy made out his features.

“Swampy?” She could hardly get the word out, she was so shocked to see him. It was the same truck driver from the day Wombat had been killed. Was everyone in this whole stock camp a criminal? She no longer knew who she could trust. How had Finn and his detective team missed this connection?

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