Page 91 of Deserving Lara
“To pack,” she said, the words coming out a lot weaker than the firm declaration she’d intended.
“Oh, you aren’t going anywhere,” Tiny growled. “We need you to find Owl and Lara…and that asshole Grant. And then we’re obviously going to need you to track down Stone to get his ass back here. And you havea lotmore questions to answer before you’re allowed to leave.”
She didn’t like the glint in Tiny’s eye as he said that last part, but she wasn’t going to walk away if these men wanted her help. She should’ve tried harder to find Carter Grant before now. That was on her. She’d have to shoulder that guilt…along with all the guilt she already carried.
She nodded slowly, and Tiny let go of her arm. But even after he’d sat back in his seat, her arm tingled where he’d touched her. It wasn’t a good sign. How could she still be so attracted to this man, when it was obvious he hated her?
Pushing her worries aside, Ryan took a deep breath. She needed to use everything she’d ever learned when it came to computers to help Lara and Owl. Nothing else mattered right now.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Lara’s mouth was dry. So damn dry. She licked her lips, but it didn’t do much good. She turned her head, wondering why she felt so horrible, and blinked her eyes tiredly before closing them again.
At first, she had no idea where she was and no memory of how’d she gotten there. But with each tick of the clock, scenes flashed through her brain.
Of the hotel room and late-night snacks. Of the chopper in the hangar. Of Stone being dragged away. Owl lying motionless on the floor. Ricky standing over her, telling her he was bringing her to Carter Grant.
That last thought made her gasp and her eyes flew open.
The first thing she saw was Owl. He was on the floor, staring right at her, while she seemed to be on a couch of some sort.
He quickly held his finger to his lips, then mouthed,Are you okay?
Lara swallowed and thought about his question for a beat before nodding.
Then, the reason he wanted her to be silent made itself clear.
“Itoldyou I only wanted her!”
She’d recognize that voice anywhere.
It washim. Carter Grant.
Lara shivered and every muscle in her body tensed. She’d known this was where she’d end up eventually, but now she had so much more to lose.
“And I toldyou, if I’d left him in that hangar, someone would’ve found him by now and probably already be tracking this chopper. As it is, I have a small window to get out of the country before everyone and their brother is looking for it!”
Turning her head slowly, Lara looked behind her where the voices were coming from, but she couldn’t see Ricky or Carter. The back of the couch where she was lying prevented her from seeing them…and them from seeing her.
She jerked in fright when something touched her arm, whipping her head around, relieved to see it was just Owl, who’d crept closer. She didn’t remember the flight here—whereverherewas—but she was more relieved than she could put into words that he was with her. She supposed that made her a shitty person, to be glad the man she loved was also in the hands of a sadistic serial killer, but Owl was the only person who made her feel safe.
“We need to get to the window,” Owl said tonelessly. His voice was so soft, Lara could barely hear him. But she nodded eagerly.
She had no idea what the plan was, if they evenhada plan. She suddenly remembered what Ricky told her before she’d been rendered unconscious, that they were going to an island. It wasn’t as if they could run to a neighbor’s house and ask to use their phone. Ricky had also told her that Carter lived on the island alone.
But if going out a window put her farther from Carter Grant, she was all for it. She’d swim back to Seattle in frigid, shark-infested water if that’s what it took to be free of him.
“You’re taking him with you when you go!” Carter yelled at Ricky.
“Fine, but it’ll cost you.”
“What? No fucking way!”
The two men continued to argue, and Owl helped her roll off the sofa without landing on her face and without making a sound. When she was on the floor, Owl hugged her. Hard. Then he pulled back and looked into her eyes. He held her face in his hands, and Lara felt as if she could see his soul in his gaze when he said, “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
She nodded…even if she didn’t believe him one hundred percent. Oh, she believed that he would try, that he’d do anything within his power to keep her safe, but the reality was that Carter Grant had evil on his side—and he wouldn’t hesitate to kill Owl.
That thought had her wanting to move,now, while the two men were occupied with their bickering. It looked like she and Owl were in some sort of library or office. There were bookshelves covering one entire wall and dozens of boxes stacked everywhere she looked. The place was also dusty, as if it had been abandoned for years. She had no idea if Carter had bought the place or was squatting here, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was getting away.
