Page 92 of Rekindle My Heart

He laughed. “Not happening.”

“Then just kill me already.” Stupid. Why would you say that to the bad man with a gun? Did she have no self-preservation?

“Not yet.” Gripping her hair, he manhandled her to the cuddy below. “I have plans, and I need you alive for a little longer.”

Why? Erica thought about it. The only person involved in this whole mess who would care was Ryan.

No, he didn’t know their history. He couldn’t. If not Ryan, who?

Unless he was going to use her to trap Stevens. “He won’t come for me. It was only one date.”

White teeth flashed as he laughed. He shoved the key in the ignition. There must have been a spare in the cabin.

“Stupid girl. I don’t care about him. It’s Daniels who’s been ga ga over you. The whole station can see it.”

“Ryan?”

“Yeah, he’s a smart one. Almost as good as Stevens on a computer. He’s getting too close.”

“You were the one to shoot out his tire.” Her mouth dropped.

He didn’t reply. Silently, he piloted the boat out into the middle of the river, then headed south on the Mississippi.

“I have to pee.” Erica didn’t know what to do. Maybe she could find something in the cabin.

“Piss right there for all I care. It just leaves more DNA on the boat.”

“Really? You won’t even let me use the bathroom?”

He idled back the engine, then pulled a roll of duct tape from a cubby and ripped a piece off.

Erica scooted back in her chair, wrenched her head away, but he caught her and slapped the sticky tape over her mouth.

“Finally, some quiet. Now sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s the last one you will ever have.” He spooled up the engine.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. She was strong, but he was a trained, armed officer. Dark water rushed by. Her instincts screamed to fight or flee, but she couldn’t see a way to escape, not cuffed and gagged.

The events of the last twenty-four hours had led to this point. They replayed in her head. It all came down to this. If she could change one thing—not sleep with Ryan, or failing to lock her laptop at the fire station? No, she should have stayed in Ryan’s car.

Why the hell hadn’t she listened to him? She’d be having amazing sex right now. Instead, she was in the middle of the river with a criminal who planned to kill her.

Tears blurred her vision. They streamed down her cheeks. On a deep inhale, she stared at the rushing water. What were her sister’s last thoughts as her car plummeted into the dark abyss?

Erica gulped. What would hers be?