Page 97 of Rekindle My Heart

“I was a lifeguard all through school.” He took the suit and started taking off his shirt as Swenson and Whittier’s heads popped up from the cabin of the other boat.

“SWAT is at a domestic across town. Without using official channels, we couldn’t pull the men.” CJ slung the rifle over his shoulder. “We’ll drop you and Jim off the side of the boat close to the island. Then we’ll fall back and wait for your signal.”

“Got it.” He slipped off his shoes and pants and pulled on the wet suit. The water would be cold. He wished for a dry suit, but this would do.

He zipped up the suit and took a moment to center himself. Focus, Daniels. This is Erica’s life on the line. He blew out a breath, then grabbed his gear and climbed into CJ’s boat.

“Time for a late-night swim.”

Erica tracked Sergeant Johnson as he paced the clearing in the middle of the island. Other than the sound of the water lapping up against the shoreline, the woods were still. She slumped against a tree. Her hands were bound behind her back, and he’d slapped a fresh piece of duct tape over her mouth after her attempt to warn Ryan.

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” He checked the chamber of his gun.

Great, he had one ready to cap her ass if she got lippy again. She sat perfectly still, only letting her eyes follow his movements. The man was only a few inches taller than her, but he easily had her by fifty pounds. If she could work the ties loose, she might have a chance. She’d seen a video on social media on how to break zip ties free but that only worked if her hands were bound in front of her.

She wiggled a little. Too bad she couldn’t dislocate her shoulder to slip her arm around to the front. A boy in her science class did that once. She cringed at the memory.

Her hopes deflated. It was no use. She would die on this uninhabited island. Dry-eyed, she silently hiccupped.

No. She wouldn’t give up. Not yet. She had a dog that needed her. Parents who loved her. And Ryan.

Her heart dropped. Could they have the future she wanted? She didn’t know, but if she got out of this, she needed to take a long hard look at her life and their relationship. So much stood between her and Ryan, but here—right now, he was all she wanted.

“Do you hear that?” Johnson ducked behind a tree and scanned the river to the north.

The faint sound of an engine. Her mind screamed, but she bit her tongue. Not yet. Wait until it comes closer.

Johnson slipped up beside her. Wrapping his hands around her neck, he pressed his beefy fingers into her windpipe. He flexed—constricting. Air wheezed from her lips puffing up the silver tape. Panic kicked in. She kicked out, catching him in the shin.

“Fucking bitch.” He bit out the words. His hold tightened.

Erica fought to breathe.

He leaned in, his hot breath an inch from her ear. “One word. One mumble and I’ll ring your neck like a rag.”

Tears blurred her vision as her only chance of rescue motored by. When it was out of range, he released his grip.

That was it. She was alone on this island with a killer. The churning in her gut pushed the bile up her now-sore throat. She bit it back. Choking on her own vomit was not the way she wanted to die.

Dread coiled around her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs. Sucking in as much as she could through her nose in each breath, she fought the panic.

It wasn’t working. She was hyperventilating. She knew the signs. Her training shouted at her to focus, calm down. She couldn’t drop her head; she was tied to a tree. No paper bag to breathe into. Not that he’d take the tape off for her anyway.

“Hey, cool it.”

Obviously, she hadn’t done a very good job of controlling her panic.

“Fuck.” He ripped the tape from her mouth.

“Ouch!” Needles of pain tattooed her lips and cheeks as her face grieved the newly missing skin.

“Shut it. No houses are close enough to hear you anyway.” He paced a few feet away and checked his phone.

“I have to go potty.” No lie. Her crotch muscles hadn’t gotten this much of a workout in who knew how long. Kegels were her friend.

The light of the phone illuminated his dark glare.

She clenched her thighs tighter and prayed. Please God, I need a break… and to pee.